Okay? Store bought, home-grown basil?

[Ira7]

I know that’s an oxymoron, but I buy small plants and grow them in pots.

Is it okay to give him this, if properly washed? Also, with stems?

I ASSUME these store plants are grown from seeds or cuttings in a greenhouse, and not exposed to heavy chemicals, but who knows.

 

[noodles123]

Eek...Never really thought about that possibility--- I have no idea! My bird hates basil anyway lol. You could call the company and see what they say. The paranoid part of me says better safe than sorry, the lazy part of me says MY bird eats non-organic lettuce from the store and I have no idea what they used on it at the farm...Wash wash wash...and maybe call?? But I bet it's similar to any non-organic produce that you don't peel-- so unless you are doing organic only, I imagine there probably isn't that big of a distinction between what's grown in the ground on an a factory-style farm..

 

[Ira7]

Eek...Never really thought about that possibility--- I have no idea! My bird hates basil anyway lol. You could call the company and see what they say. The paranoid part of me says better safe than sorry, the lazy part of me says by bird eats lettuce from the store and I have no idea what they used on it...Wash wash wash...and maybe call?? But I bet it's similar to any non-organic produce that you don't peel-- so unless you are doing organic only, I imagine there probably isn't that big of a distinction between what's grown in the ground on an a factory-style farm..

I never gave basil to him, but since I’m growing the stuff anyway, I thought I would give it a try. He used to love organic dandelion leaves, but I either can’t always find it, he loses his taste for it when I can, and it goes to waste.

It’s probably the hardest part of owning a parrot, for me, anyway. How to feed the fresh stuff so he doesn’t get bored with it, and it stays fresh.

 

[noodles123]

If you are growing it in your garden and it hasn't had a ton of stuff sprayed on it since you acquired it, I imagine you are probably fine...I grew mine from seed, but I KNOW I have given Noodles veg from plants I got as babies at the store (not basil..but other things)...That is my non-professional opinion lol!

 

[Ira7]

He ate a lot of it just fine. Added it to a bagged kale salad mix I get at the supermarket (Publix).