Things / foods to avoid

[notscaredtodance]

Uncooked beans (legumes) contain a toxin that is released when boiled. If you're thinking of making a "Chop" or "mash' recipe with seeds,beans,fruits, veggies, and pellets, always, always cook the beans,

Uncooked rice can expand in the bird's crop and be fatal.

An obvious one is electrical wires. My bird has chewed through one computer A/C adapter without my realizing. Now I'm very vigilant about where she is and what she's doing, even when she's playing solo.

[entrancedbymyGCC]

Right, cook or sprout beans. Peas are fine raw, but beans are not. Note this is true for humans as well, don't go eating raw beans!

[funky crunch]

entranced, thanks for the input, excellent list with some very good advice

thank you

[Giantmoa]

Uncooked beans (legumes) contain a toxin that is released when boiled. If you're thinking of making a "Chop" or "mash' recipe with seeds,beans,fruits, veggies, and pellets, always, always cook the beans,

does this include green beans??

[entrancedbymyGCC]

Uncooked beans (legumes) contain a toxin that is released when boiled. If you're thinking of making a "Chop" or "mash' recipe with seeds,beans,fruits, veggies, and pellets, always, always cook the beans,

does this include green beans??

No,green beans aren't beans in the same sense, nor are green peas.

I want to look into this some more, because while it seems clear that raw kidney beans are bad news, they also shouldn't be sprouted. A lot of this material comes from the raw food community, and it isn't clear to me that it's on solid ground. The contention is that only garbanzos and mung beans are safe to eat raw, but lots of beans are routinely sprouted and the compound that is problematic in red kidneys doesn't go away when they are sprouted. All I can find readily is hearsay.

In the meantime... if you wouldn't eat it unless it was thoroughly cooked, probably safer to cook it.

[Giantmoa]

No,green beans aren't beans in the same sense, nor are green peas.

I want to look into this some more, because while it seems clear that raw kidney beans are bad news, they also shouldn't be sprouted. A lot of this material comes from the raw food community, and it isn't clear to me that it's on solid ground. The contention is that only garbanzos and mung beans are safe to eat raw, but lots of beans are routinely sprouted and the compound that is problematic in red kidneys doesn't go away when they are sprouted. All I can find readily is hearsay.

In the meantime... if you wouldn't eat it unless it was thoroughly cooked, probably safer to cook it.

thanks, I read the bean thing right after I gave rainbow green beans so I had to confirm never heard of beans being toxic raw (but then again I've never had the urge to eat raw beans...) good to know

[issy]

Thanks for this i've had some trouble in finding more of a variety to feed Sheldon.

I just wanted to ask if un-buttered/salted popcorn is ok because i've heard that it is not fattening. Also if anyone knows if soy products are good/bad. =]

[entrancedbymyGCC]

I just wanted to ask if un-buttered/salted popcorn is ok because i've heard that it is not fattening.

Anything is fattening if overeaten! Sorry, couldn't resist, but it's true. Popcorn is nutritionally the same as corn, pretty much, it just fills more volume when it is popped.

As far as I know, soy products aren't a problem -- I've fed edamame on occasion. But many are highly salted. However, I think Lorikeets have rather specialized dietary requirements, so I'm not sure any of these things really meet his nutritional needs.

[pchela]

I'm pretty sure the rice thing is a myth. Anyway, I sprout rice for my guys. Adzuki is another bean that is safe to sprout btw.

[issy]

I wouldn't overfeed him with popcorn, I just wanted to know if it was safe for him to try because he is always begging to try it when i'm eating popcorn XD

He does have his specialized food, but i'm looking for more variety in his diet.