Any beans or lentils birds should NOT eat?

[chompie_puppy]

I bought an Italian soup mix and it contains all sorts of beans and lentils - some I can identify easily, some I can't.

I was wondering if there are any types of beans and lentils that are NOT safe for birds?

 

[hotfoot jackson]

Basically they are OK if they are in a soup mix, the problem comes when you try to feed some raw. Some legumes need cooking to be safe coz of a toxin in them. Maybe you could read the contents list on the packet so we can have a better idea whats in it?

 

[Billie Faye]

Here are some sites for you to read:
HolisticBird and HolisticBirds
These site gives you an idea in the mixes what you can sprout of beans/lentils:
Certified Organic Sprouts, Sprout Mix for Parrots, Avian Naturals Preservative free parrot foods.
Sprouting for your parrot,• eclectus, gouldian finch
Avian FRESH Diet Parrot Food
WHFoods: Buckwheat

 

[Merlie]

It depends if you're talking about sprouting or cooking. Not all beans are suitable for sprouting, but are fine if cooked.

I always follow this :

"Sprouting for Nutrition –revised. The original article appeared in Good Bird Magazine by Shauna Roberts" ....

"CAUTION:Large beans: Anasazi, Black, Fava, Kidney, Lima, Navy, Pinto, Soy, are not suggested for sprouting. These legumes can cause toxicity and remain difficult to digest. Their raw flavor is also very bad. If you choose to serve these to your bird they MUST be soaked for a minimum of 8 hours, water drained and beans rinsed well, and then cooked by bringing them to a full boil, boiling uncovered for 10 minutes, covered and simmered for another 20 minutes."

 

[ParrotsforKeeps]

As Merlie said, many beans are hard to digest, and have to be cooked extremely well to be safe. I stick with the safest (they can be eaten sprouted as well), easily digestible beans- lentils, peas, garbanzo, mung, and adzuki.

 

[Compassion]

I think Fava beans are a no no.

 

[mrstweet]

I'm pulling this up again because I am curious about the safety of these beans when sprouted?

 

[ashbirdlady]

I would go for the easier to digest ones.

mung, adzuki, whole lentil, whole sprouting pea, garbanzo. Soak overnight and either fully sprout to ½ “ tails (exception lentils can have ¼” tails) or cook (boil 10 minutes, then cover and simmer for 20 minutes).

I have learned a lot from a group called Feeding Feathers.
Christa

 

[JLcribber]

Giving beans from the "soup" is not such a good idea because of the amount of salt in the soup.

 

[Merlie]

I posted in your other thread .. as well as started a new one with sprouting info. Very few beans are safe to sprout .. scroll up and you will see a previous post I make about sprouting beans.

 

[Inkrose115]

Oh and be careful. I read in a medical journal that under-cooking the beans can actually make them just as dangerous or more toxic than raw.
A few raw kidney beans won't kill you, but you might very end up in the hospital.
BBB - Phytohaemagglutinin

 

[mrstweet]

Well, looks like I won't be bothering with beans!

 

[Inkrose115]

Well, kidney beans really nutritious and a great source of protein.
Just cook them the way you would for yourself and don't sprout them.
I'm actually not sure who would want to eat a raw, dry bean - you'd break your teeth!

I think people forget that with the exception of fruits and such most wild plants have toxins (not the ones humans have bred to produce more and be safer).
They can't move away from a browsing herbivore, so they use what defenses they have.
It's really cool how sophisticated some of their defenses are.