Toxic Foods For Parrots -Top 7 To Never Feed Your African Grey

Top 7 Foods To Never Feed Your African Grey Parrot

Predominantly, African grey parrots are social eaters. Naturally, they feed in flocks of hundreds to often thousands in the wild. Inversely, African grey parrots still love to share mealtime with their flockmates as avian pets in homes. Basically, this could be their human caretakers(pet parents) or other household pets. Ideally, eating with your African grey parrots is a way to socialize them. However, there are some foods that are Toxic Foods for Parrots, despite being suitable for human consumption.
Most Importantly, your parrot should never eat them due to potential toxicity. Some of the most common toxic foods for parrots to never feed your African grey are:

1. Caffeine, Highly Toxic Foods for Parrots

toxic foods for parrots demonstration photo

Commonly, we enjoy beverages like soft drinks, coffee, and tea due to their fabulous taste which stimulates and keeps us awake. As an avian pet parent, you often have the urge to offer your feathered companion a sip of these tasty beverages. However, it might seem like it’s just a sip, right? Well, even a sip or two of these beverages can be toxic to your African grey parrot. For instance, Caffeine can increase heart rate. In additon, it can induce arrhythmias and hyperactivity, or even lead to cardiac arrest in African greys. Owning to that fact, you must avoid giving caffeinated products to your parrot. Moreover, you may prefer water or an intermittent taste of natural fruit juice for your thirsty parrot.

2. Chocolate

toxic foods for parrots example, chocolate

Can African gray parrots eat Chocolate?

Just like humans, parrots also crave chocolate foods. Regardless of how little the quantity, chocolate can be one of the most toxic foods for parrots. Moreover, chocolate contains both caffeine and theobromine, which can lead to diarrhea and vomiting. It also causes an increase in heart rates and induces tremors and seizures.
Consequently, this could lead to sudden death in African grey parrots. So, whenever you have the urge to share your chocolate with your parrot. You should be aware it’s one of the most toxic foods for parrots. Rather, opt for a piece of sugary fruit like a papaya, watermelon, grape, or mango.

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3. Avocado, Prime Toxic Foods for Parrots

toxic foods for parrots example, avocado

As obtained from zupreem.com. The leaves of the avocado plant contain persin, a fatty acid-like substance that kills fungus in the plant. So, when this substance is ingested by a parrot, it may cause respiratory difficulty, heart damage, and even sudden death. Although some avocado types have been safely consumed by some parrots, it’s hard to know which specific avocado type will affect which species. In addition, it’s ambiguous how much avocado a parrot would have to eat to be affected.
Mindful of the potential ramifications, it’s ideal to avoid feeding avocado and avocado-containing foods to your parrot. Literally, it’s one of the most toxic foods for parrots. Opt for a pea pod or carrot stick.

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4. Salt

Can African Grey Parrots Eat Salt? Toxic Foods for Parrots

Every so often, most of us add this cherished condiment to a variety of foods in the absence of thinking. Also, we love salty chips, pretzels, crackers, and popcorn. However, being that a lot of salt is not good for us, it also isn’t good for our feathered companions. Even just a small quantity of it is potentially classified as toxic foods for parrots. For instance, just a single pretzel or salty chip can potentially upset the electrolyte and fluid balance in your African grey’s body. This may lead to extreme thirst, dehydration, kidney failure, and death. So, whenever you desire to offer your parrot a salty treat, opt for a bite or two of unsalted pretzels or popcorn.

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5. Fruit Pits and Apple Seeds

Toxic foods for parrots example, pits and seeds

Can Grey parrots eat Apple Seeds and Fruit Pits?

In spite majority of fruits being safe and commonly healthy for avian consumption in little proportions, some are toxic foods for parrots. However, a few fruits with feeds such as apples and pits like peaches, cherries, apricots, plums, and nectarine. You should avoid giving them to your African grey parrot without first taking off the seeds and pits. Notably, as further stated by zupreem.com, these pits and seeds contain small amounts of a cardiac-toxic cyanide compound. Nonetheless, consuming these fruits without the pits and seeds is absolutely safe for parrots. However, seeds from other fruits and vegetables like citrus fruits, pumpkins, tomatoes, mango, squash, grape, berries, and pomegranates. These are all safe for avian consumption.

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6. Fat, Toxic Foods for Parrots

Traditionally, consumption of fatty foods like oil, fatty meats, nuts, and butter can cause subtle development of cholesterol deposits. This usually occurs in the walls of the arteries predisposing to heart disease and eventual stroke. Intemperate intake of these toxic foods for parrots can also cause obesity and other accompanying health problems. Similar biological processes occur in African grey parrots. They are inclined to develop high triglyceride and cholesterol levels, and subsequent coronary artery disease. In view of that fact, you must minimize the consumption of high-fat foods for your African grey parrot. African grey parrots love nuts, however, too much of an unsalted walnut or almond is equally not healthy for parrots. So, moderation is vital.

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7. Garlic and Onions

Like other vegetables, most avian lovers presume that garlic and onions are healthy for parrots. Although these spicy veggies possess benefits in humans, they are conversely toxic foods for parrots. Garlic contains allicin, a chemical that causes weakness and anemia in African grey parrots. Similarly, when chewed, onions contain sulfur compounds that can irritate the lining of a parrot’s mouth, and esophagus leading to ulcers. Furthermore, this can induce the rupture of red blood cells, which results in anemia. Rather, spice up your African grey parrot’s life with a little bit of hot pepper which is vitamin A-rich.

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So, those are the top 7 toxic foods for parrots. You should never feed your African grey parrot with them. It also applies to every other parrot species.