Bird Health Care … Safe Foods … First Aid Instructions
In a life-and-death situation when every minute counts for an animal, you can call the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center for 24-hour emergency information at 888-4ANI-HELP (888-426-4435).
Toxic: Toxic Household Products … Toxic Carpeting … Teflon Poisoning … Dangerous Air Filtration Systems Safe / Healthy: Safe Alternatives for Toxic Household Cleaners … Natural Pest Control … Air Filtration Systems
The below is not a complete list. It is recommended that you consult with a vet, if in doubt. Please note that the items marked with an* are especially toxic to birds and can be fatal. Toxic foods are foods that can cause allergies and/or health problems in birds. Anything high in sugar or salt is inappropriate, as are fatty foods. More serious are things such as chocolate, which is toxic to many pets. Caffeinated or alcoholic beverages are also dangerous. I provided additional information as was available.
| Acorns Agave, Maguey, Bayonet, Agavaceae Toxic Principle: Sap from the leaves, Seeds, Calcium oxalate raphides, Acrid volatile oils, Mechanically injurious Clinical Signs: Oral mucosa irritation, Contact urticaria, Skin: Immediate burning, erythema, urticaria, and edema, Granuloma reaction from punctures by leaves Alcohol Almond Plants / Seeds / plant-pan allergen profilin can cause serious reaction in some birds: Generally all plants of the Prunus genus EXCEPT the pulp of the fruit contain amygdalin or related glycosides which are slowly hydrolyzed to hydrocyanic acid. Some allergic reactions to almond nuts have been observed. Alocasia Amaryllis: Clinical Signs: Can cause vomiting, diarrhea, depression, appetite loss, tremors, drooling and abdominal pain Angel’s Trumpet (some species), seeds, leaves Apple Seeds (small quantities ok) *Apricot (seeds, wood) Arrowgrass *Autumn Crocus Asparagus Fern – Sprengeri Fern, Lace Fern – Toxic Principle: Non-toxic, Berries, Sapogenins, Foliage Clinical Signs: Dermatitis, Irritant, Cardiac, sedative, and diuretic effects Autumn Crocus/Meadow – Saffron *Avocado (any part of the plant — including flesh, leaves, seeds, stem, skin) Azaleas: Can cause weakness, upset stomach, drooling, heart failure, depression and possible coma Baneberry Bayonet Beans: Broad, Castor, Glory, Fava, Horse, Mescal, Navy, Pregator, Scarlet Runner) – Large Beans: such as Anasazi, Black, Fava, Kidney, Lima, Navy, Pinto, and Soy – should never be fed raw. However, thoroughly cooked are safe and healthy. Beargrass *Begonia Bird of Paradise Bitter Almonds* Bittersweet Black-eyed Susan Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) *Bleeding Heart Bluebonnet Bloodrot Box Boxwood Bracken fern Buckeye Buckthorn Burning Bush Buttercup (Ranunculus) Caffeine *Caladium *Calla Lily Canada Yew Candelabra Cactus *Castor Beans: Common Name: Castor Bean, Castor, Castor Oil Plant, palma Christi, Wonder Tree, Higuerilla, Steadfast Toxic Principle: Leaves, Seeds, Ricin, Ricinin Clinical Signs: Decrease blood pressure, Hypothermia, Decrease in blood glucose, Increase in serum hepatic enzymes: AST, ALT, LDH, Increase in BUN, calcium, phosphorous, Upset Stomach, Vomitting, Abdominal Pain, Nausea, Diarrhea, Anorexia, Trembling, Weakness, Sudden Collapse, Seizures, Exercise intolerance, Ataxia, Slight Depression, Copious thick, ropy salivation, Thirsty Catnip Common Name: Catmint, Catnip Toxic Principle: Volatile oil Clinical Signs: Odd behavior, Drowsiness, Disorientation Cedar Ceriman Cherry (seeds, wood) Chinaberry *Chinese Sacred or Heavenly Bamboo Chocolate *Choke Cherry (unripe berries) Christmas Rose Chrysanthemum: Results in vomiting, diarrhea, depression, drooling and appetite loss. Causes allergies in humans as it is a ragweed relative. Clematis Coriander Coriaria Cornflower Corydalis Crocus bulb Croton (Codiaeum sp.) Crown of Thorns aka Christ Plant, Christ Thorn, Crown of Thorns Toxic Principle: Miliamines, Terpenes, Diterpenes, Alkaloidal esters of diterpenoid ingenol, Stems: the juice, leaves, and thorns Clinical Signs: Eye irritation, Vomiting, Skin irritation, Diarrhea, Irritation to gastrointestinal tract Curry Powder Cyclamen bulb Daffodil / Bulbs: Clinical Signs: Can cause severe gastrointestinal illness, convulsions, seizures, low blood pressure and tremors. Daphne Datura Deadly Nightshade Death Camas *Delphinium, larkspur, monkshood Dicentrea Dieffenbachia Dumb Cane aka Dumb Plant, Dumb Cane, Mother-in-law’s Tongue Plant Toxic Principle: Histamine poisoning, All parts: leaves, stems, sap, Proteolytic enzymes, Calcium oxalate crystals, Other toxins Clinical Signs: Swelling of throat, Impairment of speech, Excessive salivation, Pain and swelling of mouth, Skin rashes Easter Lily Eggplant: The leaves of the plant on which the eggplant fruit grows are poisonous, but the fruit itself is said to be safe. Some sources caution of overly ripe or under-ripe eggplant fruit. Elderberry (unripe berries) Elephant Ear English Ivy Fava Beans Fig (Ficus) Euonymus Evergreen Ferns Ficus Fiddle-leaf Philodendron aka Tree Philodendron, Cut-leaf Philodenron Toxic Principle: Nephrotoxic, Entire Plant, Leaves, Oxalates, Calcium oxalate Clinical Signs: Dermatitis, Excessive salivation, Red and swollen oral cavity, Pain, swelling, irritation to throat, Irritation and burning of mouth, lips, and tongue Holly: Commonly found during the Christmas season, can cause intense vomiting, diarrhea and depression. Flax ?? (Controversial – This may be the case in large quantities – consult with your vet) | Hellebore Hemlock Henbane Honeysuckle Horsebeans Horsebrush Horse Chestnut Hyacinth bulbs *Hydrangea Iris corms Iris Ivy *Jack-in-the-pulpit Japanese Yew Java Beans Jessamine Jerusalem Cherry *Jimson weed Jonquil Jungle Trumpets Kalanchoe aka Florist’s Kalanchoe, Kalanchoe, Palm Beach Belle Toxic Principle: Isoprene alkaloids, Cardiac glycosides, Cardiac bufadienolides, Bryotoxins, Non-toxic maybe – Clinical Signs: Labored respiration, Cardio-toxic effects, Excessive salivation, Digestive disturbance, Loss of interest in food and water *Lantana Larkspur Laurel Lily Lily-of-the-Valley Lily Spider Lobelia (some species), all parts Locoweed Lupine species Malanga Marigold *Milkweed *Mistletoe Berries: A Christmas plant, ingestion can cause significant vomiting and diarrhea, difficulty breathing, collapse, erratic behavior, hallucinations and death. Mock Orange Monkshood *Morning Glory Mountain Laurel Mushrooms Narcissus, daffodil Nettles Nectarine (seeds, wood) Nightshade *Oak Oleander aka Rosa Laurel Toxic Principle: Seeds, Vase water, Whole plant, Smoke from burning, Cardioactive glycosides Clinical Signs: may cause diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, slowing of heart-rate, abdormal heart beat patterns, heart failure and possible death. *Onions (toxic to birds, small amount ok) Peace Lilly *Peach (seeds, wood) *Pencil cactus plant Peony Periwinkle Peyote Cactus Philodendron aka Sweetheart Plant, Heart-leaf Philodendron, Parlor Ivy Toxic Principle: Nephrotoxic, Entire Plant, Leaves, Oxalates, Calcium oxalate Clinical Signs: Dermatitis, Excessive salivation, Red and swollen oral cavity, Pain, swelling, irritation to throat, Irritation and burning of mouth, lips, and tongue Pimpernel Plum (seeds, wood) Poinciana Poinsettia: Clinical Signs: Can cause irritation to the mouth and stomach and sometimes vomiting Poison Ivy Poison Oak Pokeweed Poppy Potato (green seed balls, green tubers; plant, leaves and stem) Precatory beans Privet Rhododendron *Rhubarb: Rhubarb leaves are poisonous but the edible rhubarb stalks are safe. *Rosary Pea Rubber Plant Schefflera aka Umbrella Tree, Starleaf, Australian Umbrella Tree Toxic Principle: Entire Plant, Saponins, Falcarinol, Calcium oxalate, Oxalic acid Clinical Signs: Dermatitis, Vomiting, Leukopenia, Loss of coordination, Irritation of mouth, lips, and tongue Scotch Broom *Shamrock (Oxalis sp.) Skunk Cabbage Snowdrops Snow-on-the-Mountain Spindle Tree, Euonymus (some species), leaves, fruit, bark Spreading English Yew Spurge (Euphorbia sp.) Staggerweed Starleaf Star of Bethlehem Sweet Pea – Lathyrus latifolius – L.: Although no records of toxicity have been found for this plant, the seed of some species in this genus contain a toxic amino acid that can cause a severe disease of the nervous system known as ‘lathyrism’ if they are eaten in large amounts (although small quantities are said to be nutritious). Great caution is advised. Ref. www.pfaf.org Tansy Mustard Tobacco Tomatoes (leaves and stem) Tuffroot Tulip: Clinical Symptoms: Can cause intense vomiting, depression, diarrhea, drooling and appetite loss. Virginia Creeper Walnut hulls Water Arum Weeping Fig Wild Call Wisteria Wild Calla Wisteria Yellow Calla *Yew Yucca aka Spineless Yucca, Soapweed, Spanish Bayonet Toxic Principle: Spines, Furostanols, Leaves, Saponins [steroidal], Spirostanols – sarsasapogenin Clinical Signs: Vomiting, Bloat, Diarrhea, Nausea, Mechanical damage Zamioculcas – an indoor plant. All parts of the plant are poisonous if ingested. |
Unsafe Plants / Fruits and Trees Below is a list of indoor and outdoor plants and trees which are hazardous to birds. It has been gathered from various sources and is not complete. Below is a listing of unsafe plants, fruits and trees.
| Agave, Maguey, Bayonet, Agavaceae Toxic Principle: Sap from the leaves, Seeds, Calcium oxalate raphides, Acrid volatile oils, Mechanically injurious Clinical Signs: Oral mucosa irritation, Contact urticaria, Skin: Immediate burning, erythema, urticaria, and edema, Granuloma reaction from punctures by leaves Alacia Amaryllis: Clinical Signs: Can cause vomiting, diarrhea, depression, appetite loss, tremors, drooling and abdominal pain American Yew Apricot Asparagus Fern – Sprengeri Fern, Lace Fern – Toxic Principle: Non-toxic, Berries, Sapogenins, Foliage Clinical Signs: Dermatitis, Irritant, Cardiac, sedative, and diuretic effects Autumn Crocus/Meadow – Saffron Avocado Azaleas: Can cause weakness, upset stomach, drooling, heart failure, depression and possible coma Balsam Pear – seeds, outer rind of fruit Baneberry – berries, root Beans – all types if uncooked Birch Bird of Paradise – seeds Bittersweet Nightshade Black Locust – bark, sprouts, foliage Bloodroot Blue-green Algae – some forms toxic Boxwood – leaves, stems Bracken Fern Broomcorn Grass Buckthorn – fruit, bark Buttercup – sap, bulbs Caladium – leaves Calla Lily – leaves Candelabra Tree Cardinal Flower- *Castor Beans: Common Name: Castor Bean, Castor, Castor Oil Plant, palma Christi, Wonder Tree, Higuerilla, Steadfast Toxic Principle: Leaves, Seeds, Ricin, Ricinin Clinical Signs: Decrease blood pressure, Hypothermia, Decrease in blood glucose, Increase in serum hepatic enzymes: AST, ALT, LDH, Increase in BUN, calcium, phosphorous, Upset Stomach, Vomitting, Abdominal Pain, Nausea, Diarrhea, Anorexia, Trembling, Weakness, Sudden Collapse, Seizures, Exercise intolerance, Ataxia, Slight Depression, Copious thick, ropy salivation, Thirsty Catnip Common Name: Catmint, Catnip Toxic Principle: Volatile oil Clinical Signs: Odd behavior, Drowsiness, Disorientation Cedar Chalice Vine/Trumpet vine Cherry Tree – bark, twigs, leaves, pits Chinaberry Tree Christmas Candle – sap Clematis/Virginia Bower Coral Plant – seeds Coriander Cowslip/Marsh Marigold Crown of Thorns aka Christ Plant, Christ Thorn, Crown of Thorns Toxic Principle: Miliamines, Terpenes, Diterpenes, Alkaloidal esters of diterpenoid ingenol, Stems: the juice, leaves, and thorns Clinical Signs: Eye irritation, Vomiting, Skin irritation, Diarrhea, Irritation to gastrointestinal tract Croton Curry Powder Daffodil / Bulbs: Clinical Signs: Can cause severe gastrointestinal illness, convulsions, seizures, low blood pressure and tremors. Daphne – berries Datura – berries Deadly Amanita Death Camas Delphinium Dumb Cane aka Dumb Plant, Dumb Cane, Mother-in-law’s Tongue PlantToxic Principle: Histamine poisoning, All parts: leaves, stems, sap, Proteolytic enzymes, Calcium oxalate crystals, Other toxins Clinical Signs: Swelling of throat, Impairment of speech, Excessive salivation, Pain and swelling of mouth, Skin rashes Eggplant – fruit okay / leaves toxic Elderberry Elephants Ear/Taro – leaves, stem English Ivy berries, leaves English Yew Euonymus/Spindle Tree False Hellebore False Henbane Ficus (weeping) Fiddle-leaf Philodendron aka Tree Philodendron, Cut-leaf Philodenron Toxic Principle: Nephrotoxic, Entire Plant, Leaves, Oxalates, Calcium oxalate Clinical Signs: Dermatitis, Excessive salivation, Red and swollen oral cavity, Pain, swelling, irritation to throat, Irritation and burning of mouth, lips, and tongue Firethorn/Pyracantha Fly Agaric Mushroom Deadly Amanita Four O’Clock Foxglove – leaves, seeds Golden Chain/Laburnum Glory Bean Ground Cherry Hemlock – including the water the plant is in Henbane – seeds Holly: Commonly found during the Christmas season, can cause intense vomiting, diarrhea and depression. Honey Locust Honeysuckle Horse Chestnut/Buckeye – nuts, twigs Horsetail Hyacinth – bulbs Hydrangea – flower bud Indian Licorice Bean Indian Turnip/Jack-in-Pulpit Iris/Blue Flag – bulbs Ivy Jack-in-the-Pulpit Jade Plant, Jade Tree, Dollar Plant, leaves are toxic. Clinical Signs: Digestive upset, Nausea Four-o’clocks (Mirabilis) Foxglove (Digitalis) *Garlic (safe for birds in SMALL amounts) Golden Glow Gopher Purge | Japanese Yew – needles, seeds Jasmine Java Bean – lima bean – uncooked Jimsonweed/Thornapple Jerusalem Cherry – berries Johnson Grass Juniper – needles, stems, berries Kalanchoe aka Florist’s Kalanchoe, Kalanchoe, Palm Beach Belle Toxic Principle: Isoprene alkaloids, Cardiac glycosides, Cardiac bufadienolides, Bryotoxins, Non-toxic maybe Clinical Signs: Labored respiration, Cardio-toxic effects, Excessive salivation, Digestive disturbance, Loss of interest in food and water Kentucky Coffee Tree Lantana – immature berries Larkspur Laurel Lily of the Valley – also water the plant is in Lobelia Locoweed Lords and Ladies/Cuckoopint Lupines/Bluebonnet mahogany – varying degrees of toxicity between the different varieties. Splinters easily. Not suitable for perches. Mandrake Mango Tree – wood, leaves, rind – fruit safe Mayapple – fruit is safe Mescal Beans – seeds *Mistletoe Berries: A Christmas plant, ingestion can cause significant vomiting and diarrhea, difficulty breathing, collapse, erratic behavior, hallucinations and death. Mock Orange – fruit Monkshood/Aconite – leaves, root Moonseed Morning Glory Mountain Laurel Mushrooms – several varieties Narcissus – bulbs Nectarine Nettles Nightshade – all varieties Nutmeg, nectar Oak – acorns, foliage Oleander aka Rosa Laurel Toxic Principle: Seeds, Vase water, Whole plant, Smoke from burning, Cardioactive glycosides Clinical Signs: may cause diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, slowing of heart-rate, abdormal heart beat patterns, heart failure and possible death. Parsnip root contains three photoactive, mutagenic, and photocarcinogenic psoralens in a total concentration of about 40 parts per million. These chemicals are not destroyed by normal cooking procedures. Data about the toxicologic consequences of such exposure are not available. Peach Peanuts – raw: (Peanuts are often contaminated with aflatoxin, a fungal toxin. Aflatoxin is carcinogenic and causes liver damage in birds, other animals, and even humans. Roasting reduces aflatoxin but does not eliminate it entirely. North American peanut producers are currently working on eliminating contaminated peanuts from their products. Especially peanuts with dark spots on them should be considered suspect, but even those that look clean and perfect could possibly be contaminated.) Pencil Tree Periwinkle- Persimmon: Has high levels of tannins and should best be avoided. Even though birds regularly feed on vegetation high in tannins, it is unclear how safe it is for them. Also: unripe persimmons can cause digestive issues. Philodendron aka Sweetheart Plant, Heart-leaf Philodendron, Parlor Ivy Toxic Principle: Nephrotoxic, Entire Plant, Leaves, Oxalates, Calcium oxalate Clinical Signs: Dermatitis, Excessive salivation, Red and swollen oral cavity, Pain, swelling, irritation to throat, Irritation and burning of mouth, lips, and tongue Pigweed Pikeweed Pine needles – berries Plum Pointsetta – leaves, roots, immature Poison Ivy – sap Poison Oak – sap Pomegranates (root / bark of the Pomegranate) Pokeweed/Inkberry – leaf, root, young berries Potato – eyes, new shoots Pothos (Golden Ivy) Privet Prune Rain Tree Ranunculus/Buttercup Red Cedar Red Maple Red Oak Rhododendron Rhubarb – leaves (editable stalks fine) Rosary Peas/Indian Licorice – seeds Sandbox Tree Scarlet Runner Beans Schefflera aka Umbrella Tree, Starleaf, Australian Umbrella Tree Toxic Principle: Entire Plant, Saponins, Falcarinol, Calcium oxalate, Oxalic acid Clinical Signs: Dermatitis, Vomiting, Leukopenia, Loss of coordination, Irritation of mouth, lips, and tongue Skunk Cabbage Snowdrop Snowflake Snow on the Mountain / Ghostweed Sorghum Grass Sorrel Sudan Grass Sweet Pea – seeds, fruit Tansy Ragwort Tobacco – leaves Vetch Virginia Creeper – sap Water Hemlock Western Yew Wisteria Yam bean – roots, immature roots Yello Jasmine Yew (Amer,Engl,Japan) – needles, thistles Yucca aka Spineless Yucca, Soapweed, Spanish Bayonet; Toxic Principle: Spines, Furostanols, Leaves, Saponins [steroidal], Spirostanols – sarsasapogenin; Clinical Signs: Vomiting, Bloat, Diarrhea, Nausea, Mechanical damage Zamioculcas – an indoor plant. All parts of the plant are poisonous if ingested. |
Unsafe Wood / Not Recommended for Perches Below is a list of indoor and outdoor plants and trees which are considered hazardous to birds. It has been gathered from various sources and is not complete. Opinions differ, which made research rather confusing. If in doubt, discuss with your vet.
| Apple (controversial – some say it’s safe. Refer to above. Discuss with your vet) Apricot Arbutus Ash (Mountain Ash is listed as safe on many lists) Cherry (controversial – some say it’s safe. Refer to above. Discuss with your vet) | Nectarine Peach Plum Prune (Controversial again – sometimes listed as toxic, other times as safe – discuss with vet) Red Cedar |
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Food Items Not to Feed to Birds, or only in Moderation
This information has kindly been provided by Dr. Jill M. Patt, DVM practicing in Mesa, Arizona. She has been keeping and raising exotic birds for years, providing her a unique knowledge and understanding that goes beyond that of a regular vet who does not have the benefit of daily interaction with birds / parrots.
Foods to Feed Birds Only in Moderation:
- Those veggies containing a high amount of oxalates. Some common examples include: spinach, chard, and bok choy, as they decrease absorption of calcium due to formation of complexes.
- Fruits, which can provide too much sugar in the bird’s diet.
- Diets that are based 100% on cooked beans/grains/pasta. These diets often have too much phosphorus and are very high in calories which can result in an obese bird.
- The diet should not be based on seeds. Seed diets contain too much fat and are deficient in many nutrients.
Foods you may consider NOT feeding
*Peanuts are often contaminated with aflatoxin, a fungal toxin. Aflatoxin is carcinogenic and causes liver damage in birds and other animals. Roasting reduces aflatoxin but does not eliminate it entirely.
North American peanut producers are currently working on eliminating contaminated peanuts from their products. Especially peanuts with dark spots on them should be considered suspect, but even those that look clean and perfect could possibly be contaminated.
Foods / Beverages that should NEVER be fed / given to Birds
- Caffeine
- Chocolate
- Alcoholic beverages
- The pits of most fruits, such as plums, peaches, apricots, and nectarines, contain cyanide. Cyanogenic glycosides are enzyme inhibitors that cause nausea, vomiting, and eventually coma
- Raw Beans: Many raw beans contain a trypsin inhibitor that interferes with protein metabolism; as well as hemaglutin (another toxin). Cooked or sprouted beans are fine.
- Eggplant, potato, tomato leaves, and green potatoes. Their leaves contain alkaloids that are poisonous for birds. Symptoms of ingestion in a bird include vomiting, diarrhea, and difficulty breathing.
- Avocado: The toxin persin is mostly found in the leaves, rind, and bark from avocado trees. However, even the fruit should be off-limits for pet birds. Persin poisoning causes respiratory distress and heart failure.
- Nutmeg contains a narcotic, myristicin, that can cause dizziness, nausea, and vomiting in birds.
- Rhubarb leaves contain high concentrations of oxalic acid, an intestinal irritant. Large doses are fatal.
- Tobacco contains the poisonous alkaloid, nicotine. Birds that ingest tobacco leaves suffer vomiting, diarrhea, seizures and other symptoms.
