To lettuce or not to lettuce...

[Azzie]

I've heard conflicting stories about whether you can feed lettuce to birds. Some sites say absolutely not, as it is toxic. Other sites say it's fine as lettuce is mostly water.

 

Can anyone please shed some more light on this?

[judygram]

Lettuce really adds no nutritional value and it is mostly just water with little calories, no wonder we eat a lot of it when we are trying to lose weight. If you are going to give some lettuce make it romaine, but it is better to give other vegetables that would contribute to vitamin and mineral requirements.

[lovethatgrey]

I only feed romaine lettuce.

 

[

Post edited by: lovethatgrey, at: 2009/04/03 04:58

 

Post edited by: lovethatgrey, at: 2009/04/03 05:02<br><br>Post edited by: lovethatgrey, at: 2009/04/03 05:03

[Brittany]

pepper absolutely loves lettuce

[SchroedersJen]

If you are going to go lettuce, you may as well make the jump to kale. It comes in a few exciting colors, has easially digestable calcium, is heartier and takes longer to wilt when hung in the xcage. I get it wet before hanging and the birds like to play in it, lick off the water and shred it to bits.

[ranaz]

how about parsley, I head from so many that its poisonous, wha do you think? and celery? leeks? any information?

 

{Nature-00020095}{Nature-00020095}<br><br>Post edited by: ranaz, at: 2009/04/07 22:51

[BaxtersMom]

I read in a bird book or magazine (can't remember which one) to not feed parsley at all. I don't remember the reason but I'm not taking chances on it.

[Azzie]

Back to Google for me lol. Found this, not totally what I was looking for but worth sharing still I thought:

 

http://www.african-grey-parrots.co.uk/parrot-articles/african-grey-parrot-diet.html

 

http://www.greyfeathertoys.com/html/safefoods.html

 

 

Both sites mention parsley is ok, but then I found this:

 

"The plant is said to be fatal to small birds and a deadly poison to parrots, also very injurious to fowls, but hares and rabbits will come from a great distance to seek for it, so that it is scarcely possible to preserve it in gardens to which they have access. Sheep are also fond of it, and it is said to be a sovereign remedy to preserve them from footrot, provided it be given them in sufficient quantities." (http://www.koro.com.mk/Products/medicinal_plants/Parsley.html).

 

I guess parsley is also off the menu for my flock.<br><br>Post edited by: Azzie, at: 2009/04/08 01:42

[judygram]

I don't feed parsley either, I don't eat it myself, but the darker greens like kale would be a better choice to offer our greys.

[LindaMary]

This is the first place I have heard warnings about parsley. As it happens, my birds have been helping my bunny chew through a big fat bunch of it this past week, with no apparent ill effects. Hm....

 

I do agree with the romaine-only philosophy on lettuce - but my birds actually prefer swiss chard to just about any other leafy green I've tried so far.