timotian Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 (edited) Top 10 Common Foods that Can Poison Your Bird Because birds are such social creatures, many owners allow their pets to be included at mealtime. While sharing food with your bird is a lot of fun - not to mention wonderful for your pet's emotional health - there are many common human foods that can be harmful or even fatal to your bird. Owners need to know which foods are fine for sharing, and which pose a serious risk. Read on to find out the top ten foods that are hazardous to your bird's health. 1. Chocolate Chocolate is a wonderful treat to share with human family members, but it can be harmful or fatal to your pet bird. Chocolate poisoning first affects a bird's digestive system, causing vomiting and diarrhea. As the condition progresses, the bird's central nervous system is affected, first causing seizures and eventually death. 2. Apple Seeds Believe it or not, apples - along with other members of the rose family including cherries, peaches, apricots, and pears - contain trace amounts of Cyanide within their seeds. While the fruit of the apple is fine for your bird, be aware that in addition to the poisonous seeds, there may be pesticides present on the fruit's skin. Be sure to thoroughly cleanse and core any apple pieces that you share with your bird to avoid exposure to these toxins. 3. Avocado The skin and pit of this popular fruit had been known to cause cardiac distress and eventual heart failure in pet bird species. Although there is some debate to the degree of toxicity of avocados, it is generally advised to adopt a "better safe than sorry" attitude toward them and keep guacomole and other avocado products as far away from pet birds as possible. 4. Onions While the use of limited amounts of onion or garlic powders as flavorings is generally regarded as acceptable, excessive consumption of onions causes vomiting, diarrhea, and a host of other digestive problems. It has been found that prolonged exposure can lead to a blood condition called hemolytic anemia, which is followed by respiratory distress and eventual death. 5. Alcohol Although responsible bird owners would never dream of offering their pet an alcoholic drink, there have been instances in which free roaming birds have attained alcohol poisoning through helping themselves to unattended cocktails. Alcohol depresses the organ systems of birds and can be fatal. Make sure that your bird stays safe by securing him in his cage whenever alcohol is served in your home. 6. Mushrooms Mushrooms are a type of fungus, and have been known to cause digestive upset in companion birds. Caps and stems of some varieties can induce liver failure. 7. Tomato Leaves Tomatoes, like potatoes and other nightshades, have a tasty fruit that is fine when used as a treat for your bird. The stems, vines, and leaves, however, are highly toxic to your pet. Make sure that any time you offer your bird a tomato treat it has been properly cleaned and sliced, with the green parts removed, so that your bird will avoid exposure to any toxins. 8. Salt While all living beings need regulated amounts of sodium in their systems, too much salt can lead to a host of health problems in birds, including excessive thirst, dehydration, kidney dysfunction, and death. Be sure to keep watch over the amount of salty foods your bird consumes. 9. Caffiene Caffinated beverages such as soda, coffee, and tea are popular among people - but allowing your bird to indulge in these drinks can be extremely hazardous. Caffeine causes cardiac malfunction in birds, and is associated with increased heartbeat, arrhythmia, hyperactivity, and cardiac arrest. Share a healthy drink of pure fruit or vegetable juice with your bird instead - this will satisfy both your bird's tastebuds and nutritional requirements. 10. Dried Beans Cooked beans are a favorite treat of many birds, but raw, dry bean mixes can be extremely harmful to your pet. Uncooked beans contain a poison called hemaglutin which is very toxic to birds. To avoid exposure, make sure to thoroughly cook any beans that www.persianpet.org Edited June 5, 2012 by timotian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joolesgreyuk Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 Thank you for that information timotian, invaluable especially to new owners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaxtersMom Posted May 16, 2009 Share Posted May 16, 2009 Thanks. That's a great list. I appreciate you taking the time to inform us for those who don't know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvparrots Posted May 16, 2009 Share Posted May 16, 2009 Thanks timotian!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timotian Posted May 18, 2009 Author Share Posted May 18, 2009 I am really pleased Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GorgASS Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 yes thank you! i knew all of them except mushrooms, haven't heard that one before. (it will be added to list of things willis can't have that hangs next to his cage...just in case) and also thank you for saying WHY these things are poisonous...not that i questioned the forbidden foods but it's nice to know what is affected by what. THANKS AGAIN!!B) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eckobird Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 Very helpful!! Thanks so much for posting Timotian! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrayGirl Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 Yes, thanks much Timotian. I knew about most of them, but the dried beans was a surprise. I'd heard that fresh tomatoes wasn't great for greys, and certainly understand about the leaves of the tomato plant. I don't think they're good for humans either. I do have a question about garlic ~ I use it sometimes fresh in salads and cooked in spaghetti sauce. I wonder if it affects greys the way onions do. Thanks again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tthopp05 Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 Thank you much,I needed that info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timotian Posted May 27, 2009 Author Share Posted May 27, 2009 thanks for your attention. yes the persianpet is only persian. I think you can use online dictionary persian to english.<br><br>Post edited by: timotian, at: 2009/05/27 08:00 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SchroedersJen Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 Great list Tim!!! With your permission, I would like to post this on Schroeder's Facebook page (yes, my bird is on facebook, isnt yours?) I would reference you, of course. That cool? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timotian Posted May 27, 2009 Author Share Posted May 27, 2009 very good I am pleased. please post for me website link. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SchroedersJen Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasperk Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 what about potatoes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaxtersMom Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 I have heard many times that RAW potatoes are no good for greys an other parrots but I have never heard the reason why. Cooked potatoes are fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasperk Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 cool thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunnyBird Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 Onions and garlic well cooked in foods is a staple ingredient of the Mediterranean diet. I cannot digest raw onions properly, but I don't have any trouble with cooked ones. It seems that the cooking process breaks down the enzymes. Is cooked onion and garlic OK for birds? i.e If I share my garden vegetable stew with my bird? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaxtersMom Posted July 10, 2009 Share Posted July 10, 2009 I have heard that cooked onions fed in moderation or fed very little is ok but I wouldn't make a habit of it. If I have something like spagetti that has cooked onions in it I will take the time to pick them out of it before giving it to my birds. Garlic...I have never fed my parrots, cooked or otherwise. I have heard of them dying from garlic and will not risk it. Perhaps someone else knows more about it than me but if I do not know for sure if something is harmful to my flock or not I do not feed it to be on the safe side. You can always ask your local avian vet which is always the best way to know for sure because there are always so many different opinions. You stew sounds delicious by the way. I would probably pick out the veggies and give the veggies only my flock;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MsGardeness Posted August 9, 2009 Share Posted August 9, 2009 Thanks for posting that - I didn't know about the mushroom. Much appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbpittman Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 I didn't know that dried beans weren't good for the birds. I have seen many of them mixed in with the store brands of mixed veggies. At first I thought they had to have been cooked and dehydrated, but they looked just like the dried beans I usually use to cook with. Very interesting. -- Robin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amerrie Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 always good to know these things and to have someone watching out for us! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timotian Posted September 18, 2009 Author Share Posted September 18, 2009 I am pleased to see it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
particle77 Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 This is a good list. One comment, cherry, peach, and apricot pits have far higher concentrations of cyanide than apple seeds. I'd be more worried about them. I found this information also, suggesting that apple seeds may not be a concern. http://www.exoticbird.com/gillian/apple.html I wouldn't purposely give them to a grey, but I wouldn't be overly concerned about it either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tissy34 Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 I sincerely didn't know about mushrooms and dried beans. Thanks for the heads up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harmar Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 is bread ok? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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