Peanuts

[Omar81]

Hi. I have read a lot about peanuts not being good for parrots due to aflatoxin which they are much more sensitive to than humans. My question is, when this is said about peanuts, are we talking about whole peanuts? The kind that comes in a brown shell (referred to by some as monkey nuts), which when broken open contains two peanuts inside? Or are we talking about peanuts themselves (the ones already taken out of the shell)?
Also, when saying they are not good for parrots, are we saying that if given for years they may cause illness? Or are we saying that if given (even a few peanuts) the parrot might get an acutely toxic dose if the peanuts have a high level of aflatoxin?

Is there any difference in safety whether the peanuts are in the shell or peeled?

Thank you.

 

[bigfellasdad]

Enzo likes monkey nuts and occasionally she will have half a dozen of them. I wasn't aware that peanuts are harmful though.

 

[Kiwibird]

A lot of people won't feed peanuts at all. I personally will offer Kiwi the occasional HUMAN GRADE, dry roasted, unsalted shelled peanuts. Alternatively, he also likes dipping his beak in my peanut milk (which is my favorite nut milk I make fresh every few days). I pick the whole peanuts that come in his bird food mix out and discard them. The ingredients they use in animal food tends to be of lower quality and sometimes deemed not suitable for human consumption, so in the case of peanut shells known to be potential breeding grounds for fungus, I feel it safer to throw the ones in his bird food out.

Now my mom has allowed her birds to eat whole peanuts out of their food mix for 40+ years and none of them has ever gotten an illness from eating a peanut. Like many things, I think there is a risk but the risk is the exception to the rule, not the rule itself. It's all about what YOU feel comfortable feeding your bird or not.

 

[SailBoat]

Well stated by Kiwi's Mom!

With each species there are specific foods that should be part of their diet and those that need to be limited or not provided. As a Parrot Owner, it is our responsibility to know the diet needs of our species.

Like stated above, we avoid providing shelled peanuts and of the few we provide, its only Human Grade, dry roosted, with no salt.