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OWNER & ENTHUSIAST
 
ITEMS TOXIC TO COCKATIELS


ITEMS CONTAINING TOXIC AMOUNTS OF LEAD

(if lead is ingested by birds - IT CAN KILL THEM!)


  • weights (in curtains, penguin bird toys, fishing and diving, sailing and boating accessories, wheel balances)
  • inexpensive mini-blinds
  • bells with lead clappers
  • batteries
  • solder
  • lead pellets from shotgun shells
  • air rifle pellets
  • lead-based paints (varnishes, lacquers)
  • lead-free paints with leaded drying agents
  • hardware cloth
  • galvanized wire (lead and zinc - both toxic)
  • champagne and wine bottle foils (some)
  • base of light bulbs
  • linoleum
  • contaminated bone meal and dolomite products
  • leaded gasoline fumes
  • glazed ceramics (especially imported products) I know a person who lost LOTS of baby tiels from not following instructions concerning NOT microwaving formula BUT, the reason she lost the babies was from the lead in the ceramic mugs she used to heat the formula in.
  • costume jewelry
  • contaminated cuttlefish bone
  • plaster
  • stained glass (lead seams)
  • seeds for planting (coated with lead arsenate)
  • some lubricants (lead napthalate)

OTHER ITEMS/FOODS WHICH ARE TOXIC TO YOUR BIRDS

(These items can cause DEATH if used around or ingested by birds!)

  • AVOCADOS (see note below)
  • bleaches
  • pool chemicals
  • cleaning agents
  • human and animal excrement
  • combustion exhaust (autos,
  • furnaces)
  • denture cleaners
  • deodorants
  • detergents (anionic)
  • detergents (cationic)
  • drain cleaners
  • fireworks
  • furniture polish
  • gasoline
  • crude oil
  • matches
  • paint/varnish removers
  • pencils (the graphite)
  • perfumes (including those used in candles and even air freshners for vehicles and rooms, due to the oils used to retain the scents)
  • pine oil disinfectants
  • OVER-HEATED NONSTICK COOKWARE (NOT JUST TEFLON BUT ALL NON-STICK), DRIP PANS, COATED IRONS, CURLING IRONS, AND IRONING BOARD COVERS
  • poor grade peanuts peanut waste moldy grains corn and corn screenings moldy cheeses moldy meats
  • rodent poisons
  • rubbing alcohol
  • shampoo
  • SALT (sodium)
  • crackers
  • chips
  • prepared foods
  • salt water
  • sea sand (as grit)
  • styptic pencil
  • CHOCOLATE
  • ALCOHOL
  • CIGARETTE SMOKE
  • NICOTINE
  • CAFFEINE
  • copper

These passages and most items listed are from the book AVIAN MEDICINE: PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATIONS by Harrison, Harrison & Ritchie (a VERY fine book I would recommend for any aviculturist)

"Split-leaf philodendrons have been used in some aviaries in Florida for years with no signs of toxicity. However, in one case, two Amazon parrots that destroyed a large split-leaf philodendron had a two-hour course of lethargy and vomiting followed by complete, unsupported recover."

"Cherries, plums and peaches (Prunus spp.) have pits containing seeds that produce cyanogenic glycosides; however, there are no reports of cyanide poisoning in birds following the ingestion of these fruits.
I
t has been suggested that cyanide poisoning may be more common in ruminants because of a rapid enxymatic degradation of the glycoside to free cyanide. Alternately, detoxification may be more effective in simple-stomached animals."

"Avocados (Persea spp.) have recently been suggested as toxic for companion birds. At one time it was believed that only the pit was a danger; however, some studies suggest that all parts of the avacado, including the fruit, are toxic to birds. The toxin in the avacado has not been described. There are several varieties of avocados commercially available (eg, Guatemalan, Mexican, Nabal and Fuerte), which appear to differ in their toxic capacity. In one study involving rabbits, the Guatemalan and Nabal varieties caused death from pulmonary congestion within 24 hours after ingestion. The Mexican variety was nontoxic."

"Signs of avocado toxicity (Guatemalan and Fuerte varieties) in budgerigars and canaries include cessation of perching, anorexia, fluffed feathers, increased respiratory rate, outstretched wings and death."

"To the authors' knowledge a specific treatment regimen for avocado intoxication in birds has not been established. Based on clinical signs and postmortem findings, activated charcoal and general supportive measures such as oxygen, warmth and perhaps a mild diuretic may be indicated.
Bird have been reported to die as soon as 9 to 15 hours after consuming avocado. Some birds died within 10 to 15 minutes after developing signs of respiratory distress without prior clinical signs."

This list is by no means comprehensive but does give you a place to start.


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Photos by Jay Goss.com                                                          ©2008 NCS - membership@cockatiels.org                                             e-mail editor corrections - thanks!