Green Tea for Parrots?

[Mel]

I regularly drink green tea and always have some left over in the pot, does anyone know of any reason I couldn't give the rest to Shadow? Obviously the blends that have plants poisonous to parrots would be a no no (eg the jasmone blend) but Chamomile would be ok?

 

[Auggie's Dad]

Tea has many chemicals that are very dangerous for birds. No (actual) tea for birds please.

There are a number of herbal teas which are fine though. You mention chamomile, I suspect (but don't know for sure) that this would be fine. But you started asking about 'green tea' .... if it is from the tea plant (Camellia sinensis) it is dangerous for birds.

 

[Mel]

Tea has many chemicals that are very dangerous for birds. No (actual) tea for birds please.

There are a number of herbal teas which are fine though. You mention chamomile, I suspect (but don't know for sure) that this would be fine. But you started asking about 'green tea' .... if it is from the tea plant (Camellia sinensis) it is dangerous for birds.

Green Tea is out - thank you.

I'll look into the herbal blends I have more closely

 

[Auggie's Dad]

Here's an interesting site: Birds Online - Healthy nutrition for budgies - Herbal teas

However I do not recommend herbal tea as medical treatment ... if you think a bird is sick see a vet.

This site also says that (real) tea can be given to parrots under the direction of a vet. If your vet advises it in particular circumstances so be it - but I am fairly confident most vets would never advise it.

 

[greycloud]

Chamomile is actually fine for birds. It is used alot with birds that are feather pickers. It helps to calm and sooth them.

 

[Spiritbird]

I think I mentioned this before but here goes again. At a class I learned that Neem tea is very very healthy for non breeding parrots if you buy organic and I put the web site up. There is only one place you can get it organicall grown and that is in Fla. The Phoenix Landing instructer now gives only a neem tea drink to all of her birds instead of water. She did say it is very important for any tea to be certified as organically grown. Like AD says If bird is sick = see a vet.

Keep in mind that the PL instructor usually has many foster birds that have been plucking or other issues.

 

[Mel]

I think I mentioned this before but here goes again.

Thanks for posting it again SB it must be annoying repeating yourself - I do appreciate it

 

[Ratzy]

I'm told weak black tea can help with a sick budgie, but I've never heard of green tea being used.

 

[Mel]

I'm told weak black tea can help with a sick budgie, but I've never heard of green tea being used.

Ratzy you are right, I did my VN so many years ago I forgot an emergency "brew" we were taught was black tea heated to 40 degrees C with about 6tea spoons of sugar. I used it on a very sick canary I had rescued once and it really pepped her up enough to get her to the vet.

 

[Auggie's Dad]

Perhaps I was mistaken ... I'll have to look into this further. I'd still recommend caution and to certainly talk to a vet before you offer any xanthine (caffeine, theobromine, theophyline) containing food/drink to a bird.

 

[Mel]

Perhaps I was mistaken ... I'll have to look into this further. I'd still recommend caution and to certainly talk to a vet before you offer any xanthine (caffeine, theobromine, theophyline) containing food/drink to a bird.

This was an emergency only brew, certainly not ok for everyday consumtion so I think you're still right. It also doesn't replace going to the vet

 

[HRH Di]

I would think that chamomille tea would be safe. Chamomille is so soothing that I would bet it does help pluckers. My youngest son and I are both fans of caffeine-free herbal teas.

 

[Spiritbird]

Not to carry this thread on and on but interestingly I have heard of making a spritz of cam. tea, aloe and water to spray on a bird that is plucking due to itching or stress.