Berry seeds?

[victoriais1337]

So I know that most fruits, we are suppose to keep the seeds away from our fids.  But how does that work with berries?  I mean, the seeds are so tiny and there are just so many of them... I mean, with a strawberry its pretty easy since the seeds are on the outside... but should I not be giving Bonsai any blueberries, rasp/blackberries?  Picking out

Comments

[ltdead]

I have never heard of any problems associated with berry seeds, and I have often fed my conures berries, as have many of my friends.

[victoriais1337]

Excellent, thanks :P

[kynekh_amagire]

Stonefruit (peach, apricot, nectarine, plum, cherry, etc.) pits and the seeds of apples and pears contain cyanide (in teeny tiny amounts, but still, birds are teeny tiny). Those are the seeds I deliberately keep away from the parrots, but I let them eat pumpkin, squash, kiwi, blackberry, strawberry, chili, and pepper seeds along with the flesh, if they want to (Kalu the Senegal fastidiously picks kiwi seeds out of the pulp and flings them with great distaste). Generally, seeds that you can eat are okay for your birds to eat (do you peel strawberries before you eat them?), but it never hurts to call your vet and ask if you're not sure.

[victoriais1337]

Kk, thanks so much. I was pretty sure berries were alright, but I just wanted to make sure. Now that its summer and they are in season again, we generally like to have some around and Bonsai loves to rip them apart.

[cael_lilikoi]

Seeds themselves aren't strictly bad... just, a diet compromised majorly of them is. I know for budgies and cockatiels, a portion of (healthy!) seeds is still recommended. I can't remember the exact reasoning, this is just what my vet's stance on the matter was.

But, on this particular question, kynekh_amagire's comment above mine has much more relevant info.

[crookshanks82]

I believe they need some seeds because in the wild they feed on the ground a lot and that's what most of their diet consists of. Someone could correct me if I'm wrong, though.

[zandperl]

crookshanks82 is correct, budgies and 'tiels eat a lot of seeds in the wild, so some vets recommend keeping some amount of their diet as seeds. If you're an all-or-nothing sort of person though, all pellets is better than all seeds. (And all veggie mash better than all pellets.)

OP: The one thing to watch out for in berries is that they tend to retain more pesticides than most other fruits and vegetables. If you can go organic, do. Either way be sure to rinse them thoroughly.

[victoriais1337]

Excellent, thanks.