Stumble It!
Jan 11 2009
Veggies and Pesticides
Vegetables can retain pesticides too.
An easy way to help reduce chemicals for both fruits and veggies is to scrub/clean thoroughly before giving them to your birds. Peel away the outer skins, leaves and rinds. When you feed things like carrots and potatoes make sure to give them an extra scrub.
Dont’ forget to wash your own hands when starting to prepare your birds food!
Here is a list of some veggies that tend to have a higher chemical residue:
- Bell Peppers
- Spinach
- Green Beans
- Spinach
- Celery
- Potatoes
- Lettuce
Safer choices for you and your birds:
- Sweet corn (frozen)
- Sweet peas (frozen)
- Sweet Potatoes
- Califlower
- Brussel Sprouts
- Broccoli
- Carrots
- Radishes
- Romaine Lettuce
- Cabbage
Here are some things that you should NOT feed your bird. Most of these items have some toxin(s) that will make your bird sick or they can not digest it. It really is better to be safe than horribly sorry.
- Avocados
- Any thing with caffeine in it
- High sugar items
- High salt items
- Chocolate or items with cocoa powder in them
- Soda pop
- Alchohol
- Grit
- Onions
- Persimmons
- Rhubarb
- Mushrooms
- Pits and seeds from fruit
- Dried Beans
- Tomatoe Leaves
- Raw Meat
- Uncooked Eggs
- Moldy Items
- Excesive amounts of dairy products
One of the things I try to think of when I am purchasing food for my birds is “Would this be a healthy item to put in my own body?” I have had some success losing weight by eating the healthy items I purchase for my birds. What is healthiest for humans is most likely better for our birds. Think lower fat, higher fiber, low chemicals, fresh food, low salt and sugar. This can be a journey for both you and your bird.
This by no means is a complete list of good and bad veggies. Please feel free to ask any questions you might have. I am more than happy to do some reasearch and find out more information.
I will pass your blog to my mom, she loves birds,, she even has a parrot
As the girlfriend of a bird breeder and bird rescuer, and owner of my own little green cheek, let me say thanks for all the info you are passing out here. Love this blog, and I’m glad I found it!
May I also add Pecans to this list of bad things? The nuts themselves aren’t bad, but the shells are seriously bad. The shells become too sharp after cracked and can injure a bird.