Question about diet

[MsBeanCtr]

I am somewhat concerned about the amount of fresh peppers that Kirby eats. I usually put whatever is fresh from the garden on a treat holder in his cage. It can be anything from broccoli, chard, carrots or peppers...whatever is ready to be picked. Lately he has been thrilled with peppers and can consume one rather quickly. His favorite (if you can believe this) is cayenne peppers.....seeds and everything. I can't believe that this isn't hard on his digestive tract?? Am I wrong? He also eats whole Jalapeno's, banana peppers and the usual green peppers......How can such a little creature digest such hot peppers? I just want to verify that it's not harming him and I can't find any info about it.

[ParrotletsRock]

I am not sure if eating a lot of peppers can be bad.. Personally I do not think so ..it is just veggies. As far as the hot peppers go the way I understand it is that birds do not feel the heat from hot peppers. They do not have the receptors to feel the heat from capsicum . I however would cation you when handling him after him eating these peppers as if he has it on his feathers you could react to it...lol. Good luck

[jodeg]

I don't know much about this, but I have heard birds can't feel the heat and usually love hot stuff. Just be careful not to get a KISS after he eats something hot!

Maybe Reta will sign on and offer some advice.

Good luck with HOT STUFF! :D

[Lola B.]

I know that large parrot mix almost always contains dried chile's soooo? Also, I put whole jalapeños (seed and all) in Delphi's mash...

[MsBeanCtr]

Jeepers! He's crazy about them.....and you can smell them from across the room! Now tell me how that can be good for their little bodies? lol

[ParrotletsRock]

It wouldn't be good for mine... I seem to be very sensitive to capsaisin ..The last time I cooked a few jalapenos I coughed for hours after. My lungs burned very unplesantly for hours alos. I have artheritis and bought some capsaisin rub... BIG MISTAKE!! My ankles turned bright red and HURT!! They felt like the skin was peeling off even tho it wasn't. It felt very hot...like bad bad sunburn. It was like that for about 3-4 days before it got better....even after washing off very well. And for a few more days if I put socks on that covered the area it felt unpleasently hot. My birds do NOT get hot peppers...lol

[michiganlet]

I have heard they like hot peppers but I have never tried them. Think I will will give him a jalapeno. Very interesting.

[chapala]

Chile peppers, especially when ripened to red, orange or yellow, are fine in moderation. They do contain solanines which can block some Calcium absorption when given in excess, so I would limit the peppers from the amount you're giving now. My bigger parrots each get a dry red chile daily in the dry mix (they break them open and eat the seeds), and I often put a chile in the food processor as a small part of the mixed fresh vegetables.