Just because birds are social creatures, most people assume they can consume anything that humans partake. Given that birds belong to a diverse group called Class Aves they tend to have many differences in anatomy and physiology. Because of this, some common foods consumed by humans tend to be harmful or even fatal if they get into their system.
If you are a pet bird owner, you need to know the foods that pose the biggest risk to the health of your pet bird.
Chocolate may be good for human and other animals but disastrous in terms of its health effects to birds. The thing with Chocolate is that it tends to interfere with bird’s digestive system leading to vomiting and diarrhoea. In adverse conditions, the same may affect their nervous system leading to severe seizures.
It is well documented that the Avocado plant contains persin, a toxin that causes cardiac arrest when taken by birds. Once a bird ingests the fruit, it may develop respiratory distress in a matter of 12 hours, which could lead to death in two days.
Excessive consumption of concentrated onion or garlic has been found to cause vomiting and diarrhoea in most birds leading to other digestive problems. Continued exposure, in this case, can lead to a blood condition dubbed hemolytic anaemia which if not addressed could lead to death.
Most birds partake cooked beans without effects. However, raw dry beans can be harmful to pet birds given that they contain a poison called hem-agglutinin.
Just as Caffeine is harmful to human health in huge amounts, the same can be hazardous to pet birds even in small amounts. Soda Coffee and tea contain caffeine, which causes increased heartbeat, arrhythmia and cardiac arrest in birds.
It comes as a surprise as to how a pet owner can administer alcohol to his pet. However, in some instances, some people have left alcohol unattended on tables and in the way of their pet birds. The thing with alcohol is that it depresses organ systems in birds, which can be fatal.
Other common foods that can poison pet birds include Mushrooms, comfrey, sugar-free Candy and Peanuts.
