parakeets

Question
My Aunt has a parakeet and it eats people food so she wants to if there is anything bad/poisonious for him?

Answer
Hi Nicole!
There are several foods that are very toxic to birds. Chocolate is digested in a different way by birds, and the metabolite, theobrom, is very toxic to them. Baker's chocolate and dark chocolate are the most toxic, and milk chocolate, although less toxic, is still a forbidden food for birds. Caffeine is also metabolized differently in birds, which also results in toxic compounds. There is some data that indicates that some varieties of avocado are toxic to birds, with perhaps the skin and pit being the most dangerous parts. Although unlikely to kill a bird, to be on the safe side, avocado should not be fed to birds. Onions can cause a fatal hemolytic anemia in dogs and cats, but since birds' red blood cells have a nucleus, this may protect the cells from the severe injury that occurs in other species. However, until this topic is studied, it is best to not feed onions to birds.

Here is a full list of all potentially dangerous foods that a bird should never eat:
-Alcoholic beverages
-Anything not fresh or may have mold on/in it.
-Anything with too much sugar or salt
-Apple seeds (remove seeds from apples before feeding)
-Avocado
-Cat food
-Cherries or peaches with pits
-Chocolate
-Dairy products. Birds cannot digest them; very small amounts of cheese is ok.
-Raw onion or raw potato
-Raw or uncooked meat, poultry, fish
-Raw or undercooked eggs
-Excessive fats used in long periods of time become toxins
-Caffeine found in coffee, tea, soda, chocolate, and cocoa can affect heart muscles, causing muscle tremors, vomiting, hyperactivity, and cyanosis. There is a possibility of death from cardiac or respiratory collapse.
-Sugars found in sweet rolls, candy, glazed products, and by eating too many sweet fruits can be toxic. Death can be caused by a build-up of toxins already in the system.

And also beware of cookware. Be careful with new cookware. Most types are coated with a non-stick surface which is toxic when heated. It is best to remove your bird (s) from cooking areas when introducing or using utensils with non-stick surfaces -- especially when new. New utensils give off more toxins and at lower temperatures than those that have been used.

I hope this helps!
Hilary