parrots and peanuts??

[mellykyitus]

i've been reading parrots for dummies (gr8 book) and it says parrots should not eat peanuts. my guys love monkey nuts though and they're in the parrot mix i get. am i feeding the wrong thing?

 

[Von1983]

I think the problem with monkey nuts is that they are obviously taken straight from the ground and there is a toxic fungus that can be present in them.

They are in most parrot mixes but then, so is dried fruit treated with sulpher dioxide which is ALSO toxic =S
I don't risk it because although it doesn't ALWAYS say on the bag it contains SD, it doesn't say it doesn't and this is the most popular method of preserving dried fruit.


I get around the fruit by buying Cal some from Holland and Barratt - they do a sulpher dioxide free section. The extremely helpful assistant told me it's toxic to people too and can make some people with certain conditions very ill.

With the peanuts, I personally have just never fed them to madam but I have read that some people shell them and then boil them to take the fungus away. I don't know how effective this would be as to me, how do you ensure a nut dries and doesn't create yet MORE bacteria?!

I think for me, I will just stick to hazelnuts/brazil etc - less hassle and I know it's ok!

Hope that helped!

 

[mellykyitus]

gosh thanks von, i never realised sulpher dioxide was in the fruit! will definately check out holland and barrett. do you think i should switch to pellets to be on the safe side? and if so which ones, theres so many out there! x

 

[Von1983]

I would say it's always worth being cautious! It's like a minefield, isn't it?! Zinc, lead, PTFE, sulpher dioxide,fungus probably many more! Coupled with breed prone's to and deficiencies, it's surprising we're not all being sped to the loony bin!!!

Pellets I would highly recommend! Cal was on parrot and cockatiel mix when the breeder handed her over and I'd read about pellets but found them hard to get? I just changed her over to good quality seed with less sunflower/junk/no dried fruit etc and fed her plenty fruit and veg. I'd already got the SD free dried fruit. I then got some pellets. Naively, I thought the breeder may have some....no. lol.

Harrisons is the best out there apparently, you can only order it from avian vets in this country as far as I'm aware. I tried Cal on zupreem which I believe is next best (no expert here AT all!!!) and she hated, I hated it because it smelt funny and it was pointless! So, she's now on Kaytee Exact which I get from ebay at a really reasonable price. They do various types for all breeds and I found their website helpful before choosing the right one for Pants. I'm sure some people would slam it but the ingredients are good on the bag, it smells HEAVENLY, so fruity, Cal loves it and as a result, eats more much needed green veg (Sun's can have vit k deficiencies - natures warferin) like spinich and kale because she's getting her "fruity" fix with the pellets.

I think between the "good" seed mix (small bag), pellets, (big bag), safe dried fruits and nuts, (medium bag) and fresh fruit/veg every day,mineral stones and cuttlefish, my girl is about as healthy as I can think to get her.

I always welcome new ideas because the day I "think I know it all" is the day I would rather be dead!

This is why I adore this forum so much. I feel that Britain as a country is very poorly equipped to care for exotic birds. The information is just not there for us to get easily!. All the pet shops I've enquired with think seed alone is fine and that's that. Such a sad idea that people must buy birds, take them home and abide by this without a second thought.

I hope that helped somehow - I am SUCH a rambler!!! xx

 

[mellykyitus]

you've been a huge help von, really appreciate it! i was looking at the kaytee exact on a website but wasn't sure, i am now! off to order some, i'll let you know how it goes xxxxx

 

[Von1983]

I'm glad I could help.

As I say, no expert at all but 2 members on here vouched for Kaytee when I was pondering which to get (I WISH I could remember who!) and I was just thankful after the zupreem incident where Cal wouldn't go near her bowl that she took to them. The way I see it, it's better she have those in her diet than not enough nutrients.

Can't wait to see what Beau and the clan's verdict is

xx

 

[Pheonix Rising]

Make sure you make the change gradual

it has instructions on the back of pack but it's basicually just a matter if mixing less and less seed to the mix as the weeks pass until he/she is eating soley pellets

Seed makes a great once a week treat though

 

[Spiritbird]

You can purchase Harrisons pellets on some web sites like Windy City and Dr. Foster/Smith. Well worth the money.

You run the risk of your bird injesting pestasides and other toxic fertalizers if you feed anything that grows in the ground and is not organically grown. Peanuts is a no no because of a potential fungus harbored in the shell for the most part. It is said people grade peanuts are ok but I just do not feed them at all.

http://www.parrotparrot.com/articles/parrotdiet/aspergillus-are-peanuts-safe-for-parrots/

 

[lisamarie973]

I'm glad I could help.

As I say, no expert at all but 2 members on here vouched for Kaytee when I was pondering which to get (I WISH I could remember who!) and I was just thankful after the zupreem incident where Cal wouldn't go near her bowl that she took to them. The way I see it, it's better she have those in her diet than not enough nutrients.

Can't wait to see what Beau and the clan's verdict is

xx

I use Kaytee Exact formula for Maui instead of the Zupreem. He was supposedly on Zupreem and the breeder sold me a HUGE bag of it, Maui would NOT eat it at all, he hated it. So, I took it upon myself to switch him to Exact, he loves it and is eating it well. I also give a pellet, but, I give him Roudybush Pellets, I believe in the product and have been using it for a while on my Mom's other birds as well....

Von,

I didn't know that Kaytee made a pellet, I'll have to check that out, since I know Maui loves their formula so much.

 

[mellykyitus]

just an update, i the postman bought some kaytee exact this morning and i put a handful of it in their bowls, everyones trying it, even mimsy is munching as i type and she's a seed addict! really pleased, thanks everyone for your help, very much appreciated xxx

 

[mellykyitus]

ooh and you're right von, it smells delicious! yum yum x

 

[antoinette]

Other nuts that are complete safe to offer your birds are

Cashew Plain
Hazel Nuts
Brazil Nuts
Pecan Nuts
Raw Peanuts
Macadamias Plain
Almonds Plain
Walnuts

 

[Von1983]

Glad everyone appreciated

And oooh Ant...Cal will do anything for a cashew (finally found some that weren't salted!!!!) and of course the old faves of hazelnut and brazil!

 

[Bobby34231]

For those that wish to purchase Harrison's in the UK and can't find it at their local Avian vets office, you can purchase it from MAH, parent company of Harrison's UK...........

Premium products to enable the optimal care of birds and animals


For other countries in Europe outside the UK........


Meadows Animal Healthcare


All of my birds are now on Harrison's High Potency pellets, they thankfully all took to it right away without having to wean them off their previous diets, I did however have to smash the pellets a bit smaller for my cockatoos, other than that it seems to be working out great