Please tell me if any of this greenery unsafe for bird?

[Maria]

Michael too, I'm sure you would be greatly experienced to answer this question LOL
this lettuce package from grocery store. Mixed kinds of lettuces (their all dark greenery type leaves, not any light colored ones so they don't have too much water in them, so that part is ok).

It's just that some greenery or some things are toxic to birds; some are not, it's hard to get a complete list, and before I share it with my parrot, I want to make sure there's not kind of them in there that would be toxic to him. Otherwise I thought it would be good for his greenery nutrition.

For example, I have a list, which is a partial list only, of toxic foods for birds:
Tow of the things on it are Rhubarb and Skink Cabbage. I don't know what that is; I don't know if that's a kind of lettuce type leaf or greenery.

Ok, this lettuce package is called "Spring Mix". Ingredients:
Baby Lettuces
(Red & Green Romaine, Red & Green Oak Leaf, Lollo Rosa,Tango),
Spinach (which I know is good for them & safe)
Mizuna, Argula, Frisee, Radicchio, Tatsoi, Red Chard, Red Kale, Red Leaf, Red Mustard.

Red leaf lettuce is on the healthy fresh vegetables list for birds. Some of those things I don't know what they are.

[liz]

I give it to mine now and then. They usually get it when I am not home. It is easy enough to feed them since it is cut and washed already. Then I know it won't be left out by a birdie sitter who does not want to bother with prep work.

[Maria]

Ok, if you give it to your birds then I know it's safe LOL - Thanks .... ...

although, this bag says rinse before use.

But I just wanted to make sure there were not any types of lettuces in here which would be toxic to birds.

Thanks.

[Michael]

Safe or not, it doesn't belong in the parrots' diet. It dilutes the nutrition way too much. Spinach pulls calcium away. Lettuce is mostly water and cellulose. There is damn little or no nutritional value to parrots which are used to very rich diets. I don't feed any leafy stuff to them (except brussels sprouts on very rare occasions more for fun than anything). Better things include broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, snap peas, different kinds of beans, etc.

Oh and oak leaves (if they are from oak tree as opposed to some fancy name for something else) are probably not safe.

[liz]

Michael - you don't feed dark green vegies. Mine love romain lettuce and celery leaves.

[Michael]

Nope. I did at first but found out it's not good for them (in the sense that it dilutes nutrition and spinach actually pulls away calcium). Believe it or not broccoli and almonds are two of the better sources of calcium for parrots but they also require natural sunlight to process it.

[Naurthon]

For example, I have a list, which is a partial list only, of toxic foods for birds:
Tow of the things on it are Rhubarb and Skink Cabbage. I don't know what that is; I don't know if that's a kind of lettuce type leaf or greenery.

I believe you actually mean "skunk" cabbage, which is a kind of broad leafed green plant that grows in semi-marshy soil here in the US. (There are at least two species: Lysichiton americanum in the Western US and Canada, and Symplocarpus foetidus in the East.) It gets its name from the smell produced by its leaves: it smells like a skunk. You won't find it in a store.

TECHNICALLY, it is considered edible for humans, however, it requires boiling with at least three complete changes of water to remove the calcium oxalate it contains. This chemical can cause significant burns to your lips, mouth, and tongue. The one time I tried it, even after boiling three times, I still got chemical burns in my mouth. Not fun. (Never mind that I filled the hotel room I was staying in with odeur de skunk in the process. My parents were NOT pleased!) I can't imagine the stuff actually retained any nutritional value at all after three boilings anyway, so it isn't something I consider a useful natural food.

At any rate, your parrots wouldn't be boiling it, and shouldn't be allowed to eat it. Not that you'd be bringing it into your home anyway. Did I mention it smells like a skunk?

[Marnie]

its only iceberg lettuce that has no nutritional value. there is no iceberg in "spring mix".
i googled spinach and it has 245mg calcium per boiled cup, topped only by collard greens 266mg and sesame seeds. i see no harm in letting parrots mess with it and consume it. variety is always good in moderation.
my love birds eat my spider plants everytime they are out they seem to love it.

.

[Michael]

http://theparrotforum.com/viewtopic.php ... 750#p15483

12.Some Foods are Nutrient Antagonists

Oxalate (oxalic acid) is an organic acid that efficiently binds calcium and other trace minerals, making them unavailable to the bird. The highest levels of oxalates are found in tea, spinach and rhubarb. Potentially toxic levels are found in the leaves of rhubarb and the houseplant, diffenbachia. High levels of oxalates can cause vomiting, diarrhea, poor blood clotting and convulsions. Lower levels can result in decreased growth, poor bone mineralization and kidney stones. Feeding some spinach occasionally will not cause problems, however if a bird consumes enough of it daily, it might present a problem.

http://www.exoticpetvet.net/avian/20facts.html

[GlassOnion]

There is more calcium than oxalic acid in spinach, so it doesn't take calcium away from hour body, rather you do absorb some calcium although it is not the best source for it. Michael, if you're avoiding the oxalic acid, there are other foods that contain it as well. Also, greens like kale and beet tops are very heavy in nutrients that are much less prevalent in other vegetation. Variety is the key.