Last Updated on October 31, 2019 by Catherine Tobsing

Some snippets from the Google search results page.

 

Raw peanuts contain a toxin called Aflatoxin in them. Aflatoxin is a liver toxin and is dangerous for parrots. So it’s for sure that raw peanuts are not safe for parrots.

 

But as we all know parrots need cleaner, fresher food than us to eat, they cannot cope with chemicals and pollutants as well as us, which is why second grade (for animal consumption only) peanuts can kill our birds.

 

Peanuts are particularly susceptible to contamination during growth and storage.

 

Poor storage of peanuts can lead to an infection by the mold fungus Aspergillus flavus, releasing the toxic substance aflatoxin.

 

I could go on but you get the picture.

 

Let’s try to apply some logic to this argument.

 

If I leave pizza in the refrigerator too long it will get mold.

 

 

If I leave cheese in the refrigerator too long it will get mold.

 

Any protein not stored correctly will get mold.

 

From the list “Where Are Peanuts Grown?”

 

India grows 6,857,000 metric tons of peanuts annually.

 

India is home to millions of Indian ringneck parakeets.

 

Argentina grows 1,001,113 metric tons of peanuts annually.

 

Twenty-eight species of parrot have been recorded in Argentina. 

 

Please read the-status-of-argentine-parrots

 

Indian farmers (who grow peanuts) find Indian ringnecks are cumbersome pests who decimate crops.

 

These two facts beg the question why aren’t parrots falling out of the sky in Argentina and India?

 

Asked because peanuts are not inherently bad for parrots.

 

The quality of the peanut that is the problem.

You run the risk of buying moldy peanuts when checking out from a local grocery store because you don’t know the amount of moisture they have been exposed to.

 

Peanuts bought from name-brand manufacturers like Higgins and HARI.

 

HARI’s approach is “The concern for feeding peanuts is that the SHELLS are known to harbor the mold Aspergillus flavus which can cause Aspergillosis in parrots. Tropican and Tropimix only contain de-hulled human grade peanuts.

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And all formulas developed by HARI have been very carefully calculated and go through rigorous 3-stage testing – which is unprecedented among bird food makers.”

 

Higgins peanuts go under rigorous testing according to Dean Reyes VP at Higgins bird food.

 

The answer to the question “Are peanuts bad for parrots?”

 

It is a resounding no – long as you source them properly from a name-brand bird food manufacturer.

 

Buy bird-safe peanuts here

 

Now that we got that out of the way

 

Can you feed an African Grey too many peanuts in a day? comes from Quora

 

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Mitch Rezman

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