Dried fruits question

[spiral71]

Hi Pralina

some dried friuts made for humans say that they are preserved with sulpher dioxide as far as i understand it this is not good for birds. i just thought i should mention that, just in case.

[Pralina]

Yes most dried fruits contain sulfites used as preservatives. This is what gives them their pretty colors all flashy!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfite
And sulfites are NOT healthy! they are dangerous for human babies... and so for our parrots.

The best thing is to go buy your dried fruits in a natural food store: they will look brownish but they would have been dried without any additives.
Also you can make your own dried fruits and veggies using a dehydrator:

This is what I have and I make my own.

However, keep in mind that dried fruit is even sweeter than fresh fruit... so preferably you should feed your bird more veggies and less fruit altogether!

[marie83]

You can use a normal oven to dehydrate foods too but I cant remember specific times/temperatures.

[spiral71]

Yes most dried fruits contain sulfites used as preservatives. This is what gives them their pretty colors all flashy!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfite
And sulfites are NOT healthy! they are dangerous for human babies... and so for our parrots.

The best thing is to go buy your dried fruits in a natural food store: they will look brownish but they would have been dried without any additives.
Also you can make your own dried fruits and veggies using a dehydrator:

This is what I have and I make my own.

However, keep in mind that dried fruit is even sweeter than fresh fruit... so preferably you should feed your bird more veggies and less fruit altogether!

i am growing chillies for my indian ringneck in the kichen but she currently has dry ones. i have never seen a dehydrator like that before it looks really impressive my friend is going to help me dry out some of the chillies that i am growing with her oven, the plants that have at the moment are very smal though so it could be a while yet.

[Pralina]

its amazing eh!!!

the dehydrator brand is Excalibur and you lucky americans, you can get it shipped for free!!!
http://www.excaliburdehydrator.com/

From what I've heard it's the best brand of dehydrators out there.

And look, there's recipes too!!!
http://www.excaliburdehydrator.com/reci ... t/dish/13/

[Strawfrawg]

I never thought of buying my own dehydrator. Not a bad idea...for me, too, because I like dried fruit. Thanks for sharing this!

[Pralina]