What foods are unsafe to feed your birds?

Did you know that there is many delicious foods that we as humans are lucky to have in our diet however these can be detrimental to your birds?

Some of which are listed below for you as a handy resource, should your bird not be acting normal or look well, we recommend that you seek veterinary advice.

• Avocado: Avocado can actually cause cardiac distress and eventual heart failure in some species of pet birds.

• Caffeine: Caffeine can increase heart rate, induce arrhythmia and hyperactivity, and even cause cardiac arrest in birds.

• Chocolate: Chocolate contains both theobromine and caffeine which can cause vomiting and diarrhoea, increase heart rate, result in hyperactivity, induce tremors and seizures, and even cause death in birds.

• Salt: Even minimal amounts of salt can lead to excessive thirst, dehydration, kidney failure, and death in birds.

• Pits and seeds: Seeds and pits contain small amounts of a cardiac-toxic cyanide compound.

• Onions: Onions contain sulphur compounds that, when chewed, can irritate the lining of a bird’s mouth, oesophagus, or crop, causing ulcers, and can induce rupture of red blood cells resulting in anemia

• Garlic: Garlic contains allicin, another chemical that can cause anemia and weakness in birds.

• Dried beans: Dried beans contain a poison called hemaglutin, which is very toxic to birds.