Parrot Food Ingredients to Avoid

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When parrots were first kept as house pets, it was assumed they just ate nuts and seeds. Vets began to wonder why many house parrots were prone to sickness. Over time, and with observation of what parrots in the wild eat, more varied and nutritious diets for parrots have emerged. However, there are foods that parrots should never eat. Please do not use this article in the place of your vet's advice.

Types

Parrots should never eat chocolate, apple seeds, any part of an avocado, onions, mushrooms, the leaves that are often still attached to tomatoes, salt, caffeinated drinks and dried beans. All of these foods cause long-term damage to the parrot's health and some do short-term damage. Parrots also should be kept away from alcoholic drinks.

Function

Many of the foods to avoid cause vomiting or diarrhea. Apple seeds, tomato leaves and avocados all contain poisons to birds. Mushrooms can cause vomiting, but even if they don't, they can cause liver damage when eaten a lot. Caffeine has been known to interfere with parrot heart rates. Traces of salt will not hurt your parrot, but a lot of salt eaten over a long time will cause health problems such as dehydration and kidney problems.

Misconceptions

Parrots do not instinctively know what foods are good for them and what are bad. They will eat anything. They will also eat foods that are bad for them if they like the taste of it. Make sure you supervise what your friends feed your parrot.

Warning

Never let your parrot eat cannabis, tobacco or drink alcoholic beverages. Their bodies cannot handle these drugs. Don't even let your friends give your parrot a sip of beer as a joke. Parrots can get very sick or die from these drugs.

Prevention/Solution

Parrots need a balanced and varied diet that about one third seeds, one third fruits and vegetables and one third grains, such as rice or cooked pasta. Cooked beans are OK only as an occasional treat. All parrots have their own food preferences, just like kids do. Some parrots will only eat seeds and ignore everything else because they prefer the taste of seeds. You can't let the bird only eat seeds. You need to take away the seeds and try new foods. There are also commercial parrot pellets that are nutritionally balanced that look and feel somewhat like seeds.