Last Updated on December 4, 2022
Before you offer fruits and vegetables to your parrots, the one crucial thing you need to know is whether they are safe for parrots or not. You might be thinking about rhubarb and whether it is safe for parrots. Let’s discuss whether parrots can eat rhubarb.
Rhubarb leaves contain the highest level of the poisonous compound, oxalic acid, which is unsafe for parrots as it can disturb their health. However, a healthy parrot can occasionally eat blanched or boiled rhubarb stalks without any side effects. It is not the primary diet of your parrot.
You may wonder why rhubarb is not safe for parrots, or what if your parrots eat it/ and a similar question related to rhubarb for parrots. So here, I will cover almost all relevant things to clear your mind and choose a better substitute for rhubarb.
Rhubarb For Parrots:
Rhubarb is a fleshy, stalk species considered a vegetable and used as a fruit. It contains oxalic acid, a poisonous material unsuitable for birds. The rhubarb stalk is hard and rough for parrots, especially for little parrots.
One edible part of rhubarb for humans is its stalk, and the concentration of oxalic acid is lesser than in leaves. So, the leaf stalk of rhubarb can be edible for parrots too. Leaf stalks do not contain that level of harmful chemicals, and how you cook can overcome the harmful effects.
The parrot’s digestive system is a little more sensitive than humans, so feeding leaf stalks of rhubarb regularly can disturb the parrot’s entire health.
Why Rhubarb Is Toxic?
Rhubarb is not safe for parrots because;
- Oxalic acid and anthrone glycosides are present. Oxalic acid binds the calcium present in the rhubarb and reduces its absorption. Calcium is necessary for bone formation and the normal functioning of the nerves, brain, and muscles.
- If your parrot’s diet is not well balanced and it is eating rhubarb regularly, it might face a deficiency of calcium which is not good.
- The leaves of rhubarb are also spectacularly poisonous. The leaves have high oxalic acid content that can lead to various issues, such as cancer, and even cause the death of little feathery pets.
- Rhubarb has a tart taste, and people often add sugar to make it sweet to neutralize oxalic acid in rhubarb and offer it to their parrots. Sugar is harmful to parrots. That’s why you can’t feed rhubarb to parrots in any way.
Edible Parts of Rhubarb
Parrots can’t eat rhubarb leaves as they are high in oxalic acid and cause severe health issues. Rhubarb flower is bitter and unsafe for parrots.
Rhubarb stalk is a part that is edible for humans and can be served to parrots once a month if your parrot is healthy. You might want to know whether parrots can eat raw stalks or need cooking because of their tart taste.
The cooking factor of rhubarb stalk overcomes the chemical content and makes it edible. Blanching or boiling the rhubarb stalks makes them edible for parrots as their toxicity reduces and taste also improves. The most important thing is to wash the stalks properly to avoid any contamination or pesticide residues.
Can Parrots Eat Rhubarb Pie?
Parrots love to share food with their owners. Rhubarb pie can be one of the famous rhubarb dishes in the western region. Rhubarb pie has high sugar content, which makes it ultimately a disaster for your feathery pet. So, always avoid serving this to your parrots.
What If Parrots Eat Rhubarb Accidently?
Till now, I have discussed how harmful rhubarb is for your parrots, so you may think about this question, as it is the reality anyone can face.
So, if your parrots eat rhubarb accidentally, you first have to examine the symptoms and which part of rhubarb your parrot has eaten. The severity of the poison depends upon the health and size of your parrot.
If your parrot is healthy and enjoys well-rounded feed, including fruits, vegetables, and nuts, symptoms will be less worrying. If your parrot has eaten an excessive amount of rhubarb, you should immediately concern the vet and have a proper checkup so that your parrot may not get any severe adverse effects.
Rhubarb can disturb the parrot’s health, as it is entirely harmful. Oxalic acid can also cause severe health issues, such as:
- Stomach pain.
- Diarrhea.
- Nausea.
- Vomiting.
- Cramps.
- Seizure.
- Illness.
These are general side effects of rhubarb to parrots, but in some rare cases, oxalic acid excess consumption can cause death. So, it can be fatal for your parrots. That’s why you should always avoid feeding rhubarb to parrots.
Substitute Of Rhubarb:
The benefits of rhubarb are less than their losses. Rhubarb is entirely unhealthy for parrots, but cranberries can be the one if you want to have a substitute for rhubarb. Because cranberries have a similar taste to rhubarb, and their nutritional benefits are also somehow identical, you can feed cranberries to your parrots in a limited portion, as cranberries are safe and edible for parrots.
Conclusion:
Rhubarb is a leafy vegetable but not beneficial for parrots because of its toxic compounds. If your parrot is healthy and likes to eat rhubarb, add boiled rhubarb stalks once a month. Do not feed rhubarb as a primary feed for your parrot. So, in this article, you will come to know all vital information related to rhubarb for parrots so that you can stay away from this plant from your pet.
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