PIGS WITH WINGS IIHere We Go Again
| avocado* | fruit pits | mushrooms* | rhubarb* |
| chocolate* | fruit seeds | onion | sugar |
| coffee | garlic | nutmeg* | tea |
| eggplant | lemon | potato stems | whole milk |
Yes. This is worth repeating. This is the same table that was in the original "Pigs With Wings" assignment. All of these food items are toxic to Cockatiels. The items with an asterisk and a red border can be fatal. Although I love such foods as onions and mushrooms, I have refrained from even bringing them into my home. The reason being is that if by chance I leave something out, these guys will get into it. My birds generally stay by their cages, swing/ladder sets, or by me. As you may have guessed by now, my birds can go in and out of their cages at will. The part of the home that they are in has indoor/outdoor carpeting and throw-away rugs. But every once in a while, they get curious and will get into things. If I want any of these foods, I can always go out to eat. If there is anything I can bring home that they can eat, I get a "Birdie Bag".
If you will notice, whole milk is on the table. These guys are lactose-intolerant. I give them lactose-free milk, sometimes with corn chex or rice chex. I also give them certain cheeses that are practically lactose-free. These are Cheddar cheese and Muenster cheese. These birds need a supplemental calcium source other than cuttlebone. This is especially true for my egg-laying females. Lack of calcium in their diet can result in the shells of their eggs being to soft. This in turn can cause a condition called "egg-binding" where the egg gets stuck inside the bird. This usually results in death within a few hours. These are two cuttlebone holders in every cage. Cuttlebone is changed regularly. I break up cuttlebone into small pieces and put the pieces into their small bowls. These bowls are kept filled and the cuttlebone is changed regularly.
