James Harris, DVM
Is it okay to feed potatoes to an eclectus?
 What is your position on feeding potatoes to an eclectus? There seems to be a great deal of controversy over this.
brdman94@aol.com
We feed my Quaker, Simon, peanut butter and rice pudding every day along with pellets, seed and whatever we have for dinner. Is this bad for him?
pnasty23@aol.com
 Most human food is fine for birds, too. The exceptions are alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, salt and avocados. Peanut butter is fine as long as it's unsalted but don't forget it's fattening, so don't overdo it.
Most birds love cooked potatoes. Sweet potatoes especially are high in protein and vitamin A. I'm not aware of any controversy concerning eclectus parrots eating potatoes; however, it might have something to do with the presence of oxalic acid in old potatoes that have started to sprout. In large amounts, oxalic acid is toxic.
James Harris, DVM is owner and medical director of the Mayfair Veterinary Clinic in Sandy Bay, Tasmania, Australia. He founded Montclair Veterinary Hospital in Oakland, Calif., and has served as medical director and chairman of the board for the International Bird Rescue Research Center in Berkeley. Dr. Harris' numerous professional honors include California and National Bustad Companion Animal DVM Awards.
ParrotChronicles.com. Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
Return to current Ask a Vet column
| 
