Feeding Pet Birds looks like a piece of cake. But, as a pet bird owner, you ought to be aware of what not to feed your pet birds. Do you think fruits are safe for birds? Find out Now.

Image by Oldiefan from Pixabay

If you are a first-time owner of a feathered pet then this road might feel rocky and dreary to you, but trust me, it's not. Feeding pet birds need just some special care and once you know that, I'm sure things will become easy for you.

Birds are social eaters and they eat in flocks of hundreds or sometimes even thousands. They love to eat with their friends. Not, that we have a pet bird in our home, I'm sure you are feeling like sharing your meal with him.

But, wait! Not everything that we eat can be consumed by a bird. Read on to find out what not to feed your pet birds.

Feeding Pet Birds

Avocados

Avocados are certainly healthy for us - humans. But, almost all parts of an Avocado plant contain a fungicide component called Persin which is known to cause respiratory damage and cardiac problems in birds. Hence it's safe to keep your pet bird away from avocados and guacamole.

Chocolates

I am a huge fan of chocolates. But, it's another thing which I cannot share with my pet birdie. Why? Well, it's because chocolate contains theobromine as well as caffeine which makes it a big NO-NO for birds. Both theobromine and caffeine belong to the family of methylxanthines which is known to cause increased heart rate, diarrhea, affects the digestive system, causes vomiting, causes hyperactivity, possible seizure and even death for some. So, whether its Christmas or Halloween candies, MMs, Hersheys Kisses and everything chocolate is a big NO for your birdie.

Apple Seeds & Fruit Pits

Apple is safe for birds. But, its seeds are not. Hence if you think Apples are healthy for your bird, you are not wrong. But, just scoop out the seeds. The same goes for Pears as well. The seeds contain cyanide and must always be removed. (only from these two fruits).

For other fruits like cherries, apricots, plums, and peaches, the pits must be removed. However, there are some fruits whose seeds and pits are safe for their consumption. They are Grapes, mango, berries, tomatoes, melons, pumpkins, squash, pomegranate, and all citrus fruits.

Caffeine

Caffeine is a man's or a woman's best friend. It keeps us awake and stimulates us to work more. However, this product is harmful to our pet birds. Caffeine increases heart rate and can cause arrhythmia or cardiac arrest in birds. Hence, if you feel as if your birdie is thirsty or you want her to enjoy something while you are enjoying your morning tea, go for plain tap water or some fruit juice.

Salt

Last time I checked, I don't remember anything which hasn't got salt in it. From pretzels to crackers to chips to popcorns everything has got salt. And, we often think it to be harmless. But, when it comes to our feathered buddy, salt is toxic. Even a pinch of salt can cause electrolyte imbalance followed by increased thirst & dehydration resulting in kidney failure. So, if you want your birdie to enjoy a little snack, go for unsalted products.

Mushrooms

Raw uncooked mushroom is nothing but a fungus that is known to cause liver failure and digestive imbalance in birds. Hence, never allow your pet bird to chew on raw uncooked mushrooms.

Comfrey

Not until recently canary owners were using comfrey for their birds. But, recent research has shown proofs of toxins in comfrey and that it can even cause liver failure in birds.

High Fat Food

High-Fat food such as meat, nuts, oil, and butter is not only harmful to us but its also harmful for our birds. Food items like nuts are loved by birds. But, you have to make sure that they eat no more than one walnut or one unsalted almond a day. More and more high-fat food items will cause cardiac problems. It gets deposited in the arteries and causes atherosclerosis.

Onions & Garlic

Onions and garlic might help us spice up our diet but when it comes to birds, they are again a big NO. This is because Onion contained sulfur which irritates the food pipe or esophagus of the bird. Similarly, Garlic contains allicin, a chemical causes anemia resulting in weakness in birds. To make your bird's food spicy, you can add red hot pepper in their food. It's loaded with vitamin A and would make them love you for taking care of their taste buds.

Tomato Leaves

All nightshade plants like Eggplant, Potatoes, tomatoes, peppers can be categorized as harmful for birds. It's not that the fruit is toxic, but the leaves, the stems, the branches are poisonous for your feathered baby.

So, these were the food items that you cannot feed your bird. If you are new at this, I know you will take time but you'll get better. Hope you found this article interesting and engaging.