Bird Safe Fresh Foods & Toxic Food Lists + Sprouts

[MonicaMc]

The list for the grains, legumes, veggies, and fruits are mostly from the Feeding Feathers YH-group. The list of foods to avoid is from Buffalo Parrots. List of seeds, well I just looked at a few packages of bird food to get the ingredients off of. I did add a few things to the lists but didn't remove anything.

FF recommends feeding 1 part legumes to 2 part grains, and for this to consist of 45% of the fresh diet. Another 45% would be a variety of veggies, and the last 10% fruits. All of this can be mixed together as a 'mash' diet. Fresh foods should take up a minimum of 25% of the diet, but can take up as much as 90% with treats, pellets, nuts, and seeds taking up the rest. Sprouted seeds are healthier than dry seeds. *Some pellet companies may only recommend no more than 10% fresh foods as having any more may "unbalance" their 'balanced' diets*

Cooked grains - can also be sprouted

• Millet
• Quinoa
• Amaranth
• Whole Oats
• Hulless Barley
• Spelt or Kamut
• Teff
• Brown Rice
• Wild Rice
• Buckwheat

Cooked legumes - or sprouted with 1/4" tails

• Adzuki
• Mung
• Sprouting Peas
• Lentils
• Chickpeas/Garbanzo

Vegetables - Fed fresh, lightly steamed, or even frozen (thawed) out of the frozen section in grocery store

• Pumpkin
• Carrots
• Acorn or Butternut Squash
• Red or Green Pepper
• Kale
• Dandelion Greens
• Mustard Greens
• Collard Greens
• Turnip Greens
• Broccoli
• Celery
• Cucumber
• Romaine or other dark leafy lettuce
• Jicama
• Peas
• Zucchini
• Green Beans
• Tomatoes
• Cabbage
• Chinese Cabbage
• Bokchoy
• Carrot Tops
• Cactus Leaf
• Okra
• Kohlrabi
• Spaghetti Squash
• Cauliflower
• Radish
• Chayote Squash
• Brussel Sprouts
• Escarole
• Endive
• Corn
• Beet Root

Fruits

• Papaya
• Mango
• Any type of berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, etc)
• Pomegranate
• Kiwi
• Oranges
• Melons
• Nectarines
• Cherries
• Apricot
• Grapefruit
• Banana
• Pears
• Apples
• Figs
• Pineapple
• Lemons
• Limes

Other Foods

• Whole Wheat Pasta
• Whole Grain Breads
• Corn Bread
• Cooked Eggs
• Sprouted Seeds

Avoid the following foods
-Avocados

-Dairy Products(Except Yogurt)

-Fruit Rinds

-Rhubarb

-Raw Meats

-Onions

-Garlic

-Chocolate

-Salty/Sugary Foods

-Alcohol

-Fruit Pits

-Peanuts

-Uncooked Rice

-Uncooked Beans

-Seeds of: Pears, Oranges, Papaya, Grapefruit, Grapes, Apples & some Melons

-Mayonnaise products

-Caffeine


And here's an imcomplete list of seeds you could feed: safflower seed, white millet, oat groats, buckwheat, canary grass seed, sunflower seeds, hemp seed (human grade), whole wheat, rolled barley, pumpkin seeds, shelled peanuts, almonds, pine nuts, pistachios, red millet, nyger

 

[MonicaMc]

Please note, some of the links in this post may be dead. My apologies for not cleaning them up!

List of Suppliers who sell sprouts!!!​

1. Organic Bird Food - Dynamo Sprout Mixes - Nature's Choice Essentials 100% Certified Organic Bird Food
   
2. Certified Organic Sprouts, Sprout Mix for Parrots, Avian Naturals Preservative free parrot foods.
   
3. Sprouts for pets
   
4. Avian FRESH Diet Parrot Food
   
5. Birdcamp Sprout Mix Information
   
6. Food : Sprouting Needs - The Birdbrain
   
7. sproutmix
   
8. Parrot Sprouts and More
   
9. Parrots on the Porch
   
10. FOOD - SPROUT SEEDS AND MIXES
    
11. Bird Food, Organic Sprouts, Parrot Food, Bird Seed. Bulk Bird Food. Grey Feather Toy Creations.
    
12. Bird Food_parrot seeds, treats and nuts for parrots
    
13. Beane's Birds - The Charlene Beane Company
    
14. Moran's Critter Connection Best Bird Food Ever
    

Sprouting Information & Diets​

• Pamperedpeeps Aviary- Parrot mash
• Parrots are my Weakness.: Sprouting for Parrots
• This is a step by step How to pictures from food & drink photos on webshots
• HolisticBird and HolisticBirds
• Diet
• Winged Wisdom magazine ezine e-zine - Sprouts, first aid kits, cultures articles

Here's a little guideline I put together based on resources found on sprouting .. I order my seeds and stuff individually, and make mixes based on spouting times .. not of the information is my own .. just reorganized to put similar sprouting times together ...




Sprouting Reference List


1 – 2 Day Sprouts


Broccoli: Soak 8 hours, rinse 2-3 times a day, ready in 1-2 days.

Oats, hulled: Vitamin E. Good for immune system and skin disorders unless bird is sensitive to gluten. Soak 8 hours, ready in 1-2 days.

Pumpkin seed: B complex, E, phosphorus, iron, zinc, protein. Soak 8 hours, ready in 1 day.

Quinoa: Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, folacin, copper, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc and protein. Soak 3-4 hours, harvest 1-2 days.

Sunflower hulled: B complex, D, E, calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and unsaturated fatty acids and protein. Soak 6-8 hours, harvest in 1-2 days


2 – 3 Day Sprouts

Barley, hulless type: Vitamins A, B complex, E, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus. Glucans to help lower cholesterol and build the immune system. Soak 6 hours, harvest 2-3 days

Millet, unhulled: Vitamin B, E, protein. Soak 8 hours, ready in 2-3 days.

Peas: Vitamin A, iron, potassium, magnesium. Contain all 8 essential amino acids and 22 percent protein. Soak time: 8 hours, harvest in 2-3 days.

Wheat: B complex, E, folacin, iron, magnesium, manganese, protein and omega-6. Flavor is sweetest when tail first appears. Soak for 12 hours, harvest in 2-3 days.


3 – 5 Day Sprouts

Adzuki bean: Vitamin C, iron, protein. Soak 5 hours, harvest 3-5 days

Amaranth: Soak 3-5 hours, harvest 2-3 days. Soak 3-5 hours, ready in 3-5 days.

Buckwheat, hulled: soak 6 hours (no longer) Harvest 3-4 days

Lentil sprouts:The richest source sprout of high quality protein, approximately 24 % protein. Folic acid, C, E, iron, phosphorus, potassium. 4-12 hours of soaking. Harvest in 3-5 days.

Radish:Vitamins A,C (more than 29 times the vitamin C and 4 times the vitamin A of milk), calcium and protein. Soak 6 hours, harvest 3-5 days

Fenugreek: Iron, phosphorus, trace elements. Soak 6 hours, ready in 2-5 days.


4 – 5 Day Sprouts

Mung bean sprouts: Vitamin A, C, phosphorus, iron. Soak 12 hours and take about 5 days to get those long tails. It may be best to avoid mung beans if a bird has candida or any other yeast type of infection.

Mustard seeds sprouts can add some zesty flavor but when seeds come into contact with water allyl isothiocyanate is formed. Mustard seed sprouts are likely safe but some people prefer to avoid them for their birds. Soak 4-6 hours and harvest in 4-5 days.



Misc Sprouts

Alfalfa sprouts are not only a good source of vitamin C but also beta carotene ( vitamin A). If you decide to sprout alfalfa be sure not to feed dormant seeds as the dormant seed contains canavanine, a natural toxin and carcinogen but when the seed sprouts, any amount is miniscule. Soak 4-6 hours and they should be ready in 4-6 days. Other sprout sources of beta carotene are sprouted peas and cabbage.

Almond:B complex, E, calcium, magnesium, potassium, selenium, protein and fatty acids. Soak 8-10 hours, ready to eat.


CAUTION: Large beans: Anasazi, Black, Fava, Kidney, Lima, Navy, Pinto, Soy, are not suggested for sprouting. These legumes can cause toxicity and remain difficult to digest. Their raw flavor is also very bad. If choose to serve these to your bird they MUST be soaked for a minimum of 8 hours, water drained and beans rinsed well, and then cooked by bringing them to a full boil, boiling uncovered for 10 minutes, covered and simmered for another 20 minutes.


Let’s Sprout!!

Getting Started:

Now that you have some background information you can try some sprouting. There are different methods that you may want to try in order to find one that you are the most comfortable with or is the most convenient for you.

To start choose which sprouts you want to try. You can sprout one type of seed at a time or combine seeds. By looking at the list you may choose sprouts that have similar soaking and sprouting times. You can also choose items that may not sprout at exactly the same time and let those faster sprout tails grow a little longer while you wait for the slower sprouts. The easiest sprouting seeds to start for beginners are: wheat, sunflower, lentil, mung and quinoa.



Some possible combinations to try:

#1 Sunflower seeds and quinoa

#2 Mung, wheat, amaranth

#3 Buckwheat, quinoa, sesame seed

#4 Millet, sprouting pea, chickpea, wheat

Cookable Foods


There's tons of recipes online, and there's even a bird cookbook... although I do not use the cookbook for it's recipes, but for the valuable information that can be found in the rest of the book!

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Healthy-Bird-Cookbook-Lifesaving-Nutritional/dp/0793805384/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1298835062&sr=8-1]The Healthy Bird Cookbook[/ame]


Or premade mixes and cooked foods...​

1. Bird Street Bistro - Organic and All Natural Foods for Exotic Birds - (Deemed as Beak Appetit Replacement)
   
2. Bird-Elicious! (currently not reproducing)
   
3. Noah's Kingdom - Bird Food, Dog Food, Cat Food
   
4. BIRD PARADISE BLENDS by Bird Paradise
   
5. Exotic Bird Food Page 1
   
6. Avian Naturals and All Bird Toys nutritious healthy organic natural parrot food parrot supply treats gifts parts
   
7. Beak Appetit
   
8. Goldenfeast
   
9. Volkman's Soak & Simmer Bean Mixture
   
10. Volkman's 15 Minute Soak & Simmer
    
11. Gini's Birdiebread
    
12. Momma Birds Birdy Bread
    
13. Crazy Corn
    
14. Harrison's Original Bird Bread Mix
    
15. L'Avian Plus™ Bean Cuisine™ - Product Information
    
16. Natural Food Treats and Supplements for Birds - Dr. Harvey's
    
17. Pretty Bird - Birdy Banquet
    

 

[aliray]

can I say thank you times 4, one for each of my birds. Great info, Thanks so much for sharing

 

[MonicaMc]

You are welcome!

Kind of helps to have a list of safe foods when you go grocery shopping for them!!!!

 

[weco]

[FONT=&quot]Here you go Monica.....you can add these several things to your card file too:




DISCLAIMER: This list has been compiled from several sources, including the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council Avian Reference Manual and is included as a service. This is not medical advice and is not intended to replace competent medical advice.

Although the following items are considered to be safe and non-toxic to most humans and animals, each owner must make their own informed decision as to any specific dangers to themselves and/or their parrots or other pets You should keep in mind that just because an item is considered to be safe, that determination probably did not come from any credible study to that effect as it regards companion parrots.

The majority of the items on this Safe list have never crossed the path of Pesky Parrot or his ancestors, so as with their human companions, an item that is safe for John might cause hives in Sam and diarrhea in Patrick. My point is that Pesky Parrot may not be phased by a particular item, but Pollyanna may develop nausea and loose droppings from it.

In researching the information contained in this Safe list, along with the Toxic and Questionable lists, sources were found that listed a particular item as safe, while another may have listed it as toxic. Some of the conflicts are attributable to hearsay and mis-information. In those instances where I was able to list a questionable item (on someone else’s list) as safe, I did so. If I was unable to confirm that an item was non-toxic, it was either left to the toxic or questionable lists.

You should check with an avian veterinarian for accuracy of this information and any potential use thereof.

Plants, Branches & Eats

Acacia
Achira
Acorn squash
Action plant
Adder’s fern
African daisy
African violet
Ailanthus
Airplane plant
Alder
Alfalfa
Algarroba
Alice du Pont
Almonds, salt free
Aluminum plant
Alumroot
Alyssum
American bittersweet
American rubber plant
Angel’s tears
Anise root
Antelope ears
Anthericum Comosum
Antirrhinum multiflorum
Apricots - except pits are toxic
Arabian gentian
Arbutus
Areca palm
Aregelia
Ash
Aspen
Asparagus fern
Aspidistra
Aspidium falcatum
Assam robber plant
Aster
Astragalus (Chinese herb)
Aubepine
Australian ivy palm
Australian pine
Autumn olive
Baby jade
Baby rubber plant
Baby’s breath
Baby’s tears
Bachelor’s buttons
Ball fern
Balloon flower
Balsa wood
Bamboo palm
Bamboo vine
Banana –fruit only (skin is OK, but not leaves)
Banana squash
Barberry
Bean sprouts
Bee palm
Beech tree
Beet greens
Beets
Begonia
Bellflower
Belmont sentry palm
Belmore sentry plant
Benjamin tree
Bilbergia
Big shellbark hickory
Birch
Bird’s nest fern
Bitter pecan
Bitternut
Black beans - cooked
Black eyed susan
Black haw
Black hawthorn
Blackberries
Blacking plant
Bladdemut
Blaspheme vine
Bloodleaf plant
Blooming sally
Bluebottle
Blue bead
Blue daisy
Blue echeveria
Blue eyed daisy
Blue Marguerite
Blueberries
Bluebottle
Blue-dick
Blunt leaf peperomia
Blushing bromeliad
Blushing cup
Bois d’arc
Bold sword fern
Borage
Boston fern
Bottle palm
Bottlebrush
Bougainvillea
Braided ficus
Brake fern
Brazilian orchid
Bride’s bonnet
Bristly greenbrier
Broad-leaved lady palm
Broccoli
Brodiaca pulchella
Bromeliad
Broom hickory
Brown rice
Brush cherry
Brussels sprouts
Buckwheat
Bullbrier
Bur gourd
Burro’s tail
Buttercup squash
Butterfly bush
Butterfly ginger
Butterfly Iris
Butterfly palm
Butterfly squash
Button fern
Cabbage – cut up to prevent stringy pieces
Cabbage tree
Calathea
Calendula
California maidenhair
California poppy
Camellia
Candle plant
Cane palm
Canary island date palm
Canna lily
Cantaloupe – flesh only, rind is
toxic
Cape jasmine
Carob tree
Carpet bugle
Carrots
Carrots, grated
Cashews, salt free
Cast iron plant
Cauliflower
Cauliflower ears
Cayenne
Celery (cut into small pieces
Chafing fuel – canned
Chard
Chayote squash
Cheerios
Cheese, small amount
Cherries - without pits
Chex cereals
Chicken - well cooked
Chickweed
Chicory – good for vitamin A
China doll
China rose
China sister
Chinese fan palm
Chinese hibiscus
Chinese rubber plant
Chive
Christmas cactus
Cinnamon
Cissus (kangaroo vine)
Climbing rose
Cod liver oil (calcium vitamins)
Coleus
Collard greens – good for vitamin A, C & calcium
Comfrey
Common houseleek
Common zinnia
Coral bells
Coralberry
Coreopsis
Cork Oak
Corn
Corn plant
Cornbread
Cotoneaster
Cottage cheese, low fat is best
Cottonwood
Crabapple
Crab cactus
Cranberries
Crape myrtle
Crassula argentea
Creeping fig
Cretan brake fern
Crown pink
Cryptanthus
Cucumber
Curly palm
Dagger plant
Dahlia
Dandelion – flower
Dandelion green
Date palm

[/FONT]

 

[weco]

[FONT=&quot]Here's a few more Monica.....[/FONT][FONT=&quot]

Plants, Branches & Eats – Page 2[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Daylily
Deer’s foot fern
Delta maidenhair fern
Dish fern
Dogwood
Donkey tail
Douglas fir
Dragon tree
Dudder grass
Dutchwings
Dwarf date palm
Dwarf fan palm
Dwarf rubber plant
Dycida
Earth stars
Easter cactus
Echeverta
Echinacea
Edible fig
Eggs - scrambled or hard boiled
are best
Elephant-foot tree
Elderberry
Elk’s horn fern
Elm
Emerald feather
Emerald fern
Emerald ripple peperomia
Escallonia
Eucalyptus
Eugenia
European fan palm
Evening primrose
False aralia
False spiraea
fan palm
Fatsia
Fern Rhapis
Figs – fruit
Figs - (creeping, rubber, fiddle leaf, laurel leaf)
Fiji fern
Fir
Firethorn
Fish, cooked & de-boned
Fish tail fern
Fitonia
Five-finger fern
Flaming sword
Flamingo plant
Flat palm
Flax seed
Formosa rice tree
Forster sentry palm
Forsythia
Freckle face
Friendship plant
Frozen mixed vegetables
Fruit juice
Fruitless mulberry
***sha
Gardenia
Garlic
Gasteria
Giant inch plant
Giant yucca
Ginger
Ginkgo
Glossy-leaved paper plant
Goat maple
Goat willow
Gold Dust
Golden bells
Golden butterfly palm
Golden feather palm
Golden polypodium
Goldfish plant
Good luck plant
Granola
Grape ivy
Grape vines
Grapefruit
Grapes
Grecian laurel
Green beans
Green peppers
Green ripple peperomia
Groundsel
Guava
Gujzmania
Gypsophila
Hackberry
Hare’s food fern
Hawaiian good luck plant
Hawaiian hibiscus
Hawaiian tree fern
Hawthorn
Hazelnut
Heart-of-flame
Hens and chicks
Hibiscus
Hickory
Holly fern
Hot peppers
House pine
Howeia palm
Huckleberry
Humble plant
Ice plant
Inch plant
India rubber tree
Irish moss
Iron cross begonia
Iron fern
Iron tree
Ironwood
Ivy-leaf pepper
Jackson brier
Jade plant
Jade tree
Janet Craig dracaena
Japanese arlia
Japanese camellia
Japanese fatsla
Japanese holly fern
Japanese moss
Japanese rubber plant
Java fig
Jewel orchid
Jicama
Joseph’s coat
Jungle geranium
Kaempferis
Kangaroo vine
Kahali ginger
Kale – good for vitamin A
Kava-kava
Kelp
Kentia palm
Kenya palm
Kenya violet
Kharoub
Kidney beans, cooked
King Nut
King of the forest
Kiwi
Kohlrabi
Kuang-yen pa-hsieh
Lace trumpet
Lady palm
Lady’s teardrops
Larch
Leather fern
Leatherleaf fern
Legumes
Lemons
Lettuce
Lilac
Lima beans
Lipstick plant
Liquidamber
Little fantasy peperomia
Live-and-die plant
Living-vase plant
Lomaria
Madagascar palm
Madrona
Magnolia
Maidenhair fern
Mangos
Manzanita
maple
Marigolds
Massange’s dracaena
Measles plant
Mediterranean fan palm
Mediterranean laurel
Mesquite
Mexican bottle plant
Mexican gem
Mexican snowball
Mexican tree fern
Michaelmas daisy
Milk Bone Dog Biscuits
Millet
Mimosa
Miniature date palm
Miniature fan palm
Miniature jasmine
Monkey plant
Mosaic plant
Mother fern
Mother-in-law’s tongue (Hmmm, interesting)
Mountain ash
Mueslix cereal
Mulberry
Mustard greens
Nandina
Nasturtium
Natal plum
Navy beans - cooked
Neanthe bella palm
Nectarines – fleshy part of fruit only
Neoregelia
Nerve plant
New York Aster
Nidularium
Norfolk island pine
Oatmeal
Old-man-and-woman
Olive
Oranges
Orchids
Oregon grape
Oriental bamboo
Ornamental dracaena
Painted fingernail
Painted nettle
Papaya – fleshy part of the fruit
Paper flower
Paper plant
Parlour palm
Parsley
Passion flower
Pasta
Peaches – fleshy part of fruit
only
Pearl echeveria
Pears – seeds are toxic to some[/FONT]

 

[weco]

This will end up what I’ve got for now Monica.....

Plants, Branches & Eats – Page 3


Peas
Pecan tree
Pecans - salt free
Pellaea
peperomia
Pepper face plant
Peppers
Persimmons
Petunia
Photinia
Phoenix palm
Piggyback plant
Pine
Pine nuts
Pineapple
Pink polka-dot plant
Pinto beans - cooked
Pistachios – plain (not colored) & salt free
Pitcher plant
Pittosporum
Platinum pepper
Pleomele
Plums
Polka-dot plant
Polypody
Pomegranates - fruit is OK
Ponytail palm
Poplar
Potatoes - cooked only
Pothos
Prayer plant
Prostrate coleus
Prune
Puffed oats
Pumpkin
Purple nettle
Purple passion
Purple velvet plant
Pygmy date palm
Pyracantha
Rabbit’s foot fern
Radiator plant
Rainbow star
Radishes
Raphiolepsis
Raspberries
Red-creeping Charlie
Red grapefruit
Red-margined draceana
Red peppers
Ribbon and bows
Ribbon fern
Ribbon wood
Rice, cooked or crisped
Roebelin palm
Roof houseleek
Rolled oats
Rose
Rose-of-China
Rosy madenhair
Roundleaf fern
Royal velvet plant
Rubber plant
Russian olive
Saffron spike
Salmon
Sassafras
Scabiosa
Schefflera
Screw pine
Seaweed
Sedum
Sensitive plant
Sentry palm
Shame plant
Shredded carrots
Shredded wheat
Silk tree
Silver dollar maidenhair
Silver fittonia
Silver net plant
Silver threads
Slender lady palm
Small-leaved rubber plant
Snake plant
Snapdragon
Snowberry
Southern maidenhair fern
Southern sword fern
Sow thistle
Spanish bayonet
Sprenger asparagus
Sprengerl fern
Spider fern
Spider ivy
Spider plant
Spinach
Spineless yucca
Spiraea
Spotted gasteria
Spruce
Spur flower
Squash
Squirrel’s foot fern
Staghorn fern
Starfish plant
Star fruit
Strawberries – homegrown are best
Strawberry tree
Summer squash
Sunflower seeds, sparingly
Swedish begonia
Swedish ivy
Sweet bay
Sweet gum
Sweet potato, cooked
Swiss chard
Sword fern
Sycamore
Table fern
Tang drink mix
Tangerines
Thanksgiving cactus
Thatch-leaf palm
Thistle
Thousand mothers
Thurlow
Thyme
Ti log
Ti plant
Tillandsia
Tom thumb
Tomatoes – fruit only
Touch-me-not
Trailing watermellon begonia
Tree-of-kings
Tree fern
Tropical hibiscus
Tuna (water packed)
Turnip greens
Turnips
Umbrella tree
Urn plant
Variegated wandering jew
Vase plant
Velvet nettle
Velvet plant
Venezuela treebine
Venus’s hair
Viburnum
Vine maple
Vinegar
Volcano plant
Vriesea
Walking anthericum
Walnuts
Warneckii dracaena
Wandering Jew
Watercress
Watermelon
Watermelon begonia
Watermelon peperomia
Watermelon pilea
Wax plant
Wax flower
Weeping Chinese banyon
Weeping fig
Weeping willow
Western maidenhair fern
White clover
White-leaf fittonia
White Mexican rose
White poplar
Whole rye
Wiegela
Willow
Windmill palm
Wine palm
Winter squash
Yams
Yellow bamboo
Yellow squash
Yogurt
Youth-on-age
Youth and old age
Yucca
Zebra plant
Zinnia
Zucchini

 

[weco]

If anyone finds any errata in my lists, please private message me or if you have any verifiable inclusions, message me also.....for those living in OZ, Hobbit land, the Asian Rim or the other lands of our forefathers, please feel free to message me with verifiable inclusions or deletions.....

OH, sorry for the long posts..... )

 

[mcdougle]

i dont understand why peanuts are on the bad food list, especialy when almost all mixed parrot food in the uk contains peanuts???

 

[MonicaMc]

WHFoods: Peanuts

Peanuts and Aflatoxin

Peanuts are susceptible to molds and fungal invasions. Of particular concern is aflatoxin, a poison produced by a fungus called Aspergillus flavus. Although better storage and handling methods have virtually eliminated the risk of aflatoxin ingestion, aflatoxin is a known carcinogen that is twenty times more toxic than DDT and has also been linked to mental retardation and lowered intelligence. To help prevent aflatoxin ingestion, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also enforces a ruling that 20 parts per billion is the maximum of aflatoxin permitted in all foods and animal foods, including peanut butter and other peanut products. If purchasing raw peanuts, it is still wise to ensure that the peanuts have been stored in a dry, cool environment (the fungus grows when the temperature is between 86-96°F (30-36°C) and when the humidity is high). Roasted peanuts are thought to offer more protection against aflatoxin, plus roasting is also thought to improve peanuts' digestibility. If roasting peanuts at home, do so gently—in a 160-170°F (about 75°C) oven for 15-20 minutes—to preserve the healthy oils. For more on the effect of high heat roasting on nuts, please see the following article.

It's because of aflatoxins that could potentially lead to aspergillus fungi/mold, which can be deadly to parrots. Once a bird gets an "asper" infection, even if they make a full recovery, they may forever be susceptible to getting them again.


A lot of people feed peanuts without ever having an issue with them! But I prefer staying clear of them. There are healthier alternatives that pose less danger to birds.



Weco, great list!

 

[mcdougle]

WHFoods: Peanuts

Peanuts and Aflatoxin

Peanuts are susceptible to molds and fungal invasions. Of particular concern is aflatoxin, a poison produced by a fungus called Aspergillus flavus. Although better storage and handling methods have virtually eliminated the risk of aflatoxin ingestion, aflatoxin is a known carcinogen that is twenty times more toxic than DDT and has also been linked to mental retardation and lowered intelligence. To help prevent aflatoxin ingestion, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also enforces a ruling that 20 parts per billion is the maximum of aflatoxin permitted in all foods and animal foods, including peanut butter and other peanut products. If purchasing raw peanuts, it is still wise to ensure that the peanuts have been stored in a dry, cool environment (the fungus grows when the temperature is between 86-96°F (30-36°C) and when the humidity is high). Roasted peanuts are thought to offer more protection against aflatoxin, plus roasting is also thought to improve peanuts' digestibility. If roasting peanuts at home, do so gently—in a 160-170°F (about 75°C) oven for 15-20 minutes—to preserve the healthy oils. For more on the effect of high heat roasting on nuts, please see the following article.

It's because of aflatoxins that could potentially lead to aspergillus fungi/mold, which can be deadly to parrots. Once a bird gets an "asper" infection, even if they make a full recovery, they may forever be susceptible to getting them again.


A lot of people feed peanuts without ever having an issue with them! But I prefer staying clear of them. There are healthier alternatives that pose less danger to birds.



Weco, great list!

ahh i got it now i see why we feed more here in the uk that you in the states, its probably because of the growth temprature, 30-36C in the uk is considered a really hot summer, on average our summers are 20-25C at a push our homes are kept comfortable with the central heating on at anything between 20-30C personaly much over 20C and i start stripping down lol but point being due to average temps we probably just aren't as suseptable to it as you lot

 

[MonicaMc]

Mmm.... ionno about that....

The USA has various climates... from desert to tropical... dry heat to humid. Freezing cold temperatures below 0° F to temps above 100° F (over 37° C)

The USA also buys a lot of produce grown in Mexico and I'm sure from other places, too.


I still feel that true nuts are healthier than peanuts are, even though I rarely ever feed nuts (having the tiny guys, after all! and the only one who might be interested in nuts either can't eat them or has no interest in them!)

 

[xBluexEyedxWolfx]

so you say soak them for 5 hrs but harvest them in 3-5 days, does that literately mean leave them in water for 5 hrs and take them out and set them on the counter and leave them there for 3-5 days then their good?

sorry i've never heard of "sprouting"

THANKS FOR THE KNOWLEDGE!!

 

[BoomBoom]

I missed this list somehow, this is great! I didn't know Okra was safe for parrots. I think Boomer will like it.

 

[MonicaMc]

so you say soak them for 5 hrs but harvest them in 3-5 days, does that literately mean leave them in water for 5 hrs and take them out and set them on the counter and leave them there for 3-5 days then their good?

sorry i've never heard of "sprouting"

THANKS FOR THE KNOWLEDGE!!

Depending on the sprouts, they need to be soaked for at least 2-24 hours. Many are fine with an overnight sprout. After soaking, you rinse them, drain the water and let sit for 1-5 days (again, depending on sprouts), rinsing at least 2-3 times per day.


Here's a photo of 20 grams and 50 grams of sprouting seeds being soaked (using apple cider vinegar as an antibacterial agent)

Here's a photo of the difference between 50 grams of sprout mix dry vs 50 grams of sprout mix ready to feed.

Photos of sprouts ready to feed

There are multiple ways to sprout seeds, and multiple seeds that can be sprouted with various sprout times. You can either make your own mix or buy a sprout mix through a store or online.

 

[Mommajack]

Very helpful!

 

[Jayyj]

A couple of things I've seen conflicting opinions on are wholegrain bread and cheese - are these things that are dependent on quantity or am I better avoiding altogether?

I have a new bird who seems very resistant to trying anything other than the seed mix she was on when I got her... until I sit down with my own dinner, then she's straight onto my arm with a gleam in her eye. It's a great way to get her to eat warm veggies or pasta - I just keep a small bowl with extra for her and pretend to take it out of my own dish - but I'm still nervous about what I can offer. This list is a great help, and I'll be taking it with me for next weeks shop, so thanks to everyone posting.

 

[MonicaMc]

Hard cheese is better than soft cheese. Birds aren't designed to process lactose that is found in milk and milk products. Softer cheeses tend to have a lot of lactose where-as harder cheeses and [greek] yogurt tend to have very few to none. Yogurt also has lactase in it which helps to digest lactose in the body. Cottage cheese can also be fed.

Breads are "ok" but it doesn't hurt to stick to healthier breads! Some people *love* to make "birdy bread" which uses cornbread as it's base and people add things to it such as pellets, vegetables, fruits and nuts. There are even companies that sell "bird bread" and you just add water and cook! (to put simply)

These things shouldn't be a large part of the diet, but as a rare treat it would be fine. Yogurt would probably be the healthiest in the milk department since it has live bacteria in it which may be beneficial to the birds.

 

[haleybird]

The information on this page is so useful and important! I keep coming back to it and reading. thank you for putting it together! Is there a sticky post like this already? This one would make a good sticky I think

On a side note, looking at those sprouts is making me hungry...I'm thinking about what would be tasty on them (for humans)....soyaki sauce.... Grated cheese...a balsamic vinaigrette.... Or maybe even some kind of hot sauce. YUM!!

 

[GladeWing]

Sorry for potentially bumping an old thread (not sure if that is disallowed here) but this is a FANTASTIC source of information. I particularly like the pictures of the sprouts.

I never fed Peanuts to my birds, even the ones I was fostering. Honestly, I picked them out of the parrot food because I felt like the peanuts that made it into bird food might have been "second pick" or something (not fit for human consumption so they throw it in bird food) so I had never been too keen on them. I myself had a salted peanut from a bag (for human consumption) that had mold in it. So maybe that scarred me, lol!

Again, fantastic list... thank you for compiling the information here for reference