Parrot Island--Articles

Harmful Foods & Plants

Avocado - All parts could be toxic. Safer if cooked, but best to be avoided.
Corn - This food is safe. Only the green stem and leaf may be toxic. Completely safe when cooked.
Potato - This food is safe. Only the green stem and leaf may be toxic. Completely safe when cooked.
Eggplant - Though eggplant is most likely safe, it is best to avoid over-ripe fruit or stems and leaves.
Broccoli, Cauliflower - Any vegetable with a coarse and open surface should not be fed raw unless you are certain that no pesticides or other chemicals were used on them at any time.

Apple, Apricot, Cherry, Fig, Hog Plum, Loquat, Mountain Plum, Paw Paw, Peach, Pear & Plum - All of these fruits are safe, but their seeds, pits, bark, leaves and other wood may contain toxins and should be avoided.
Mango - The fruit is safe and very good for birds. Large quantities of the skin may be toxic and should, therefore, be avoided.
Pomegranate - Is considered to be completely safe, but some experts claim that the crop impaction may occur if over eaten. To avoid this, feed small quantities at a time.
Raspberries, Blackberries, Boysenberries - These fruits are safe, but like rough, coarse or porous vegetables, they cannot be cleaned well and should not be fed raw unless that are chemical free.
Cantaloupe, Melons - These fruit and seeds are safe. The rough skin of some melons cannot be cleaned and should be treated like Berries and Broccoli.

Cashew, Macadamia Nuts - Fresh nuts and tree sap may be toxic. Safer if dried or roasted.
Brazil Nuts - Large quantities of fresh or raw nuts are toxic. Safer if roasted and fed in small amounts.
Peanuts - Nut is safe. Shell may contain mold or fungus. Feed only clean human grade peanuts.

Black Lotus, Cedars, Horse Chestnut, Lilac & Yew - All parts of these trees may be toxic and they should be completely avoided.
Oak, Black Walnut, Bitter Almond, Box Elder & Fruit Trees - The green skin, sap and seeds of these trees may be toxic. The wood is safe if dried.
Eucalyptus - All parts of some varieties are toxic. The wood is safer if dried. Some varieties are safe.
Iron Wood - The leaf of this tree (?and other elm trees?) may be toxic and should be completely avoided. The wood is safe.

Chocolate, Caffeine, Alcohol, Nicotine & Narcotics - These and any food containing them are toxic. They can cause immediate death and should be completely avoided.
Refined Sugars, Salt & Fat - Foods with large amounts of these can cause serious long-term damage to a bird's system and they should be avoided.
Artificial additives (i.e. sweeteners, flavors, colors & preservatives) - Any of these may build up in a bird's liver or kidneys and lead to serious disease or early death. They should be avoided whenever possible.

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