Black walnuts

[Eppie]

Are Black Walnuts in the shell ok to feed my Macaw? Can he have yogert? Kiwis?

 

[Auggie's Dad]

He may have trouble cracking the shell, but the nut itself is a healthy treat. Kiwis are GREAT. Auggie loves them.

Yogurt is also very nutritious and safe in moderation. But birds cannot digest lactose so if he fills up on yogurt he may get an upset stomach, and an upset owner who has to clean up the mess. Yogurt though is much better than milk as much of the lactose is already broken down by the bacterial cultures.

 

[Eppie]

What about the Kiwi seeds?

 

[Auggie's Dad]

Huh, I don't know about the seeds off hand. I have never heard that there was a risk there and I have fed Auggie kiwi without any worries and so far he is still fine. This is worth looking into though as many fruit seeds can be dangerous (apple seeds, peach pits, etc).

Perhaps someone else can chime in here, otherwise I'll see what I can find out and revisit this topic.

 

[Ecclipse]

Hi Eppie, good question...will be double checking that the apples I feed to Hugo dont have any seeds. Had no idea there could be a danger in seeds of fruit...

 

[Auggie's Dad]

apple seeds and peach pits contain cyanins which gt converted to cyanide in the digestive system. This is not an issue for humans as we don't chew up the seeds, if we ingest a few apple seeds they pass right through us whole. Birds however crack open seeds before ingesting them so they are at risk.

 

[Auggie's Dad]

BTW I have found nothing on kiwi seeds being dangerous. Of course a lack of data doesn't mean they're safe, but I'm perfectly comfortable feeding Auggie kiwis.

Even if there is SOMETHING there in the seeds they are so small - compared to apple and cherry seeds, or peach pits - that the levels would be trivial anyhow.

So, all in all nothing conclusive - but for my purposes I'll regard them as perfectly safe.