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25 Human Foods That Parrots Should NOT Eat (And Why!)

Last Updated on March 6, 2024 by Carrie Stephens

If you’re having a snack or meal, your pet parrot will show interest in what you’re eating. Parrots like many of the same foods as us, but not all human foods are safe.

Some foods are toxic to parrots, leading to severe sickness and death. Other foods aren’t deadly but can lead to low energy, hyperactivity, behavioral problems, digestive distress, and weight gain.

Foods That Can Kill Parrots

The following foods can be fatal if consumed by parrots:

Avocado

Avocados contain a fatty acid derivative called persin. When parrots ingest avocado, persin can lead to breathing problems and the inability to perch safely.

When sufficient persin is ingested, it causes fluids to accumulate around the organs. Once respiratory problems occur, death is the most likely outcome.

Persin can be found in all parts of the avocado tree, not just the fruit.

Eggplant

Eggplants (called aubergines in the UK) are members of the nightshade family. This means they contain solanine, a glycoalkaloid poison.

Solanine can cause gastrointestinal, respiratory, and neurological problems in parrots.

The symptoms of solanine poisoning include:

  • Diarrhea.
  • Vomiting.
  • Nausea.
  • Stomach pain and cramping.
  • Slow pulse and breathing.

Solanine is contained in the eggplant’s flowers, leaves, and stalk.

Chocolate

Chocolate contains theobromine. Theobromine, like caffeine, belongs to the class of alkaloids called methylated xanthine. This means chocolate will:

  • Stimulate the central nervous system and heart.
  • Accelerate the removal of bodily fluids.

Theobromine makes chocolate toxic to birds, even in small amounts. Even without theobromine, chocolate is unhealthy because it contains:

  • Butter: This adds fat to a parrot’s diet.
  • Milk: This is harmful since birds struggle to digest lactose (no lactase).
  • Sugar: This can lead to weight gain, lethargy, and stomach upsets.

The darker the chocolate, the more theobromine. Dark chocolate is more harmful than milk chocolate, which is more harmful than white chocolate.

Fruit Pits

Many fruit pits contain a cyanide compound, which is highly toxic to parrots. This applies to stoned fruits like apricots, cherries, prunes, pears, plums, and peach pits.

Cyanide poisoning from fruit pit consumption can lead to:

  • Seizures.
  • Brain damage.
  • Digestive issues and damage.
  • Falling blood pressure.
  • Aches and pains.
  • Premature death.

The larger the seed or pit, the more cyanide it contains. Unfortunately, parrots often find fruit pits intriguing and fun to crack open. We strongly recommend removing the pit from the fruit first.

what foods can kill a parrot?

Foods Bad for Parrots

These foods aren’t as immediately dangerous to parrots. However, they’re still toxic and may lead to health issues if fed often, prepared incorrectly, or given in large amounts. These include:

Raw Rhubarb

Rhubarb contains oxalic acid, a compound naturally found in many plants. When oxalic acid binds to minerals, it forms a compound called oxalates.

Oxalates are an anti-nutrient. As the term implies, oxalates reduce the body’s ability to absorb minerals.

Many leafy greens or seeds contain this compound. However, rhubarb contains more oxalic acid, making it harmful when fed raw. Cooking rhubarb reduces the quantity.

Oxalic acid has other adverse effects, such as kidney stones. According to The New England Journal of Medicine, kidney stones are likely to form when oxalates are high and urine volume is low.

Mushrooms

Mushrooms are fungi that can absorb toxins in their environment. Additionally, mushrooms contain amatoxin, which can upset the stomachs of birds.

Raw mushrooms are more dangerous to parrots than if they’re cooked. Some types contain higher amounts of amatoxin, leading to digestive issues and neurological damage.

Shiitake mushrooms should never be fed to parrots. If they’re not safely farmed, other mushrooms may harm parrots, even when thoroughly cooked.

Onions

Onions contain sulfoxides. Unfortunately, they don’t go away, even when cooked. Despite a lack of scientific research on birds, we believe sulfoxides in onions are toxic to parrots.

Parrots shouldn’t eat raw, cooked, dried, or powdered onions. All other plants that belong to the Allium family are off-limits, including shallots.

The Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigations found that green onions were linked to the death of geese. Other birds experienced anemia and liver problems.

Garlic

Garlic shouldn’t be given to parrots because it contains:

  • Alliin.
  • Alliinase.

A cell wall keeps these compounds separate. When sliced, the cell walls are broken, and the two compounds are mixed. When combined, they create Allicin.

Allicin isn’t immediately toxic, causing more harm over time. Too much Allicin commonly causes stomach upsets. In extreme cases, It can cause red blood cells to burst, resulting in hemolytic anemia.

Even in small, non-toxic dosages, garlic irritates the parrot’s stomach and adversely affects mood.

Sugar-Free Food

Parrots shouldn’t be given food labeled as ‘sugar-free,’ even in small amounts, because it contains alternatives to sugar that can harm parrots.

Xylitol can cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) or liver failure in some animal species.

Foods Not To Feed A Parrot

These foods can upset stomachs and cause dietary imbalances. Depending on how they’re prepared, they may also cause more severe health issues.

foods that are toxic for parrots

Dairy

Dairy should be avoided, even if the parrot likes ice cream, milk, or cheese.

Parrots have a low tolerance for lactose because they lack the enzyme lactase. After all, parrots don’t digest lactose in the wild. If parrots eat dairy products, it’ll cause stomach upsets and diarrhea.

Raw Meat

Parrots can eat meat because they’re omnivores. However, it must be cooked.

Wild parrots eat small bugs or scavenge on leftover carcasses (carrion), like kea parrots. Pet parrots can eat meats like chicken and fish, but raw meat can harbor bacterial microbes, like:

  • Salmonella.
  • Listeria.
  • E. coli.

This can result in food poisoning, which can have the following effects:

  • Vomiting.
  • Nausea.
  • Diarrhea.
  • Stomach cramps.
  • Dehydration.

These bacteria are killed when the meat is cooked.

If left raw, bacteria can live on the surface of the meat. Aside from raw meat, avoid giving a parrot reheated food because it can harbor the same bacteria as raw meat.

Saltine Crackers

Although a treat, saltine crackers should be eaten in moderation. They’re not toxic or harmful substances but contain an unhealthy amount of salt. Too much can cause high blood pressure (hypertension).

Potato Chips

Potato chips (called crisps in the UK) are high in trans fats, salt, and additives that make them unhealthy. They’re often deep-fried in oil, which can lead to obesity if eaten to excess.

If you want to give potato chips to a parrot, make them yourself. Slice potatoes thinly and bake them in the oven. Avoid adding extra salt or oil for added flavor.

Large Raw Beans

Uncooked beans can affect a parrot’s digestion. Some raw beans are:

  • Indigestible.
  • Have enzyme inhibitors.
  • Cause gout.

Soaking the beans will remove harmful substances by starting the sprouting process.

Not all beans contain harmful substances, but cook beans as a precaution.

Unfresh Peanuts

Because monkey nuts grow in the ground, they can contain aflatoxin. This is caused by the Aspergillus fungus, which can harm the liver and is linked to certain cancers.

Other nuts can harbor this toxin. However, due to how they’re grown, peanuts are more susceptible. You can reduce aflatoxins by roasting and storing them appropriately. Also, check for discoloration.

Stems and Leaves

Even if a vegetable is safe to eat, this isn’t always true for its stems and leaves. Any plant that belongs to the nightshade family can be problematic, such as:

  • Okra.
  • Goji berries.

They contain tropane alkaloids, which can cause hallucinations and delirium. Check the base compounds before giving parrots stems and leaves. If they contain tropane alkaloids, avoid them.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are acidic, and too much can cause ulcers. The stems and leaves also belong to the nightshade family and can be toxic if eaten directly.

Whole Celery Stalks

Celery stalks can lead to crop impaction, which happens when food can’t move to the esophagus.

Complications from crop impactions include infections, whether they’re from bacteria, yeast, or fungi. Due to the blockage, parrots can develop dehydration and hypoglycemia.

This doesn’t mean you can never feed a parrot celery. The stalks can cause impaction, but celery is relatively healthy and low in calories.

To avoid issues, finely chop the stalks. Alternatively, juice the celery in a blender with water.

Tapioca

Tapioca is made from cassava starch, a type of flour, meaning it’s just carbohydrates.

Nutmeg

Nutmeg contains myristicin (a narcotic), which can lead to nausea, dizziness, and vomiting in parrots.

foods that are bad for parrot

What Parrots Can’t Eat or Drink

There are other kitchen ingredients a parrot should never have. Some of these drinks or ingredients are toxic, while others will gradually cause illness.

Alcohol

Drinking alcoholic beverages, even in small amounts, can lead to disorientation, nausea, and an elevated heart rate. It compromises the efficiency of vital organs with life-threatening implications.

Human bodies can flush out the toxins from alcohol, while birds can’t. Because parrots have smaller bodies, their organs are more susceptible to damage from toxins.

Salt

The amount of salt a parrot ingests should be minimized to avoid hypernatremia.

The adverse effects of hypernatremia include:

  • Excessive thirst.
  • Excessive urination.
  • Tremors.
  • Seizures.
  • Death.

Check the ingredients list, avoiding high-sodium products.

Coffee

While it may be essential to your day, a parrot can’t have a cup of coffee. Coffee isn’t just unhealthy for birds but outright toxic due to its caffeine content.

Caffeine belongs to a class of alkaloids called methylated xanthine. This compound stimulates the central nervous system, stimulating the heart and muscles.

Methylated xanthine harms parrots when ingested and can lead to tachycardia or an elevated heartbeat. The increase in motor activity can lead to:

  • Seizures.
  • Dehydration.
  • High body temperature.
  • Death.

Caffeine is found in caffeinated beverages, like black tea and energy drinks.

Carbonated Beverages

Sugar is an ingredient that should be moderated, especially refined sugars and corn syrup. Due to how they’re processed, they may mean a parrot can’t metabolize them.

Aside from sugar, some carbonated beverages contain caffeine, which parrots can’t have. Carbonated drinks usually contain a multitude of artificial colorings and preservatives.

Fried Food

Never feed a parrot food that’s been fried, whether that means:

  • Sautéing.
  • Deep frying.
  • Battering and frying.

Preservatives are often added for freshness and crispness to commercially fried foods, leading to digestive issues, obesity, and poisoning. Avoid feeding a parrot:

  • Fried rice.
  • Fried vegetables.
  • Fried meats.
  • Deep-fried desserts.

The above human foods are bad for parrots, and some are deadly. A parrot’s diet should mainly comprise pellets, but parrots should also eat fruits, vegetables, seeds, and nuts.