Walnuts

[Thomas J.]

My grey just discovered how great tasting walnuts are. My question is how much is good and how much would be too much? I give her a small piece a few times a day along with some almonds so as not to overdo the nut craze she is liking, what would be a good amount of walnuts per day and is there such a thing as too much when it comes to walnuts? I heard that too many almonds might be a problem but haven't heard anything about that being the case for walnuts. I tried pistachios but she would have none of those, I had to eat them.

[birdhouse]

I tried pistachios but she would have none of those, I had to eat them.

 

You poor thing! lol

 

 

 

 

"The lowest-calorie nuts at 160 per ounce are almonds (23 nuts; 6 grams protein, 14 grams fat); cashews (16 to 18 nuts; 5 grams protein, 13 grams fat); and pistachios (49 nuts; 6 grams protein, 13 grams fat). Avoid nuts packaged or roasted in oil; instead, eat them raw or dry roasted, says Caplan. (Roasted nuts may have been heated in hydrogenated or omega-6 unhealthy fats, she adds, or to high temperatures that can destroy their nutrients.)..."

 

 

"Ounce for ounce, macadamia nuts (10 to 12 nuts; 2 grams protein, 21 grams fat) and pecans (18 to 20 halves; 3 grams protein, 20 grams fat) have the most calories—200 each—along with the lowest amounts of protein and the highest amounts of fats.

 

 

However, they're still good nuts: The difference between these and the lowest calorie nuts is only 40 calories an ounce..."

 

 

"While all nuts contain eart-healthy monounsaturated fats, walnuts (14 halves contain 185 calories, 18 grams fat, 4 grams protein) have high amounts of heart-healthy alpha linoleic acid (ALA), a type of omega-3 fatty acid found in plants. Research has suggested that ALA may help heart arrhythmias, and a 2006 Spanish study suggested that walnuts were as effective as olive oil at reducing inflammation and oxidation in the arteries after eating a fatty meal. ..."

http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20585485,00.html#best-nuts-for-your-diet-0

 

 

But all we really have to go on is human stats. We don't actually know how like humans' the birds' metabolisms really are, though.

 

So, my best guess is that in the wild, there is a season for each food. While a food is abundant, critters pig out on it. Once it goes out of season, obviously, their diets change. Around here, fresh foods rotate w/their seasons w/me creating mini-seasons for staples that are always available.

 

Nuts are good high energy, calcium rich winter food. But, they're also some good foraging when they're fed in their shell. Walnuts are work for a Grey to shell. Not so much for the bigger birds, maybe. But enough for a Grey to work off a decent bit of those excess calories.

 

So if he wants Phenix can have a couple of whole walnuts a day & can binge thru a bag or two w/the rest of us. Assuming he hasn't already lost interest, which he probably will.

 

My only rule is that all binge food is fed later in the day. That way, it's not unbalancing their normal diet. Binge foods also happen to be good bribery for getting fids back to their cages. Many also make a nice bedtime snack as well.

Edited January 7, 2017 by birdhouse