NEVER FEED THESE TO YOUR BIRD~ FOOD SAFETY

 Here is a list of certain food stuffs that should never be a part of your pet's diet, don't forget that the bird is totally dependent on you for his health and well being so please feed him wisely..

*Dyes – Some birds eat dyed food and seem to have very few problems, but the fact is that birds' kidneys are not meant to process artificial dyes, and many birds fail to thrive if dyes are a part of their diet. Eclectus are especially susceptible to dyed foods, and have been known to pluck, wing-flip, toe-tap, or even succumb to renal failure.

 

*Sulfured fruits – You can usually tell a dehydrated fruit is sulphured because it will have an unnaturally bright color, although you can't know for sure unless the packaging specifically says that the fruits are unsulphured. Sulfuring can cause allergies and itchiness, which can then lead to feather plucking, and in high doses it can also cause respiratory symptoms like asthma. Avoid sulphured fruits whenever possible.

*Preservatives and flavor enhancers – Some preservatives and flavor enhancers are made from natural products and are just fine, but others pose a very real and serious threat to your parrot's health and well being if ingested on a regular basis. Some birds are highly susceptible to even the smallest doses, so they must beentirely eliminated from some diets. These products include: BHA (kidney toxicity), BHT (kidney toxicity),Ethoxyquin (carcinogen), MSG (brain and eye damage, common allergen), Propyl Gallate (liver toxicity),Propylene Glycol (kidney and liver toxicity), Sodium nitrate (carcinogen), Sodium nitrite (carcinogen).

 

*Dairy products – Remember that at no point in a wild bird's life would they be eating dairy products, so obviously their bodies aren't designed to effectively digest them. While they can sometimes benefit from the calcium, offer dairy products VERY sparingly, and watch your bird closely for adverse effects such as diarrhea or a sour-milk smell in his skin and feathers. If anything does occur, don't give your bird dairy products at all.Just like people, some birds are more lactose intolerant than others.

*Sugars, salts, oils – This one's a no-brainer. If it's bad for people with our big, hearty bodies, it's going to be extra-bad for birds with their smaller, more sensitive bodies. While these things can of course be nutritionally beneficial in small amounts, it's a terrible idea to let birds eat them in large amounts. Be especially careful of nuts and trail mixes that are sold for human consumption. They may seem like a great idea, since birds need to eat nuts and fruit, but they have waaaaaay more salt and sugar than a bird's body can handle.

 

*Peanuts – Yes, peanuts. Peanuts can harbor a dangerous mold called asper, which can pose a threat to yourbird's health. Asper is a mold that commonly occurs in the environment, and most birds' immune systems successfully keep it at bay. But if your bird's immune system is temporarily suppressed (stress, for instance, can cause this) or if your bird ingests a large quantity of asper (such as what can be found in some peanuts), the mold can overcome your bird's immune system and develop an infection. Aspergillosis is difficult to diagnose,expensive to treat, and can be fatal, so it isn't something to be taken lightly. Feed peanuts very sparingly or You'll be playing Russian Roulette with your bird's life.

***These other harmful foods should EVER be given in ANY amount:

Alcohol, avocado, caffeine, cassava (tapioca) root, cocoa products, raw meat, and the seeds and pits of apples,apricots, peaches, and plums.