Do they even try to steal food from your hand or dinner plate? I know our Quaker parrot, Charlie does. Whatever we are eating Charlie doesn't want to miss out on. As soon as he sees any type of food he wants it and he is not going to stop performing until he gets it.
Whilst we like to give Charlie a wide variety of foods, I have read that there are some that are highly dangerous to birds even fatal and you must not let your bird eat any of them. They are, avocado, chocolate, apple seeds including cherries, peaches, apricots and pears contain trace amounts of cyanide within their seeds. The fruit of the apple and pear is fine but the seeds are poisonous and there may be pesticides present on the fruit's skin so it is important to wash all food, onions, mushrooms, tomato leaves including the green coloured part, stems and vines and the same for potatoes, salt, caffeine including soda, coffee, and tea, dried beans are all not to be fed to your pet bird, cooked beans are considered ok as long as they are thoroughly cooked. Boiled eggs and the shell are a good source of nutrition as well.
Sometimes at meal times we make up a separate plate just for Charlie and sit it next to us on a birdbib so as he still feels like he is getting the same as us. There are times though that no matter what we do he just wants to eat from our plate. Although this may seem cute, funny, or whatever, it is not safe for your bird. They may just eat something that is poisonous to them and it could be fatal and then how cute would that be. I have watched my son clear away a space on his plate just for Charlie's food! Mmmm
After researching I have found that there is a wide variety of food that you can offer your pet bird, whether you have a Quaker parrot, Parrot, Budgerigar, Cockatiel any Parakeet. The foods include grapes, oranges, bananas, mangoes, melons -- just about any kind of fruit imaginable is good for your bird. alfafa sprouts, chile, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots (one of Charlies favourites), asparagus, peas, celery, thoroughly cooked beans and pasta cooked or raw (another of Charlie's favourite), cereal, grains, bread and a small amount of nuts are a great treat. They also love popcorn, but not the microwave type as they are very high in salt.
If your pet bird does like to eat what you are eating please make sure that the food you offer is safe for them, just as you would for any family member. After all our pets are just like family and we all should look after them and their health in the same way that we would a child, as they are just as or even more vulnerable. Pet birds are just like children, they love to eat what tastes good, not what is good for them. That saying comes to mind, sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind.
