Conventionally grown produce: Stick to organic products
because the bird’s body is too small to handle even small doses of
pesticides and herbicides. I once made the mistake of feeding our pet
gerbils conventionally-grown (non-organic) mixed greens and within 12
hours, they were dead!
Spoiled or Soiled Food: Remove all uneaten food and
replace with a fresh batch at least twice daily to avoid deadly internal
bacterial infections.
Grit: It has been known to cause
impaction. Parrots don’t need grit because they don’t eat hard seed hulls
that need to be broken down by the digestive system; they hull their seeds
with their beaks before eating them.
Supplements in their water: Your bird should have fresh
water every day. Don’t add supplements unless your veterinarian tells you
to; they can be a medium for bacteria to grow and can cause a bird to turn
up his nose at his water bowl, leading to decreased water intake and
kidney damage.
ANY food that has been in your
mouth: Human
saliva contains many toxic and bacterial substances that can be deadly to
your bird.
Avocado, including guacamole. It’s
deadly to some birds.
Mushrooms
Onion
Raw meat and poultry: May carry salmonella and other
bacteria.
Deli foods: Too many additives and preservatives
like sulfites, sulfates, nitrites, nitrates, etc.
Milk or raw-milk
(non-pasteurized) cheese: Parrots do not digest dairy products containing
lactose (the type of sugar contained in milk). Parrots are not mammals and
so are not fed milk as babies — they feed their young by regurgitating
food to them. Yogurts or low-fat cheese in very small amounts are okay
because their initial lactose has been transformed.
Potatoes: Potatoes are not toxic in
themselves, but certain parts of them are: the skin as well as the green
parts you sometimes see on their flesh. These green bits contain solanine,
a toxic alkaloid that forms when potatoes are overexposed to light. This
alkaloid can affect the central nervous system if ingested in significant
quantity. It also is necessary to remove the germinated parts and potato
eyes, since these also contain solanine.
Eggplants: Another member of the
solanaceae family (with the potato), eggplants contain toxic solanine.
GREEN tomatoes: Contain tomatine, a substance
like solanine. The plants and the leaves of GREEN tomatoes are toxic.
Apple seeds or pear, plum,
cherry, apricot and peach pits: Contain cyanhydric acid (cyanide).
Honey: Can contain a toxic bacterium
that produces the neurotoxin botulin: clostridium botulinum.
Chocolate: It’s toxic to many animals,
birds included.
Junk Food: Ritz crackers, chips, Cheetos,
candy, etc.
