Nutrition: Don'ts

[Keupi]

When it comes to fid-eating, the don'ts are a bit easier to follow than the do's.

There are six big don'ts:

Alcohol
Caffeine
Chocolate
Avacados
Celery (stings tie up their digestive organs)
Apple and Cherry Pits (they contain enough cyanide to kill a fid)

There are also four other best not exposed:

Carbonated beverages - seltzer water, sodas, etc.
Milk
Rhubarb
Iceberg Lettuce

A special note about milk - dairy products (eg, eggs, cheese, yogurt, etc) are ok as long as they are given in moderation. Milk, though, is not. While not fully understood, fids are/seem to be lactose-intolerant. 'Straight' dairy, ie, straight from the source, doesn't work well for a fid however dairy products in moderation help fids.

 

[Chewy]

what's wrong with the lettuce? I do understandt hat it's mostly water but what's wrong with it other then that?

 

[TexDot33]

No nutritional value ... kinda stringy (like celery) ...

 

[Keupi]

what's wrong with the lettuce? I do understandt hat it's mostly water but what's wrong with it other then that?

Iceburg lettuce is an 'issue' lettuce. The way it's processed can and has led to some e coli issues. It's also a bit more 'stringy' (like celery). That makes it a 'best not.'

It's not a true don't and if you do - breathe. The key thing with that type of lettuce is that it has caused harm in two known ways and like you said, it's really water. It's a food that has no known benefit but a few known harms.

Rhubarb is another sticky one. I know quite a few fids that have relished on rhubarb but many more who died from eating rhubarb. It doesn't seem to matter with either whether it was cooked or raw. Rhubarb is another - more problem than benefit.

 

[birdcrazy]

i know apple seeds are no nos but is a slice of apple bad for them as well?

 

[Redballoon]

I try and feed Skippah sliced green apple, but he refuses it,...Like most things I offer him.

 

[Deanna]

i know apple seeds are no nos but is a slice of apple bad for them as well?

No, Kelli, a slice of apple without seeds is good for them. If you are not peeling, wash it very well, slice, de-seed and have fun!

 

[Deanna]

I try and feed Skippah sliced green apple, but he refuses it,...Like most things I offer him.

Maybe try red varieties ... they are sweeter.

 

[Keupi]

i know apple seeds are no nos but is a slice of apple bad for them as well?

No - apple pits and cherry pits, as well as the layer of fruit surrounding the pit. The flesh itself is fine, the pit and the surrounding area isn't.

The slice is fine.

The problem with apple and cherry seed/pits is that they contain cyanide.

 

[TexDot33]

Hamlet loves apples ... we use it as a treat for training ... Mac is starting to try apples and I think he like it ... we tried cherries a few weeks ago, and like all new foods, was turned down ... but I am sure that they will come around eventually ...

 

[Keupi]

Hamlet loves apples ... we use it as a treat for training ... Mac is starting to try apples and I think he like it ... we tried cherries a few weeks ago, and like all new foods, was turned down ... but I am sure that they will come around eventually ...

Have fun with them. Have you tried applesauce? Or the apple slice coated in pellets and millet (great trick for pellet non-eaters). Or the diced apple with other 'look alikes' (eg, squash). Or the dehydrated version - what's funny is if they dip it in water and it comes alive?

Apples are fine, cherries are fine, the seeds/pits and surrounding flesh is not. When you cut a slice of either, you can generally be assured your not going into the danger zone.

Here's an 'fid' candied-apple recipe:

Core and skin an apple (any variety).

Using a rolling pin or a meat pounder, pound and pulp a variety of seeds, pellets, millet, veggies, etc. (Use your imagination - and take out your wrath).

Coat the apple in your pounded/pulped mix. If need be, add a drop or two of honey to make it stick.

Thread apple into a kabob, hang, and let fid enjoy. Remove 2-4 hours later and discard the remains.

 

[pheobus]

what's wrong with the lettuce? I do understandt hat it's mostly water but what's wrong with it other then that?

No nutritional value ... kinda stringy (like celery) ...

Guys that is not true...Lettuce contains 7% vitamin A....Atleast that's what I was taught in university( I am an agronomist) and some vitamin C I think...

 

[Flyte]

I would suggest placing carbonated beverages on the absolutely NO list. From what I've heard and read, they can kill a bird.
Since birds cannot belch or fart, I would think the carbonation would stay and swell there. How the heck would it get out?
I've heard stories of them making birds 'explode'. I don't know if that's actually true, sounds doubtful, but my boyfriend witnessed someone killing a seagull by giving it soda soaked bread or something.. he said the bird died very soon after. Apparently he'd eaten quite a bit and it was very soaked. I'll ask him later about how the bird actually died. He obviously didn't associate with that person again. I sure hope his Karma caught up to him sometime soon..

 

[Redballoon]

I think thats an old wives tale about giving wild birds aspirins and soft drinks. At least I hope it is.

 

[Flyte]

Well I've never seen or heard my birds fart or burp, even after eating broccoli & beans.. I know my Vet always told me carbonated things were a big no no..
The caffeine and sugar is way to much for my birds anyway. They are already hyper.
I saw what happened as a kid when my ferret stole a Pepsi.. I do not want anything behaving in that manner while being able to fly!

 

[Christy]

I love the candied bird apple idea! We will have to try that. Right now Ham and Mac are enjoying apple pieces with their breakfast as a special treat for Ham's hatchday. Of course they both pick those out of the mixture of pellets, carrots, broccoli, and kale that they have been given this morning. Mac really enojys apples now.

 

[Keupi]

I love the candied bird apple idea! We will have to try that. Right now Ham and Mac are enjoying apple pieces with their breakfast as a special treat for Ham's hatchday. Of course they both pick those out of the mixture of pellets, carrots, broccoli, and kale that they have been given this morning. Mac really enojys apples now.

Happy Hatchday again to Ham! (Imagine trying to say that quickly LOL!)

I love apples because while good for fids also help in introducing new tastes to fids. Mom invented the 'candy' recipe. She originally came up with it as a way to give vitamins or medicines (powdered then). Then began using apples to introduce new foods to finicky fids.