Herbs and spices

[noodles123]

I know there are lots of links about lists of safe and unsafe spices, but there seems to be a lot of controversy...plus, a few that say "in moderation" . As an all-or-nothing sort of gal, I hate that.


What do you know for a fact is safe in any quantity? I don't want to play with fire and accidentally give too much of something, so I would rather just think in terms of safe=no possible overdose level lol.



Also, I have read that most cinnamon is fake and that the fake kind is not good for parrots?


What about whole herbs like coriander, cumin, fennel etc?



What about raw ginger?

 

[ChristaNL]

Stay away from nutmeg is all I know of the top of my head.


There is a huge list going round with all the beneficial (mostly fresh, not dried) herbs of the birdworld - I do not have the link atm/ if I find it you 'll get it!

 

[EllenD]

The only herbs/spices I've ever heard of being actually harmful to birds if they ingest them are nutmeg (thus also pumpkin pie spice), anything containing marigold or it's seeds, and of course any spices that have salt or onion added to them. Most "herbs" in their natural-form are okay, as they grow in the wild and are a part of their regular diets in the wild. For example, I have a huge herb garden that my mom planted for me in my back yard, and the wild birds go crazy and rip it apart every year after I replant the ones that don't winter...I have different Basils, different Parsleys, Rosemary, Thymes, Sages, different Mints, Lemon Balm, Lemongrass, Stevia, BeeBalm (they love the BeeBalm!), and I don't know what all else is out there. The wild birds, squirrels, chipmunks, and the neighbors cats that can get over my fence keep the garden in-check, so I don't have to trim it back too often...Oh, Chives probably not good since they are in the Onion family??? I'm not really sure about that one, same with Leeks...

 

[noodles123]

What about whole pepper corns..raw ginger...whole cumin seed?

Can they eat herbs like fresh basil plain--big leaves of them?
I just know that many herbs have medicinal effects in humans, and I have read that in large quantities certain herbs can impact birds medically as well.

 

[itchyfeet]

Is marigold out?!?! I always thought marigold flowers were fine!!! Off to google and learn about that one! We've just wintered on this side of the hemisphere, so they haven't had them in ages.

They all love the fennel, and rose petals.

Cinnamon seems to encourage them to eat their veg.

 

[dhraiden]

I know I had posted a link to a large but incredibly comprehensive PDF section (by an AV) detailing various substances' - it was one chapter out of an entire guidebook. I̶ ̶c̶a̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶f̶i̶n̶d̶ ̶i̶t̶ ̶n̶o̶w̶,̶ ̶b̶u̶t̶ ̶s̶e̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶e̶x̶c̶e̶r̶p̶t̶ ̶b̶e̶l̶o̶w̶,̶ ̶p̶u̶l̶l̶e̶d̶ ̶f̶r̶o̶m̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶f̶o̶l̶l̶o̶w̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶l̶i̶n̶k̶:̶

EDIT: I re-found it, it's Avian Medicine: Principles and Applications, by Greg Harrison, DVM, Dipl ABVP-Avian, Dipl ECAMS and Teresa Lightfoot, DVM, Dipl ABVP-Avian.


You can pretty much all the chapters on-line here:

http://avianmedicine.net/publication_cat/avian-medicine/

It is comprehensive and covers pretty much everything. Chapter 37 covers Toxins.

http://avianmedicine.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/37.pdf

 

[Tami2]

According to my new ‘parrot’s fine cuisine cookbook’, Coriander/Cilantro & Ceylon Cinnamon Bark is okay. No mention of Cumin.

So, I’m going to make a Fennel, Leek and Pear Soup. I’d like to offer some to Levi, but I’m unsure about the Leeks. I consider Leeks to be in the onion family, but I could be wrong. Anyone know? Leeks are not listed in the cookbook.

Thanks.

 

[chris-md]

Leeks are bad. They are in fact in the onion family.

 

[EllenD]

Yeah, Leeks and Chives are definitely bad, nothing at all in the "Onion" family...Marigold is also definitely a no-go, it's actually poisonous, along with any other flowers in the same family, along with the seeds. It causes toxic-reactions similar to Bella Donna, with the dilated pupils, disorientation, vomiting, etc.

Nutmeg is bad, and any "combination spices" that contain Nutmeg, such as Pumpkin Pie Spice, but I don't know about Ginger...I would think that Ginger would be pretty strong and could just make them sick, not necessarily poisonous or toxic, just not good for them to eat...

Cumin Seed are fine...And yes, you can feed your birds fresh herbs in their natural state, meaning the fresh leaves, such as Basil, Parsley, Sage, Thyme, BeeBalm (they love BeeBalm), etc. Just avoid Rosemary because again it's quite strong and can upset their stomachs...But I will throw some chopped-up herb leaves in their Chop recipes to add some flavor, and they typically love it...I use fresh leaves of different Basil'ss, different Parsley's, Cilantro, etc. Cilantro is one that the Beardies love mixed-in with their greens too...

 

[Tami2]

Thank you, I figured Leeks were a NO. But, I couldn't find info either way.
Appreciate the your input.

 

[SunnyGirl]

what about dried ones? we use quite a few herbs for cooking and fresh ones aren't alwaya available...

 

[noodles123]

That's what I wonder too- there is a lot of anecdotal information on there, but dried spices are more concentrated in some respects, so I am never sure how much is too much (even among those that are safe).

 

[SunnyGirl]

exactly... I really don't want to overdose her on anything...