These common vegetables belong to the onion genus, Allium, one of the largest categories of plants in the world. This genera was originally classified in the lily family (Liliaceae). However, in 2009 it was reclassified and is now the subfamily Allioideae of the Amaryllidaceae family.
Why Run the Risk of Injuring Your Birds?
In human nutrition garlic is often fed to help support the immune system, lower high blood pressure and target infections.
However, feeding your birds balanced nutrition will do all this and much, much more.
Since I first published this blog post in 2012, I have done an extensive amount of research, reviewing hundreds of published scientific papers, for my monthly column, ‘The Holistic Parrot’, in Parrots magazine. And all this work has deepened my understanding of the nutrients our parrots (and finches) need to eat everyday for good health. And what this means for you, is that you get to receive the benefits of everything I’ve learned and have written about. You have the opportunity to learn about how easy it is to feed parrots and finches a selection of foods that provide them balanced nutrition. When following, and feeding, my ‘Balanced Exotic Avian Maintenance Diet Food Plan’, members of the Healthy Bird Project have learned how simple and easy it is to feed their birds a proper balance of wholesome foods.
Key Nutrient: Complete Protein
And since 2012 there is one key, essential nutrient, I keep coming across in my research. And this is Complete Protein. Unless parrots and finches receive the proper balance of nutrients, that they need everyday, you can feed all the garlic or medicinal herbs you want … and it will do no good. This is the case because before the elements in garlic or medicinal herbs can have ANY effect in the body, all the nutritional needs of the individual must be met. For more info on this, please read: ‘Complete Protein, the Essential Nutrient Missing in Avian Diets’.
Most Recently: Articles I’ve researched and written for Parrots magazine, for my column appearing in the November and December, 2019, and January 2020 issues, add even more incredible supporting data for Complete Protein being THE essential nutrient required in the avian diet.
Never Feed Onions, Garlic or Leeks
Although plants are classified by their flower, and not their chemical constituents, members of the Allium genus – garlic (Allium sativum), chives (A. schoenoprasum) onions (A. cepa), shallots (A. oschaninii), leeks (A. ampeloprasum) and scallions (A. ascalonicum) all contain some amount of organosulfur compounds (organic compounds that contain sulfur). The sulfur compound content is unique for each plant species and can increase if elevated sulphur levels are present in the soil during cultivation.
The Danger
Onions are most commonly known for causing hemolysis (the destruction of red blood cells) in dogs, cats and horses, some of these sulfur-based compounds are also present in raw garlic.
When cut, onions form allyl propyl disulfide, diallyl disulfide, dipropyl disulfide, other disulfides, sulfides, trisulfides, thiosulfinates, sulfenic acids, mercaptans, sulfoxides, sulfates, and thial oxides. The concentration of allyl propyl disulfide, diallyl disulfide, and dipropyl disulfide [increases over time] after the onion is cut. (1)
[Garlic] cloves consist of cells that contain both a cysteine-based sulfur rich amino acid, called alliin (diallyl disulphide oxide) and a protein-based enzyme called allinase, which acts as a catalyst. These compounds are kept apart by the cell walls. The clove has little or no discernible smell until it is sliced and the two compounds are mixed. [When combined] these two compounds form a third compound, diallyl thiosulphinate, commonly called allicin.(2)
Creates Free Radicals in the Body
Allicin is the chemical which gives garlic its odor. It is a strong oxidant, which means that it creates free radicals, which in excess, can be dangerous. Allicin can cause stomach irritation and, in rare cases, hemolytic anemia – [the] destruction of red blood cells. If if placed directly on the skin, allicin can cause blistering. (3)
It is these organosulfur compounds present in concentration in raw garlic, raw onions and other members of the Allium genus that have the ability of causing hemolysis in certain animal species.
Free Radicals Cause Disease
A growing amount of research identifies free radicals as the root cause of illness, disease and even the aging process itself. Chapter 10 in my ‘Sprouting Book Revision’ goes into the details of how free radicals causes disease and the role of antioxidants in restoring vibrant health.
Case Study–Garlic Killed Conure
A Dusky-headed conure (Aratinga weddelli) [also known as Weddell’s conure] with a history of being force fed a large amount of garlic (Allium sativum) was presented because of anorexia and lethargy. The conure died one hour after supportive care was administered. At necropsy, a half clove of garlic and several large pieces of chicken meat were present in the crop. Histopathologic findings of hemoglobinuric nephrosis and hepatosplenic erythrophagocytosis strongly suggested an acute hemolytic event . [Meaning the microscopic examination of the bird’s tissues and body fluids revealed the abnormal presence of hemoglobin, that had been separated from the red blood cells, along with protein in the urine. Hemoglobin is the protein-iron compound in blood that carries oxygen from the lungs to the cells and carbon dioxide away from he cells to the lungs for exhalation. Additionally, the body’s macrophages and phagocytes had attacked and consumed red blood cells adversely affected the liver and spleen. These findings indicate that hemolysis, the destruction of red blood cells, had occurred.] Frozen kidney and liver samples were negative for polyomavirus DNA, and tissue lead and zinc levels were normal. The clinical presentation and postmortem findings in this conure are similar to those in mammals with onion and garlic (Allium species) toxicosis.(4) The Dusky-headed conure weighs approximately 95 gms. This is just slightly larger than my Green-cheek conure, Elvis, who weighs 80 gms.
Avian Hemolytic Anemia
The mechanism for avian hemolysis appears to be similar to the problems that can occur in dogs, cats and horses when they are feed raw onions or large volumes of raw garlic – with the amount being considered excessive in relationship to the size of the individual.
Learn From Others
However, when any type of new plant, whether nutritional or medicinal, is being considered for introduction into a parrot’s diet painstaking research must first be conducted. With interest growing in the scientific community with regards to the healing properties of foods and nutritional and medicinal plants the discoveries and supporting evidence acquired through research, case studies and feeding trials provide a data base rich in scientific fact-based information. As more professionals publish their findings this knowledge becomes available to the person who knows how, through proper research, to gain access to the valuable information these documents contain. Then when made easily available to public – like the information I share with you in this column – situations like what occurred with the Dusky-headed conure can be avoided.
Error on the Side of Caution
When introducing new herbs or foods to any parrot I always suggest we error on the side of caution. Although some parrot species may be able to consume small amounts of fresh or powdered garlic without ill effects, I think running the risk of causing hemolytic anemia is too great a danger, especially when there are safer, gentler natural alternatives. Years ago when I interviewed Dr Greg Harrison (Harrison’s Bird Diets) he explained that he and many of his colleagues would not do feeding trials on birds to test a food, chemical or substance they knew or suspected would cause harm. I applaud Dr Harrison’s attitude as I think we need to replace traditional feeding trials with a more humane, long term system, of feeding studies.
Avian Malnutrition Damages the Immune System
Avian veterinarians have repeatedly stated that malnutrition is the leading cause of illness, disease and early death of birds. If nutrients are missing from a bird’s diet, this results in either malnutrition or undernutrition. Patricia Macwhirter DVM, (in Avian Medicine: Principles and Application) malnutrition or undernutrition can cause a specific health related, or behavior related, problem or it can suppress a bird’s immune system. When the immune system has been suppressed the body becomes vulnerable to infection from a variety of pathogens: bacteria, fungus, virus or parasites.
Support the Immune System with a Balanced Food Plan
With the topic of supporting the immune system in mind my favorite holistic tool uses food as medicine. Feeding a sprouting blend that has been formulated to provide complete protein and with a compatible germination and growth rate (so it can be grown for two to three days for optimum nutrition) provides a nutritional foundation not available in any other type or combination of foods.
I’m saddened by what the Dusky conure endured so we could benefit from the information his necropsy revealed. So is raw or powdered garlic safe to feed your parrots? I won’t feed it to my birds and I don’t recommend that it be given to birds, but then the choice is ultimately yours.
Support your bird’s immune the simple way –
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Footnotes:
(1) “Allyl Propyl Disulfide, Diallyl Disulfide, Dipropyl Disulfide” Published by US Department of Labor, Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), Mary E. Eide, 1983, Methods Development Team, Industrial Hygiene Chemistry Division , OSHA Salt Lake Technical Center, Sandy UT
(2) Research paper “Garlic”, Eric Coleman, (third year chemistry student); Bristol University, UK.
(3) ibid.
(4) Case Study, “Hemoglobinuric Nephrosis and Hepatosplenic Erythrophagocytosis in a Dusky-headed Conure (Aratinga weddelli) After Ingestion of Garlic (Allium sativum)”, by Laura L. Wade DVM, Dipl ABVP (Avian) and Shelley J. Newman DVM, DVSc, Dipl ACVP in “Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery” 18(3):155-161. 2004.
This article originally appeared in the April 2010, issue 147, of Parrots magazine.
Did this article answer some questions? Or did it bring more to the surface? Please make a comment or ask your questions.
I just ordered twinbeaks herb salad for my conure it
Has dehydrated Garlic in it. I spoke to the owner who is very nice
And seemed knowledgeable. She has been selling her herb salad for
3O years and everyday she gives it to her flock with Garlic.
Now my question why aren’t they dead? Why aren’t others dead?
30 years is a long time to feed your birds Garlic if there eating it.
Why would she put safe for all birds if it’s going to cause
any bird to die. I’m asking to make sure I should still give this herb salad to my Conures? It doesn’t make sense also with the report you
Gave. The conure it had a half bulb and chicken you also said
Anorexia. Meaning the bird wasn’t eating much of other foods.
Why was the bird anorexic maybe that had a huge part of how the Garlic killed the bird. Before I make a mistake I would like to hear your comments but I feel there’s other factors involved that caused anemia than garlic with that Conure. Veggies and fruits, beans higher your red blood count so if the birds consuming garlic and chicken and not having other foods to higher it’s BC wouldn’t this contribute. Thanks I would like to hear your thoughts.
Dear Hibiscus,
Thanks for your comments and questions. I can tell that you care a lot about your conure. You ask many questions that I cannot answer. The only way of knowing why a parrot or finch died is to have a necropsy done by a reputable lab. I send my birds to a UC Davis facility. I have always gained valuable information from knowing the results of why one of my birds died. This info often guides me to my next level of research for improving avian wellness by providing balanced avian nutrition.
Most breeders I know do not send off every bird in their aviary that dies because it can be cost prohibitive. UC Davis now charges over $250 for out of state submissions. Meaning, these breeders honestly have no idea why their bird, or birds, died. Avian blood work is designed to detect disease, but only after it reaches a certain point, and does not detect avian malnutrition.
The leading cause of illness, disease and early death in parrots and finches is avian malnutrition or undernutrition.
In my opinion, and expereince, people who feed their birds seeds, pellets, and whatever the latest fad is online are missing the point of how to feed a selection of foods that provide balanced avian nutrition. The only way to promote your bird’s good health is by feeding a healthy balance of foods that provide all of the hundreds of nutrients a parrot or finch needs to eat everyday. To me feeding a random mix of foods, and then attempting to supplement the nutritional imbalances by offering dried herbs and nutritional supplements will not provide balanced avian nutrition.
I have found that there are many foods that need to avoided when selecting healthy foods to feed parrots and finches. And, garlic, onions and leeks are foods best avoided because these foods have been shown to cause hemolytic anemia in birds. Rather than take the risk, I would prefer to avoid feeding those foods. Especially when there are better options for ensuring that you’re providing your birds balanced avian nutrition.
There are over 300 different species of parrots and about 100 families and over 6,000 different species of finches (passerines). To state that any herb or supplement is safe with ‘all’ birds seems unrealistic, unless research has been done on all these species, and that would take a lot of money and a lot of time. Because of this we can never know if any of these birds will be adversely affected by feeding even the tiniest amount of a food or product containing something known to be toxic to birds, like garlic.
I prefer to focus my efforts, and spend my money, on providing a balance of nutritious foods that I know can and will provide my birds wholesome, balanced nutrition.
Why do people feed their birds herbs? People traditionally eat herbs, either medicinal or nutritional, because disease symptoms are present. However, if parrots and finches are being fed a wholesome, well balanced mix of natural foods, there is no need to supplement with herbs or vitamins or other supplements, or even to feed pellets. I don’t understand how feeding dry herbs can even be considered a healthy option when the rest of a bird’s diet is most likely nutritionally unbalanced. You may want to take a look at a recent post, “Superior Nutrition, BBFE Complete Analysis”, where I compare nutritional qualities of our sprouting blends with other foods commonly fed to exotic birds.
I stopped feeding any type of avian ‘supplements’ to my birds years ago. I stopped feeding pellets to my flock in 2013. Why? Because I discovered these items were not providing my birds the ‘wholesome’ nutrition their marketing ‘claimed’ the products were providing. These discoveries have led me to complete revise and rewrite my book on sprouting for birds (now in progress) and have helped me take my avian nutritional research in a new direction.
I am also in the process of writing an avian recipe book that will teach bird lovers how simple and easy it is to feed a health promoting balance of wholesome foods, while also avoiding foods, etc, that are known to cause serious nutritional deficiencies and malnutrition resulting in illness and disease.
In 2017 I had a series of articles published in Parrots magazine that focused on supporting the avian immune system. Do you know which key nutrient, missing from the avian diet, can most help build avian immunity? Complete protein. Why bother feeding garlic when complete protein is missing from a bird’s diet?
In my nutritional and behavioral work with birds I am a researcher, a published author and a healer. Everything I’ve learned in researching and writing my column (The Holistic Parrot) and my articles for Parrots magazine, and my experience with my own flock, has guided me to start a nutritional feeding study. The foundational food in this scientifically balanced food plan is our sprouting blends. Those already buying and feeding our sprouting blends will be the first invited to be a part of all the exciting developments of my new books, the feeding study and more.
If you’d like to start feeding our Best Bird food Ever! (BBFE) Complete Protein Sprouting Blends to your conure, here’s a discount code for 10% off that will be good until Dec 31, 2018. Then you and any others reading this can get in on the ground floor of some very exciting developments in exotic avian nutrition.
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There’s much more info that our BBFE customers will have early access to, as my books and online reports are published, that I cannot include in this reply.
I wish you the best in making healthy and balanced food choices for your conure.
To the best of health for your flock!
The findings showed a conure that had been force fed a large amount of garlic over time.
But too much of anything is a bad thing right? An overdose of seeds, nuts and even pellets can have problems.
So would it be alright to feed my birds a small piece of garlic perhaps once or twice a week?
Hi Afraz,
Please read my reply to Hibiscus. Why be concerned about feeding garlic, when the real issue is feeding a balanced combination of foods that will reverse avian malnutrition.
Good luck with you flock.
Smalls doses of fresh garlic is fine, shame on your fear tactics to sell food.
Things you need to worry about is the source of the garlic and what fertilizers where used.
Hi Glen,
I base the facts in my writing on scientific research–published papers. Not scare tactics. Why take the risk of feeding garlic and creating hemolytic anemia, when it’s so much easier to feed parrots balanced, wholesome foods. And when feeding parrots a balance of foods that provide all of the hundreds of nutrients they need every day vitamin supplements, and herbs are not needed.
My goal is to end avian malnutrition, which is why I write these blog posts. It’s also why I have written for an international Parrot’s magazine since 2002.
It seems the largest challenge is educating people who care for parrots about how nutritionally poor most bird food products, seeds and pellets are. Feeding garlic, is not the issue. Ending avian malnutrition is the issue. And feeding garlic will not end avian malnutrition.