Chili Peppers

[KimberlyAnn]

I hate spicy foods...like really hate spicy foods. I don't like the burning sensation!

But then I read that parrots love them so while at the pet store, I saw some were on sale for two dollars a bag. Score!

I gave Emmi one and it was like Christmas to her. I thought, ok great! Until she bit into one section and all the little seeds fell out all over me, the couch, and the floor. Lesson number one.

Then I went to work putting the peppers into a better bag and Ohno...allergy season...I rubbed my eye! Lesson two!

So to all you who give your parrots chili peppers, do you give them dried or fresh? How often do you give them and what are the benefits? I know my mistakes only affected me in the worst way lol and obviously they are bird safe, but I want to be sure because wow! If it hurts me that much...just how can they eat them? How can anyone? Maybe I am just weak when it comes to hot spicy foods and for sure will wash my hands right after I touch one next time!

[marie83]

I brough a few fresh ones once and gave one to ollie, he wasn't really fussed by it though so we didn't get them again as there is plenty of other foods he does like, we dont eat them and we dont like wasting stuff lol. Theres just too many in even a small bag to use.
Sorry not much help.

[KimberlyAnn]

I was kinda hoping Emmi would not like them so much either, but she's not a fan of any other red foods. She hates strawberries. (Why???) Since I am on a health kick right now and making sure I get all different colors of veggies or fruit, I think she should too. I did read it somewhere here, that birds need a rainbow of fresh food anyway?

I also don't like wasting food. Emmi and I share a lot of greens etc so it works out great. I'm not buying only for the bird and hardly any of it goes to waste. I wish the rest of the family could eat this way. I am making a wonderful stew with lots of veggies for tonight's dinner. They will love it tonight, but come tomorrow they will not touch it. Just not into eating the same thing twice lol Anything left over gets frozen in little meals for later for me. Right now I can pick from quite a assortment of meals from turkey soup to stir fry. So I guess I get the better half of the deal.

[Pajarita]

My parrots get spicy gloop every other day (it alternates with fruity) and they also get fresh habaneros, jalapenos and chiles as well as dried chile de arbol (another type of South American pepper) as a side dish. I also do not eat anything spicy so I always wear gloves when I wash them and cut them but I don't wear them when I serve them and I have done the same thing you did (terrible sting!).

[KimberlyAnn]

Oh good! Thank you! I will try all of those! Emmi likes to rip up greenbeans/peas all the time so I may have to give her the whole thing. That will save me the pain. Wonderful husband can clean it up lol

[janetafloat]

Alfie gets a dried chilli once every few days. He likes tossing them around on the floor of his cage and I guess he eats some of it too though it's hard to tell with him because so much of his food ends up shredded and falling through the grill

[KimberlyAnn]

Emmi has not tossed around her dried chili peppers yet! She had another one today and ate it up over her bowl. I hope it stays this way! I can't believe how many seeds fall out of those things! Lol

[Cockatielsongs]

Chilli peppers? Maybe this will be the one vegetable that Bandit will eat. Hopefully *sigh* I like spicy foods to a certain extent. Ooooooo I've rubbed my eye once after messing with chilli ohhhhhh the sting!!!! I was going crazy trying to wash my eye, I think Bandit enjoyed my little show, he was making this noise that sounded like he was laughing

[paper_lantern]

I give fresh jalapenos and red chiles. I also give dried cayenne peppers. Chubby loves them! But I have to watch out for his kisses after because they are super spicy