CeeCeeNY Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 It's apple season here in the northeast and I love being able to buy from local orchards! My CAG goes cuckoo for fresh apple juice and cider but when it comes to the actual apple, all he does each & every time is buzz through to the core and eat the seeds only! So obviously I don't bother wasting it anymore by giving him a whole, half or even a slice of apple, I just enjoy it myself & toss him the core! Anyone else experience this w/ their Grey? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdhouse Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 This is one of those really, really controversial areas. Many, maybe most people feel strongly that we should never give our fids particularly apple seeds because they're poisonous http://chemistry.about.com/b/2007/09/12/yes-apple-seeds-and-cherry-pits-are-poisonous.htm Other people don't agree because there's no one to stop them from eating them in the wild. So, it's the parront's choice to make a well informed decision, here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KimKim Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 I also have heard that they are not good, and then, that they can be ok in small amounts. I don't think I would risk it. But seems like you have had no problems with them so far. When I eat an apple, I will let mine take bites, or I cut small pieces off for him. I have never offered a core. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmatrow Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 I have also heard it both ways. And personally, I wouldn't chance it. All the things out there we can feed our birds why even chance something that even MIGHT hurt them. Just my two cents. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greywings Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 Think of it this way-apple do not grow where they live in the wild so they would not be eating apples or apple seeds. I would think a few once in a while would not present a problem but I would not suggest making apple seeds a frequent food or treat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdhouse Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 Greys & apple trees aren't native to the same countries. But apple trees are grown all over the world. So they would be available to Greys living in the wild for the past few hundred years. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100421142155AAZIAx3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talon Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 It is well known that apple seeds contain natural cyanide in them. Not recommended for a parrot to eat if we can help it. I cut up the apple and take out the seeds for my birds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NatJ Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 Ohhh ive alway been under the understanding than seeds from fruits were poisonus to our greys ...... Personally i wouldnt let my coco eat any seeds from a fruit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capo Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 Wild parrots have learned what to eat from their parrents. Home birds doesn't have that chance to learn. They will eat whatever we give them. I allways remove seeds. They are poisonus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CeeCeeNY Posted October 4, 2011 Author Share Posted October 4, 2011 I don't go out of my way to feed him apple seeds, just noticing that he seems to feel the only worthy part of the apple is the seeds! I've managed to stay alive for almost 40 years and I've yet to find evidence of a person or animals who has been "poisoned" by apple seeds, or any other seed for that matter. I was also raised watching farm animals and wild animals gorge themselves on whole fruit... pigs, horses & deer in apple orchards, birds stripping cherry and apricot trees so I'm not convinced that consuming your fill of them means instant death. JMO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greywings Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 As posted before yes apple seeds contain a small amount of cyanide so I would suggest limiting the amount he consumes I never said to avoid completely but safety is important especially with birds as they can succumb to many toxins that do not affect our other close animal friends so adversely. Birds as prey rather than predator often hide any symptoms of poor health until it is too late so just use caution and remember Apple Trees are not part of the African Flora & Fauna. Good to have you here CeeCee and it is always a good idea to do your research and ask questions we are all learning from each others experiences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave007 Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 ****Other people don't agree because there's no one to stop them from eating them in the wild. So, it's the parront's choice to make a well informed decision, here.**** Well, simply put, they don't eat apples in the wild where they come from. There are no apples in their natural area to eat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdhouse Posted October 5, 2011 Share Posted October 5, 2011 (edited) Well, simply put, they don't eat apples in the wild where they come from. There are no apples in their natural area to eat. I don't think Mr. Asaah would agree. http://www.worldagroforestry.org/downloads/publications/PDFs/B16554.PDF THE FRUITS OF SUCCESS pg 14 Edited October 5, 2011 by birdhouse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capo Posted October 5, 2011 Share Posted October 5, 2011 Pigs have 250kg, parrot 0,5kg. You can't compare them. One apple seed can do much more harm to parrot then 20 apples to pig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CeeCeeNY Posted October 5, 2011 Author Share Posted October 5, 2011 Gotcha Capo but there is no rule in the porcine community (wild or domesticated) that states "Only pigs over 500lbs may raid orchards!" I've yet to see a sow make her piglets sit on the sidelines while she alone gloms the fallen fruit. And you stating "One apple seed can do much more harm to parrot then 20 apples to pig" is simply your opinion but miles away from a fact. I appreciate everyone's input here, thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdhouse Posted October 5, 2011 Share Posted October 5, 2011 I was also raised watching farm animals and wild animals gorge themselves on whole fruit... pigs, horses & deer in apple orchards, birds stripping cherry and apricot trees so I'm not convinced that consuming your fill of them means instant death. JMO Our fids are far from wild birds. There's little or nothing in their totally artificial environment that they'd normally encounter in the wild. The only food they see is completely controlled so they aren't raised to forage safely. They're deliberately conditioned from birth that any food within reach is good eating. I initially made an honest effort to present the facts as neutrally as possible because I didn't want to freak anyone out. One fact happens to be that apples have proven to be to be a very adaptable crop & many countries where they aren't native (like the US) now include them as a staple food crop. This includes parts of Africa where cultivation has spread to some of the countries native to Grey's. The native wildlife has of course learned to take advantage of this foreign food source. This is one example of parrots, specifically, from a thread on Wikipedia about 'toos "... The Long-billed Black Cockatoo, also endemic to the south-west of Western Australia, can be a pest in apple and pear orchards where it destroys the fruit to extract the seeds." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockatoo So the fact is there are examples in the wild of parrots eating fruit seeds which contain cyanide. But I've never found any facts, conclusive or otherwise that prove what quantity of these seeds may or may not be safe or for what species. When I was a kid, I learned to count to 20 in our little apple orchard. I loved to watch the birds eat, too. But as us farm girls know, those birdies were pooping little seedlings wherever they went. So, they weren't actually digesting much more than the fruit. When's the last time you saw a parrot poop w/a seed intact? I don't choose to feed any of my fids apple or other fruit seeds which contain cyanide since they have no nutritional value which can't be gotten elsewhere. I'm not at all comfortable knowing that the only way to find a fid's current tolerance is to exceed it, i.e. poison them. I'm even more uncomfortable knowing that tolerance might easily change when other factors, like health & metabolism, come into play. I'm just not willing to risk the possible consequences because I just don't see any upside. JMO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave007 Posted October 5, 2011 Share Posted October 5, 2011 (edited) I don't think Mr. Asaah would agree. http://www.worldagroforestry.org/downloads/publications/PDFs/B16554.PDF THE FRUITS OF SUCCESS pg 14 Ok, so sorry for giving out wrong information but I will say that I find it amazing that people actually spend loads of time thinking about the oddest things ( human foods included)to give a grey or other parrot, especially since parrots are scavengers. I only say no apples because it's a known fact that the seeds aren't good for birds. Better safe than sorry. If a person wants to feed apples, so be it. I didn't invent that fact. If the subject was about cherries then I would have to say that the pits are toxic but I didn't invent that fact either but it's true. I will say that the healthiest greys and other parrots are the ones in the wild that eat natural and scavenged items. ---These iterms can't be purchased. Besides other things, they will eat other animals" feces and birds' feces because it has nutritional value. I didn't invent that fact either. All wild birds do that. SO, because it's not sold on the market yet, I'm in the process of concocting a specially balanced parrot diet which will contain about 75% feces. It'll be multicolored and no refridgeration will be neccessary. Special mixtures and blends will also be available. These blends are for the Discriminating Grey I'll announce the approx date when they will go on sale. I 'm still awaiting the patent. For the new customers, it'll be ------Buy 2 get, 1 Free. Online orders can be paid through Paypal. The name of the product will be called Organic Splatters To people in this thread who are gonna say that they're frustrated because their cute fussy grey simply bypases the actual fruit to get to the seeds, do yourself a favor. Just cut off a slice of apple and give it to him/her. Stay away from the seeds. It's much better than trying to argue about the validity and value of seeds, especially since he's gonna shit them out. If your bird doesn't like that slice, don't feed it to him again. Get some of my special blend mixture-----all problems will be solved Edited October 5, 2011 by Dave007 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdhouse Posted October 5, 2011 Share Posted October 5, 2011 Ok, so sorry for giving out wrong information... SO, because it's not sold on the market yet, I'm in the process of concocting a specially balanced parrot diet which will contain about 75% feces. ... Special mixtures and blends will also be available. These blends are for the Discriminating Grey I'll announce the approx date when they will go on sale. I 'm still awaiting the patent. For the new customers, it'll be ------Buy 2 get, 1 Free. The name of the product will be called Organic Splatters ...Get some of my special blend mixture-----all problems will be solved Well crap, Dave! Who can expect you to keep up w/everything current in the world of agriculture, when you're so busy thinking up new innovations for our fids? Good luck w/your new product line, btw. I will have to get back about your very tempting promotion, though. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave007 Posted October 5, 2011 Share Posted October 5, 2011 Well crap, Dave! Who can expect you to keep up w/everything current in the world of agriculture, when you're so busy thinking up new innovations for our fids? Good luck w/your new product line, btw. I will have to get back about your very tempting promotion, though. lol ***tempting promotion*** Patience, patience. High quality secret ingreidents need to be formulated to form a proper consistancy.You're the first one to respond?? Well as a special gift for you it's 1 bag, get 2 free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdhouse Posted October 5, 2011 Share Posted October 5, 2011 ^^^ I really do appreciate your efforts here. But I guess I'm just a particularly tough sell because I still can't help but think it's a kind of crappy deal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvparrots Posted October 5, 2011 Share Posted October 5, 2011 Gee Dave, post your address and 'll be glad to collect a few bags of feces from my three and send them over to help with ingredients for your product, Organic Splatters! LOL!!! (Glad everyone is playing nicely here!!!! ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talon Posted October 5, 2011 Share Posted October 5, 2011 You guys are such fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elvenking Posted October 5, 2011 Share Posted October 5, 2011 It's apple season here in the northeast and I love being able to buy from local orchards! My CAG goes cuckoo for fresh apple juice and cider but when it comes to the actual apple, all he does each & every time is buzz through to the core and eat the seeds only! So obviously I don't bother wasting it anymore by giving him a whole, half or even a slice of apple, I just enjoy it myself & toss him the core! Anyone else experience this w/ their Grey? Apple seeds contain small amounts of cyanide.....do not feed. This is what I have heard. I would simply err on the safe side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlsjr Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 Well crap, Dave! Who can expect you to keep up w/everything current in the world of agriculture, when you're so busy thinking up new innovations for our fids? Good luck w/your new product line, btw. I will have to get back about your very tempting promotion, though. lol errrr, what product line? PM me with details. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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