Grapes with seeds?

[Michael]

Ok, this is kind of a stupid question but is it ok to give whole grapes with seeds to our parrots? Personally I always end up choking on them so I hate them and prefer the seedless. But I wonder if its ok to give the ones with seeds or should we pull the seeds out by hand first?

I know cherry pits contain cyanide and shouldn't be given to parrots so I wonder how that applies to grape seeds?

[pchela]

The grape seeds should be fine. Mine eat them. You can buy grape seed oil so it's not toxic.

I've always heard that apple seeds are a no-no but I don't know if that's fact or myth.

[Michael]

Do they swallow the seeds or spit them out? If they swallow do they go right through or do they get pulverized in the gizzard? Any nutritional value to the grape seeds?

[Kim S]

I actually heard that grape seeds are toxic if they break them open.
I only eat the ones wthout seeds so I dont have to worry about it personally. But I wouldnt give them to my birds if I would have the kind with seeds.

[pchela]

From what I've read they are not toxic and the birds actually eat them so they go through the system like any other seed would.

Looks like we'll have to do some research for an answer since we have some differing opinions.

Grape Seeds are supposed to be high in antioxidents and an excellent source of vitamin E I believe.

[birdvet]

Grape seeds are fine, as are apple seeds in moderation. Your birds would need to consume huge amounts of apple seeds to run in to trouble. The odd seed now and again is not a problem
They will digest whatever is digestible but the lignin etc (undigestable) portion will pass straight through.

[Mona]

Grapes are fine for parrots. Not toucans though.....

A toucan will choke on a grape.

Thx!

Mona