Foods and Beverages to Avoid Feeding Your Birds
- Alcoholic beverages
- Anything not fresh that may have mold on/in it.
- Anything with too much sugar or salt
- Apple seeds (remove seeds from apples before feeding)
- Avocado
- Cat food
- Cherries or peaches with pits
- Chocolate
- Dairy products. Birds cannot digest them; very small amounts of cheese is ok.
- Raw onion or raw potato
- Raw or uncooked meat, poultry, fish
- Raw or undercooked eggs
- Excessive fats used over long periods of time become toxins
- Caffeine found in coffee, tea, soda, chocolate, and cocoa can affect heart muscles, causing muscle tremors, vomiting, hyperactivity, and cyanosis. There is a possibility of death from cardiac or respiratory collapse.
- Sugars found in sweet rolls, candy, glazed products; eating too many sweet fruits can be toxic. Death can be caused by a build-up of toxins already in the system.
When in doubt, don't feed it.
Some veterinarians suggest to include pellets in their daily diet.
If you can, feed organic.
PARROTS
DO NOT FEED
Chocolate, coffee, avocados, parsley or foods with large amounts of sugar or salt.
THINGS TO FEED
Quality large hookbill type seeds, frozen (thawed) mixed vegetables and fresh vegetables such as: broccoli, cauliflower, cucumber, squash, tomatoes, alfalfa sprouts, carrots (with or without tops), beans, corn on the cob, spinach.
ALSO EXCELLENT TO FEED
Apples, oranges, banana, watermelon, papaya, grapes, cantaloupe (or other melons), pineapple, plums, peaches. Most table foods are fine. Examples would be eggs, cooked chicken or turkey, wheat bread, flour or corn tortillas, pasta, cooked rice.
EXCELLENT TREATS
Shelled or unshelled nuts (shelled nuts are best for smaller birds as the smaller birds sometimes cannot get through the shell, but they make excellent toys). Also good as a treat is non or low - sugared cereals (examples would be: Corn Flakes, Cheerios, Wheat, Rice or Corn Chex.) Hint: buy generic.
THINGS TO HAVE AVAILABLE IN CAGE AT ALL TIMES
Mineral block and/or cuttlebone, FRESH FOOD and WATER, and toys that are appropriate to the size bird.
COCKATIELS, LOVEBIRDS & PARAKEETS
DO NOT FEED
Chocolate, coffee, avocados, parsley or foods with large amounts of sugar or salt.
THINGS TO FEED
Quality small hookbill type seeds, frozen (thawed) mixed vegetables and fresh vegetables such as: broccoli, cauliflower, cucumber, squash, tomatoes, alfalfa sprouts, carrots (with or without tops), beans, corn on the cob, spinach.
ALSO EXCELLENT TO FEED
Apples, oranges, banana, watermelon, papaya, grapes, cantaloupe (or other melons), pineapple, plums, peaches. Most table foods are fine. Examples would be eggs, cooked chicken or turkey, wheat bread, flour or corn tortillas, pasta, and cooked rice.
THINGS TO HAVE AVAILABLE IN CAGE AT ALL TIMES
Mineral block and/or cuttlebone. FRESH FOOD and WATER, and toys that are appropriate to the size bird.