NO Avocado, Please! And Other Foods to Avoid

Why is avocado toxic for birds?

• Inability to perch,
• Respiratory distress,
• Fluid accumulation around the bird’s heart and lungs,
• Liver and kidney failure
• And sudden death.

Other Toxic Foods

Apples, peaches, cherries, apricots and pears have toxic seeds. They contain trace amounts of cyanide and it's best to avoid core these fruits. Additionally, pesticides may be present on the skin. Thoroughly wash and peel the fruit as well. 

Uncooked beans contain a poison called hemaglutin which is very toxic to birds. To avoid poisoning, make sure to thoroughly cook any beans that you feed your bird. Always thoroughly cook any beans you offer your bird. Cooked beans are a great addition to your bird's diet. 

Mushrooms are a type of fungus that not only may result in digestive upset for our pet birds and may even induce liver failure.

Very small amounts of onion in flavorings may be safe but too much onion will cause severe digestive problems including vomiting and diarrhea and they are considered a poisonous food for parrots.  A bird that is fed too much onion for long periods of time will even develop a serious blood condition called hemolytic anemia. Finally, breathing problems develop and the bird ultimately dies. 

The stems, leaves and vines of common garden plants such as tomatoes, potatoes and some other vegetables are poisonous to birds. Make sure that you only feed your parrot the actual fruit or vegetable part of garden plants and never the stems, leaves or vines.

Chocolate is poisonous to birds. It can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and deadly seizures. 

Caffeine causes cardiac malfunction in birds, and is associated with increased heartbeat, arrhythmia, hyperactivity, and cardiac arrest. What affects us with a boost in energy is potentially deadly to our pet parrots.

Alcohol is fatal to birds. Never offer them any of your drinks. 

Very Small Amounts

Salt and fatty foods won't necessarily kill your bird if they are given in small amounts, and rarely. Too much salt leads to many healthy problems such as excessive thirst, dehydration, kidney dysfunction, and even death. Many salty foods also contain a lot of fat.  Our pet birds want to share our chips and crackers, but these food items are just not healthy for our pet birds. Too much fat in your bird's diet can lead to fatty liver disease and obesity. 

Some dairy products such as some cheeses and yogurts contain no lactose, and can be given in very small amounts.  The avian digestive tract is incapable of digesting the lactose contained in most dairy products, thereby causing severe allergic reactions, obstructive disease, or even death.