Eating nut shells, that's a bad thing right?

So, I was cleaning confetti's cage this morning, when I noticed her paying an unusual amount of attention to a peanut shell. So I started paying more attention, and she wasn't just chewing it up or breaking it apart, she was eating it. She wasn't eating large pieces at all, but she is definitely eating them. Anyway, I immediately took the shell from her, and made sure there are no more pieces in her cage. I don't think i've ever seen her doing it before, and she doesn't seem to have any interest in anything but peanut shells.

ideas? Suggestions? Comments? HALP

Peanuts in general are a bit controversial! If you are a peanut eater, you know what it is like when you break open a funky one. For you, yuk, spit it out, end of story. For your baby, major health issue! From what I understand, life threatening! I believe it is a common mold spore that is on peanuts.

Somewhere at the back of my mind a warning flags about peanut shells... something to do with fungus and a connection with Aspergillosis but Im not an expert so maybe someone with more knowledge can elaborate...the good thing is you found the shells before she had sampled much and you wont be offereing any more in their shells. I give Mr Biggles Peanuts but I deshell them and I make sure both the shell and the nut look healthy before giving them to him. I never give a peanut in a shell to any of my fids

Personally, I stay away from peanuts for my flock in general. This is because peanuts are sometimes contaminated with aflatoxin, which is a fungal toxin given off by the fungus aspergillus that can lead to liver damage and aspergillosis, which is a stubborn fungal respiratory infection that can lead to death.

Several parronts have pointed out to me that they've been feeding peanuts to their birds for years to no ill effect. This is true for many birds. Yet, the danger does exist. So I just don't take the chance.

Roasted peanuts mitigates the danger somewhat, but even that doesn't eliminate it entirely. And peanuts in the shell, while a great natural foraging treat, are the biggest offenders. Simply because the shell is even more likely to be infected with these aflatoxins.

So my opinion? Better safe than sorry and eliminate peanuts from her diet altogether. Cashews are a great alternative. Almonds, pecans and walnuts are great, too.

Well, I don't know if this makes any difference or not but They were labled as "doctor Fosters and Smiths pet bird treats peanuts in shell". Either way, no more peanuts in the shell for her, and thanks for the heads up. I at least know to be extra attentive to how she acts the next few days for signs of anything. Hopefully though maybe they take some extra precautions when it comes to screening them for birds and nothing comes of it. She is acting completely fine, I may still take her to the vet though just as a precaution.

Anansi said:

Personally, I stay away from peanuts for my flock in general. This is because peanuts are sometimes contaminated with aflatoxin, which is a fungal toxin given off by the fungus aspergillus that can lead to liver damage and aspergillosis, which is a stubborn fungal respiratory infection that can lead to death.

Several parronts have pointed out to me that they've been feeding peanuts to their birds for years to no ill effect. This is true for many birds. Yet, the danger does exist. So I just don't take the chance.

Roasted peanuts mitigates the danger somewhat, but even that doesn't eliminate it entirely. And peanuts in the shell, while a great natural foraging treat, are the biggest offenders. Simply because the shell is even more likely to be infected with these aflatoxins.

So my opinion? Better safe than sorry and eliminate peanuts from her diet altogether. Cashews are a great alternative. Almonds, pecans and walnuts are great, too.

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Thanks for that Anansi, that changes things slightly. Does anyone know of any company does make 100% bird safe peanuts (company that is growing them specifically for birds maybe?) I would hate to have to stop feeding confetti peanuts. She isn't allowed to have many of them, but she would sell her egg for a peanut as a treat. Though I haven't tried many other nuts yet, so there could definitely be an alternative she likes as much I don't know about yet.

Great advise from Flboy and now many others!

In addition, it would be recommended that you source your dry foods targeting 'Human Quality' only and not general or animal quality. This at least assures that you're providing the same quality, coming from the same sources and on the same packaging equipment that you're getting. And as stated above; even with that less than great stuff gets to you.

Based on Human Quality Product: Medium to large parrots love to crack peanut shells open and even grind them to powder. So, are they safe for Parrots? As a general statement: No! That due to the variation in the base quality of the product itself, the likelihood of carrying soil based 'stuff' from chemicals to germs, and the lack of any real advantage for the Parrot. That said, having something to grind to powder does keep your Parrot busy, but there are better sources for even that. Interestingly, if you ask a Human Diet Expert, they will say that if your going to eat peanuts, they recommended dry roasted, non salted and in the shell, since the Human will at least get some exercise from working at opening the shell - interesting!

For me, I provide as a rare treat, my Amazon an in the shell 'dry roasted' non-salted peanut from the bag that I purchased for myself. I never provide 'Human Grade' peanuts in a shell supply as part of a pre-mixed because they are raw and not dry roasted! The operative words are 'rare' and 'dry roasted.'


A Manufacturer that I trust is: Planters! But only from shelled peanuts, dry roasted and non-salted and sold in bags that only include just that!

Try walnuts, my JoJo loves them, and a handful per day for us humans dramatically reduces the risk of heart disease! I buy them at Costco, great price on all their nuts! I rebag in small baggies and store in the freezer.

As for risk proof peanuts? Forget it! Grown underground, one contaminated nut in a bag can quickly spread!

SirEdwin89 said:

I would hate to have to stop feeding confetti peanuts. She isn't allowed to have many of them, but she would sell her egg for a peanut as a treat. Though I haven't tried many other nuts yet, so there could definitely be an alternative she likes as much I don't know about yet.

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Peanuts made up a huge part of Gracie's diet when I got her and I felt the same way initially at the thought of taking them away totally. She was like a junkie needing a fix at first. But truthfully not only mold issue but there are healthier nut alternatives. I haven't had success with many of them yet except walnuts are a favorite now took awhile tho she rejected them for awhile. I split the shell and stuck them in foraging toys/places. Eventually she took the bait. Months later she has zero interest in peanuts in or out of the shell and loves walnuts. She'll eat pecans, cashews but not almonds, pine nuts, pistachio or macadamia.

Added bonus beings a CAG she loves the loud sound a walnut shell makes banging against the cage

GraciesMom said:

SirEdwin89 said:

I would hate to have to stop feeding confetti peanuts. She isn't allowed to have many of them, but she would sell her egg for a peanut as a treat. Though I haven't tried many other nuts yet, so there could definitely be an alternative she likes as much I don't know about yet.

Click to expand...

Peanuts made up a huge part of Gracie's diet when I got her and I felt the same way initially at the thought of taking them away totally. She was like a junkie needing a fix at first. But truthfully not only mold issue but there are healthier nut alternatives. I haven't had success with many of them yet except walnuts are a favorite now took awhile tho she rejected them for awhile. I split the shell and stuck them in foraging toys/places. Eventually she took the bait. Months later she has zero interest in peanuts in or out of the shell and loves walnuts. She'll eat pecans, cashews but not almonds, pine nuts, pistachio or macadamia.

Added bonus beings a CAG she loves the loud sound a walnut shell makes banging against the cage

Click to expand...

Strange to say I have spent a fortune trying to get Mr Biggles on to another nut and Ive not had success either...a sunflower seed is the only treat replacement for a peanut that Mr Biggles thinks is edible the rest he spits out ...i have bought the human grade non salted and even paid more to get the organic ones but do you think I was thanked ...no not a chance they were all spat out and ended up in the trash bin...yet take the same nut from a parrot mix and he will eat it ...why is this I wonder and why are the human grade I buy not acceptable to him. I have bought them both in a large store (bakery section )and in a health foodstore who when I questioned them asured me there was nothing whatsoever done to the nuts other than package them and when Mr B didnt eat them I went back to the health store who sold me the organic nuts(you name the nut and I've tried it) in the health store I forked out the extra on the organic nuts but Mr Biggles wouldnt even touch them and wont even touch their peanuts either I buy peanuts at a garden center and check each one thoroughly before giving it to Mr Biggles...he only gets a couple of them but thats enough if he got a bad one so I too am looking for a replacement for peanuts . It is very hard to get nuts where I live so my options are limited at this point to trying an online store (which I have not yet done)and it looks like I will have to start importing nuts for him which makes his treats very very expensive unless I find a substitute nut soon ...plus as most of these online stores are in the UK there may be problens getting them into Ireland now due to Brexit. I have been thinking of using birdie bread for treats as he likes that and its full of veggies but so far I have not been able to find a substitute nut for a Peanut that is acceptable to Mr B.

I'll agree with the presiding sentiment here... peanuts are just too risky. Good luck to those who are struggling to find an alternative for a picky parrot.

That's really much more difficult when you don't have the choices readily available.

The outside critters in the area get some really good nuts around here since Gracie tends to reject any but walnuts now - but only walnuts that are in a half shell - not walnut pieces, whole walnuts or walnuts included in the birdie food mixes lol
So exactly the opposite of Mr. Biggles.

I have noticed she'll eat a cashew or pecan outta the parrot mix but she tosses the human grade, organic nothing added ones. It's so difficult when they aren't willing to try something & instead make a visual assessment & toss.

GraciesMom said:

That's really much more difficult when you don't have the choices readily available.

The outside critters in the area get some really good nuts around here since Gracie tends to reject any but walnuts now - but only walnuts that are in a half shell - not walnut pieces, whole walnuts or walnuts included in the birdie food mixes lol
So exactly the opposite of Mr. Biggles.

I have noticed she'll eat a cashew or pecan outta the parrot mix but she tosses the human grade, organic nothing added ones. It's so difficult when they aren't willing to try something & instead make a visual assessment & toss.

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You hsve actually given me a very sneaky idea for Mr Biggles...I will chop up the nuts into snal mediun and large bits and add a couple at a time into his food mix ...who knows perhaps we will con him into thinking thry are part of his parrot food...its worth a shot...so far I have only offered them as treats which of course he spits right out ...thanks for the inspiration Graciesmom...hope you get Gracie eating a couple of new nuts soon too...we can only keep trying

BIRDIGIRL said:

You hsve actually given me a very sneaky idea for Mr Biggles...I will chop up the nuts into snal mediun and large bits and add a couple at a time into his food mix ...who knows perhaps we will con him into thinking thry are part of his parrot food...its worth a shot...so far I have only offered them as treats which of course he spits right out ...thanks for the inspiration Graciesmom...hope you get Gracie eating a couple of new nuts soon too...we can only keep trying

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I always gotta be sneaky with Gracie - who can blame her if you were on a junk food diet your entire life the transition isn't nearly as tasty. I can't get her to touch birdie bread & I've tried more recipes than I can even count. But she kept trying to steal hubbies tortilla shells & that gave me an idea for veggie tortilla shells from scratch, I just substitute in healthy stuff and walaa a healthy treat that she'll eat & play with lol They don't actually taste like traditional tortilla shells to me but since she makes a lot of visual food decisions she just accepts that they are.

I'm currently trying to perfect a sweet potato w/chia seed corn chip that looks like & crunches like a Frito lol

We gotta do what we gotta do

Glad my ramblings offer hints of inspiration it's a great idea I hope it works!

Mr Biggles will eat my no flour all fruit and veg birdie bread he just has to see me eating it first and so we are both healthy LoL I tried eating the nuts in front of him too but he left them to me and wasnt remotely interested LoL Great ideas on your substitutes for the junk food . I might try some with Mr B too but as hes not used of eating tortilla (as I never have them actually Ive never even tasted one but Ive seen them in the store when I go shopping) maybe he will enjoy them ...you never know what they are going to take a liking to

BIRDIGIRL said:

Mr Biggles will eat my no flour all fruit and veg birdie bread he just has to see me eating it first and so we are both healthy LoL I tried eating the nuts in front of him too but he left them to me and wasnt remotely interested LoL Great ideas on your substitutes for the junk food . I might try some with Mr B too but as hes not used of eating tortilla (as I never have them actually Ive never even tasted one but Ive seen them in the store when I go shopping) maybe he will enjoy them ...you never know what they are going to take a liking to

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She absolutely despises all forms of birdie bread - If I had one wish it would be that she would embrace the birdie bread. I've eaten so many different recipes but try as I might she won't even touch it. It's not even worthy of her shredding & tossing it out of the dish she just works around it and stares @ it with disgust lol
I can get her to eat almost anything that I present in an "omelet" form so even with just a little egg as a binder she'll usually fall for it - at the least try it. but not birdie bread - No crumb shall pass her beak!

Well, thanks for the advice everyone. Not what I was hoping to hear, but that just means it's time to go nut shopping!

SailBoat said:

Great advise from Flboy and now many others!

In addition, it would be recommended that you source your dry foods targeting 'Human Quality' only and not general or animal quality. This at least assures that you're providing the same quality, coming from the same sources and on the same packaging equipment that you're getting. And as stated above; even with that less than great stuff gets to you.

Based on Human Quality Product: Medium to large parrots love to crack peanut shells open and even grind them to powder. So, are they safe for Parrots? As a general statement: No! That due to the variation in the base quality of the product itself, the likelihood of carrying soil based 'stuff' from chemicals to germs, and the lack of any real advantage for the Parrot. That said, having something to grind to powder does keep your Parrot busy, but there are better sources for even that. Interestingly, if you ask a Human Diet Expert, they will say that if your going to eat peanuts, they recommended dry roasted, non salted and in the shell, since the Human will at least get some exercise from working at opening the shell - interesting!

For me, I provide as a rare treat, my Amazon an in the shell 'dry roasted' non-salted peanut from the bag that I purchased for myself. I never provide 'Human Grade' peanuts in a shell supply as part of a pre-mixed because they are raw and not dry roasted! The operative words are 'rare' and 'dry roasted.'


A Manufacturer that I trust is: Planters! But only from shelled peanuts, dry roasted and non-salted and sold in bags that only include just that!

Click to expand...

Holy crap! thanks for the info Steve. I never knew peanuts were bad for our fids In the 'kaytee" brand seed that Amy gets <very little> there ARE peanuts in it,but fortunately,Amy doesn't like/eat them
when I DO give her seed, I will make darn sure to remove them from now on.

Jim

When Poppy came to live with us, she had had a very limited diet for more than eight years, we were told she loved peanuts. We don't feed peanuts for the above mentioned reasons. Peanuts are one of the rare instances where over processed food is the better choice, commercially prepared peanut butter is actually safer than peanuts or the more natural brands of peanut butter. Peter Pan makes a whipped peanut butter with 1/3 less sugar, because it's whipped, it takes a tiny amount on rare occasions to give Poppy a taste, she still loves it but she likes, pecans, walnuts, pine nuts, star anise and pumpkin seeds almost as much.