House plant causes paralysis

03-28-2007, 10:43 AM

There’s a link below to see this story and pictures.

What a sad story about how toxic some house plants can be for our Parrots.

Quote:

Tiki is a 21 year old female Ruby Macaw. A Ruby Macaw is a cross between a Scarlet Macaw and a Greenwing Macaw. Look closely at the photo; Tiki's legs are paralyzed. You can see one of her feet sticking up as she cannot use it. She ingested a very common poisonous house plant. Since she cannot walk she must be kept in a large box and she moves around using her beak. Because of this she must be bathed often. Her previous owners loved her but could not keep up with the intensive daily care that she requires. Tiki is a permanent resident at TLC Bird Haven's sanctuary.

Does this plant look familiar to you? This is one of the most common house plants in America! This is called a Golden Pothos Plant and it is poisonous to parrots! This is the type of plant that caused Tiki's paralysis.

Tiki the Ruby Macaw

03-28-2007, 11:52 AM

that's why i removed ALL plants from the bird area... i'm working on getting rid of them... as much as i love my plants and loved the way they made the living room look nice, i love the birds more

thanks for the post

03-28-2007, 07:33 PM

Difenbocia (sp.) is another house plant that is toxic. The only one I know of for sure that is not is a wandering jew. My house was full of plants at one time...never even thought of toxicity. Guess I and my fids were lucky that none of them tied a nibble from them. I now hav 0 plants.

03-28-2007, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grandma

Difenbocia (sp.) is another house plant that is toxic. The only one I know of for sure that is not is a wandering jew. My house was full of plants at one time...never even thought of toxicity. Guess I and my fids were lucky that none of them tied a nibble from them. I now hav 0 plants.

They have quite the list of Potentially Toxic Plants
for Birds :

Amaryllis
Apple (seeds)
Apricot (pit)
Asparagus fern
Autumn crocus
Avocado (fruit & pit)
Azalea
Baby doll ti
Baby's breath
Balsam pear
Baneberry
Bean plant
Bird of paradise
Bittersweet
Black locust
Bleeding heart
Blue-green algae (some forms toxic)
Boxwood
Bracken fern
Branching ivy
Buckeye
Buckthorn
Buddhist pine
Burdock
Buttercup
Caladium
Calla lily
Castor bean (castor oil)
Ceriman
Chalice vine
Cherry tree (leaves & seeds)
China doll
Chinese evergreen
Christmas candle
Christmas rose
Chrysanthemum
Cineraria
Clematis
Coral plant
Coffee plant
Cowslip
Crown vetch
Cyclamen
Daffodil
Daisy
Daphne
Datura
Daylily
Deadly Amanita
Death camas
Delphinium
Dieffenbachia (dumbcane)
Devil's ivy
Elderberry
Elephant's ear
English Ivy
Eucalyptus
Euonymus
False henbane
Felt plant
Fiddle leaf fig
Fire thorn
Flamango plant
Flame tree
Foxglove
Fruit salad plant
Geranium
German Ivy
Glacier Ivy
Gladiola
Glory lily
Golden chain
Hawaiian ti
Heavenly bamboo
Heliotrope
Hemlock, poison
Hemlock, water
Henbane
Hibiscus
Holly
Honeysuckle
Horse chestnut
Hurricane plant
Hyacinth
Hydrangea
Impatient
Ivy
Jasmine
Locust tree
Lupine
Milk weed
Mountain laurel
Nettles
Pencil cactus
Philodendron
Pig weed
Plum (leaves & pits)
Plumosa fern
Poinsettia
Poison ivy
Pokeweed
Pothos (all kinds)
Pikeweed
Precatory bean
Primula
Privet
Purple sesbane
Raintree
Red maple
Rhododendron
Rhubarb
Ribbon plant
Rosary peas
Sandbox tree
Sago palm
Skunk cabbage
Snow drop
Snow of the mountain (ghost weed)
Sorrel
Spurges
String of pearls
Sweet pea
Taro vine
Tomato plant (green fruit, stem & leaves)
Tobacco
Tulip
Virgloia creeper
Wattle
Weeping fig
White cedar
Wisteria
Yam been
Yesterday, today & tomorrow plant
Yew (American, English & Japanese)
Yucca

These are Considered Safe Plants for Birds

Acacia
Aloe Plant
Baby's tears
Begonia
Bougainvillea
Chickweed
Christmas Cactus
Coffee tree
Coleus
Corn Plant
Crab Apple
Dandelion
Dogwood
Donkey Tail
Dracaena
Dragon Tree
Ferns (most)
Figs
Gardenia
Grape Ivy
Hens & Chicks
Jade Plant
Kalanchoe
Magnolia
Marigolds
Monkey plant
Nasturtium
Norfolk Island Pine
Palms
Petunia
Pittosporum
Prayer Plant
Rubber Tree
Schefflera
Spider Plant
Swedish Ivy
Thistle
Wandering Jew
White Clover
Zebra Plant

03-29-2007, 02:21 AM

I have no live plants in the house, just plastic ones. I make up for it with outdoor plants though!

04-01-2007, 08:10 PM

i thought weeping fig was safe. on another thread here it said that it was safe.

04-02-2007, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winkie&leah

i thought weeping fig was safe. on another thread here it said that it was safe.

I have seen Weeping Fig listed more times on the 'unsafe' list than not. It's probably one I would stay away from, just to be cautious.

04-02-2007, 07:37 AM

I thought Eucalyptus was safe? I just ordered some leaves and twigs for the fids to play with. So anyone know one way or another?

04-02-2007, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stepht25

I thought Eucalyptus was safe? I just ordered some leaves and twigs for the fids to play with. So anyone know one way or another?

All I'm finding so far is that 'some species' are safe and some are toxic. But I have yet to see names of the varieties.

Eucalyptus - All parts of some varieties are toxic. The wood is safer if dried. Some varieties are safe.
Parrot Island--Articles

04-02-2007, 08:04 AM

I found this question answer section on Parrot Chronicles:

Some eucalyptus is okay ..
I was surprised to see eucalyptus listed as a toxic plant. Many exotics live and thrive in various types of eucalyptus. Please research this plant as you will find there are over five hundred varieties and of those 11 are edible. Cockatoos, cockatiels, and budgies live in them. Many South American species also live in eucalyptus and do very well.
--Melissa White

You're right. Eucalyptus should be on both lists - toxic and nontoxic. According to Dr. James Harris, author of ParrotChronicles.com's Ask Dr. Harris column, eucalyptus got a bad rep years ago when it was sold as nesting material. The shredded plant invited the growth of aspergillus spores and birds died from mold infections. So it's still not a good choice for bedding, no matter what the variety, but eucalyptus should not be written off entirely. Ask your veterinarian if the eucalyptus in your area is safe to give to your bird.
--Editor

ParrotChronicles.com