Caring for your ESA Birds: 10 Foods to Avoid

Do you know that some of the tasty food is really harmful to your birds? We know that you want the best for your birds and want to share every tasty treat with them but, unfortunately, you cannot. Birds are different than humans and in the same way, their food is also different.

Before moving on to the foods that are an absolute no no for your birds, we must answer the question that many ESA birds owners have in their minds, do we need to get emotional support animal letter for our bird?

A simple answer to it is that you will need to ask the authorities of your state about it. Contact the department that manages all ESA affairs and see what they have to say about it. In case they tell you to get one, make sure that you consult a licensed mental health professional for it.

About the harmful foods now, below, we have added a list of the foods that are tasty for you but are not as tasty and safe for your birds.

1. Chocolates

Everyone loves chocolates. Those dark brown squares are an ultimate joy for us but, unfortunately, not a very joyous treat for birds. If consumed, birds get chocolate poisoning and experience from symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, disrupting the nervous system, seizures, and even death.

2. Apple Seeds

Apple seeds contain minor traces of cyanide, which is quite common in the fruits belonging to the rose family like cherries, apricots, and pears. The flesh of the fruit is fine and even good but you need to be careful about removing the peel and seeds before giving it.

3. Alcoholic Drinks

Alcoholic drinks and cocktails may be an essential part of your parties but it must not be a part of your bird’s diet. Most of the bird owners know that alcohol is fatal for their birds but sometimes, a freely roaming bird may get exposed to it. In case your hird consumes alcohol, it can disrupt its entire system and cause death also.

4. Salt

Humans and animals have a regulated amount of salt in their bodies that they maintain from outer food sources also. Giving salty foods to your bird can cause havoc to their system and cause a number of problems like excessive thirst. Kidney failure, dehydration, and possible death. Be watchful of what you give to your bird.

5. Avocado

But, will it not make a tasty treat for my birds also? No, it will not. The peel and pit of the fruit are known to cause heart failure and cardiac distress in birds, which is fatal. Some do argue about the number of toxins it has but we suggest that you play safe and keep your bird away from it and products that contain avocado.

6. Mushrooms

Mushrooms are a tasty fungus that is great for your salad, steaks, and soups but not as great for your feathered companion. They can cause severe stomach upset and liver failure that could be caused by some of its varieties. The best way? Keep your birds away from the cooked and raw mushrooms, both.

7. Tomato Leaves

Tomatoes make an excellent treat for your birds but not all of it. While the flesh is fine, the stems and leaves are highly toxic to them. When feeding a tomato, clean it properly and remove all the greens parts, stem and leaves to avoid any unlikely accidents. Tomatoes are high in acidic content and are not the best options for your birds.

8. Caffeine

Coffee, tea, and soda are great for us as they help us to get through the day and sipping your coffee also has therapeutic effects. However, please keep your birds away from them if you do not want them to be dead. Caffeine causes cardiac arrest, disruption, and hyperactivity in the birds that can cause death within a few hours.

9. Onions

When given in a limited and controlled fashion, onion and garlic flavoring are harmless. In case of excessive exposure to onions, they could cause vomiting and other digestive problems in them. If given for extended periods of time, this can cause hemolytic anemia and respiratory issues in them.

10. Dried Beans

Cooked beans are great for birds but uncooked and dried beans are not so great for them. Raw beans have hemagglutinin, a form of poison, which is injurious to your bird’s health. Therefore, cook the beans thoroughly before any to your beloved aves.

We know that all of the mentioned foods are delicious and offer loads of health benefits to humans but, as we said before, birds are different and even a small act of carelessness could cause their death.

Birds are beautiful but fragile creatures. Therefore, you need to be really careful about what you feed them. Be diligent and careful to avoid any accidents and also don't forget to get your free emotional support animal letter.