Conference 7.286::pet_birds

    My  two cents worth...the worms are a soure of protein.  But, where
    were the worms first.  The ONLY thing that would concern me would
    be what bacteria are the worms carrying?  There is a good chance
    that the worms may be affected with salmonella.  This would be a
    good question to pose a vet with.
    
    However, if you put these peanuts in the oven for about 20 minutes
    at 250/300 degrees, you will kill any bacteria that may be in the
    worms and the peanuts won't really be cooked all the way through.
    Just don't use raw: cashews, pumpkin seeds, melon seeds...
    
    J
    

    hello 
    Note 38.1 said not to feed pumpkin seeds etc to your parrot.  I
    have a grey cheek parakeet and he loves pumpkin seeds.  I went out
    and bought pumpkins and extracted the seeds just for him.  What
    is the problem with them?  Are there any others I should avoid?
    Thanks for the advice
    
    Steve
    

    
    Hi Steve....Did you roast the seeds first?  There is an element
    like strictnine (sp) or arscenic in squash seeds.  I forget which
    one it is...many commercial preparations use these seeds, but they
    are not used raw.  The only seeds that I am aware of not posing
    problems are grape seeds because they are so small they either drop
    out of the grape, or in larger birds, they just pass them the way
    they swallow them, and the birds would have to eat 65# of grapes
    to get enough grape seeds to hurt them.
    
    J
    

    what is wrong with raw almonds?

    they contain a poison, cyanide I believe....I recall mystery stories
    where the dectective determines that the victim has been poisoned
    by the odor of biter almonds on their breath.
    
    Bonnie

    Cyanide!  That's it!  Thanks Bonnie!
    
    Almonds, that was cashews!  but all nuts contain a small trace of
    poison the way *I* understand it (that is).
    
    j
    

    Arscenic is the stuff that smells and tastes like almonds...
    
    j 8^)
    

    HowDy....
    
    What about Pomegranits?  My Turd Bird, Chewy that is, LOVES Pomegranits
    and I know that he likes the juice stuff around the seed but I think
    he really prefers to get to the seed in side.  
    
    For hours on end I sit with my bird in my lap, both of us rapped
    up in a big sheet to keep from getting things stained and feed him
    Pomegranits.  Pomegranits aren't poisonous are they?  
    
    Karen -

    I doubt pomegranits are a problem.  They don't grow underground
    I don't think.  If it's something they can just get to in the wild,
    I'd guess it's OK.  I've found licy looking bugs in one before,
    and have not gotten another one since!  Urggh!  I know they (the
    fruit that is) are high in vitamin A and C.  Thats good stuff!
    
    j
    

    Peach pits and cherry seeds both contain cyanide in quanity enough
    that 4-5 pits and maybe 50 or so seeds contain enough to make
    an adult sick. BTW- swollowing cherry seeds dosent release the cyanide
    they have to be cracked open the digestive tract in humans dosent
    break it down and they are passed birds would crack the seed tho
    and could/would be effected.
    Peach pits were and still are used as a commercial source for cyanide.
    
    -j

    re 38.3
    Hello again
      I haven't roasted my pumpkin seeds yet.  How is 'roast' defined
    in this context?  How hot for how long.  I assume my convection
    oven is adaquet for the task.  I guess the real question is, is
    all this worth it and what is the risk my bird Mango will still
    croak from arsenic?  Should I stick to commercial preps from the
    pet stores?  FYI. I found that he very easily over doses on fresh
    apple and gets diareah.  Same with pears.  He loves them both but
    we just give him a few small pieces at a time.  Thanks for the advice
    
    Steve

    Yeah, go easy on watery fruits and such...like anything...if it
    tastes good, spit it out, right?  Or at lease limit the intake.
    :')
    
    Roast is at 350 degrees F for about 1/2 hour...spread the seeds
    so they are not piled up on each other and will dry properly, if
    they dont dry well, then you run the risk of growing your own mold.
    And that is DANGEROUS!  But by all means, do these things.  I'ts
    an expression of love and comittment for the birds!!! and in the
    long run, much less expensive and above that, the food value is
    better because You Know It's Fresh!
    
    J

    re 38.12
    Hi -J-
      Thanks for the roast definition.  I'll probably roast the little
    fellas tomorrow (fri) while I watch the Celtics opener.  Saturday
    I think I will go out and buy more pumpkins and stock up on some
    seeds.  Mango really loves the stuff.  Thanks again for the info.
    
    Steve
         

    Since we are talking about other seeds here, I have a couple 
    more questions on them:
    
    Cantaloupe are supposed to be very good for birds but what about
    the seeds?  My bird LOVES the seeds in side the middle and
    occasionally eats the other part.
    
    I think if I can remember correctly that cantaloupe was very rich
    in vitamin A.
    
    Also..  What about tangarine or orange seeds,  He LIKES them too.
    
    Thanks..

    Hi Karen!  My birds love canteloup and honeydews too!  But, I always
    scrape out the middles before offering them to the birds.  I called
    my vet...hopefully, he'll call right away.  Melon seeds are small
    and soft...but I still would not offer them.  I have cleaned our
    "garden" fresh acorn squash, and cooked the insides before offering
    them to the birds...they love that too!  I have always just fed
    the melon middles to the garbabe disposal...um...it just broke!
    Think there's a connection?  8^}
    
    J
    

    
    	I know this is an old note, but hopefully someone will answer.
    I give my sun conure raw almonds alot, is this o.k.?  I did read
    something on almonds but I think they meant cashews. I don't want
    to poisen my bird!   Sue

    Almonds are fine.....they sell them in the Kaytee Parrot food mix...
    also in the mix are pine nuts, hazel nuts, and peanuts....and all those 
    nuts are still in the shell.     Mary