Cucumber

[Boomberry 0]

I know its probably wont contain much nutrition but its nice and refreshing and wondered if it was okay to give the birds Ive not read anywhere that you cant . I just want to make sure before I do.

[Guest eterri]

I had to look it up as I wasn't sure but here is what I found:

 

Cucumbers contain unacceptable levels of Dieldrin, an extremely carcinogenic pesticide that was banned in the U.S. over twenty years ago. Unfortunately it is persistent in the soil and is taken up by cucumbers. One of every fourteen cucumber samples from across the U.S. and Mexico contained this highly toxic compound. Substitute carrots, romaine lettuce, broccoli or radishes.

 

http://www.birdsnways.com/wisdom/ww18eii.htm

[Boomberry 0]

Bummer my Dad is over run with homegrown cucumbers. Im going to buy them radishes tonight though.

[Guest eterri]

It should be okay if he grows them himself. I'll see what else I can find.

 

I think the real danger was with added pesticides from cucumbers bought from the store.

[Boomberry 0]

After reading that all the fruit and veg I feed my birds are on the bad list, not a single one of them was okay.

[Guest eterri]

Yeah, it's best to buy organic fruits and veggies or grow them yourself. At the very least, wash them really really thoroughly.

[Boomberry 0]

I do buy organic spinach and brocoli and carrots, but they dont offer those in apples and they LOVE apples. Oh well I'll have to browse carefully at the supermarket later on, they prefer stalky things but unfortunately my Dads homegrown carrot with tops have finished until next year and Ive been thinking of stalky green things to substitute. I tried parsley they didn't like. I wonder if you can feed basil or mint herbs?

[Guest Lin]

I offer it to my birds all the time. They, of course, don't touch it, because as all budgies kno, any vegetable not green all over is not to be trusted, and could actually be injurious to their health. However, I am ever the optimist, and continue to offer it

[Boomberry 0]

You never know Lin they may even sniff it one day - only a maybe though you know what little snots they can be hehe!

[Guest Lin]

I spend ages in the fruit and veg aisle, thinking of wonderful ways to serve that day's food, only to have all my effort ignored, or, worse, they turn their little beaks up at it

[Boomberry 0]

Yep most mew things I try just get ignored or thrown off the pegs. Water melon and honeydew melon were the latest try and it wasnt cheap they just chucked it all on the floor, Tobi even spat after she touched the evil specimen hehe!

[Guest Lin]

At least she touched it Booms. I'd consider that a success

[Boomberry 0]

She only touched it to rip it off the peg Lin hehe.

 

I wonder how the radishes go down tonight.

[Guest pixie25]

casper likes our cucumbers off our cucumber plant in the garden. i chop ther middle out as its all gunky and just let hi nibble the fleshy bit on the inside of the skin.

[Guest Julie]

Do you know-I've just spent a puzzling hour wandering up and down the aisle at Sainsbury's pondering over what delicacy I can serve the little darlings for next week.

Boomberry-I've known mine to actual spat it out in disgust and then rub their beaks frantically and dramatically on the perch!

The latest foul offering is yellow pepper.

I tried mine with mint and fennel-yuck-no way.

 

My poor hubby gets quite excited-"Ooooh "he'll say-"That looks nice-we haven't had that before have we?"

"It's not for you". says I!

[Bea 0]

My budgies don't like cucumber. They'll go for nearly anything green and leafy and they also like carrot. Capsicum is the evil food from *** not to be touched so i gave up with that but for some reason they'll eat carrot even though it's not green...i just can't figuire out their logic. :mellow:

[Guest Natouk]

it's sad to say

 

But we may have to switch to bio food...

 

Me, since i started suspending food, most veggies have a huge success with the budgies.But i must say thet especially like coriander. God do they ever love it.

 

So i wrap up the cilentro in spinach leaves,or lettuce, I chuck a brocoli branch in the middle. I make a nice roll, add some jalapenos for the color, and i pin that to the cage, nicely wet.

 

The day after, when i remove it, it is 50-70% gone. And it is not all at the bottom of the cage, by the contrary.

 

That's a huge success with all of them, the new ones as the old ones.

 

I' take a picture of a veggie roll. They really like it.

[Guest pixie25]

yeah do take a picture natouk sounds interesting

[Daz 0]

I had to look it up as I wasn't sure but here is what I found:

 

Cucumbers contain unacceptable levels of Dieldrin, an extremely carcinogenic pesticide that was banned in the U.S. over twenty years ago. Unfortunately it is persistent in the soil and is taken up by cucumbers. One of every fourteen cucumber samples from across the U.S. and Mexico contained this highly toxic compound. Substitute carrots, romaine lettuce, broccoli or radishes.

 

http://www.birdsnways.com/wisdom/ww18eii.htm

 

 

Thanks for the information Eterri. I noticed that it has to do with practises and test carried out in the US. I would emagine that similar problems could be found in other countries, but it might be wise for everyone to check what poision problems they have in their own countries.

 

Some of the listed food many be okay and there maybe other foods to be included.

[Guest pixie25]

im going to have a veggie patch in my garden one day

 

i have got pre washed spinach for them before. i washed it again though and i always wonder that they spray things with to keep them fresh after they have been picked and packaged...

 

our cucumbers look so entirely different to the store bought ones. they look...well... knobbly!

[Boomberry 0]

My Dads look like cricket bats Pix they grow so big hehe.

 

The radishes didn't go down well neither did the pear. Might try peppers tonight.

[Guest eterri]

Thanks for the information Eterri. :hap: I noticed that it has to do with practises and test carried out in the US. I would emagine that similar problems could be found in other countries, but it might be wise for everyone to check what poision problems they have in their own countries.

 

Some of the listed food many be okay and there maybe other foods to be included.

No, pesticides are used everywhere. I'm pretty sure that article specifies "U.S. grown [food]" when it is specific to the U.S.

 

Yes, check in your area, but in general that list applies.

 

Either way, organic is best.