rice

[mel64511]

Ok so I was going to feed my birds rice and my mom said that they can die because it doesnt digest properly or something like that? I've looked it up on google and there are people on both sides of the spectrum. Some say yeah its fine they love it and others say they will die? So whats true?????

[hollyhawkz]

Brown rice is good for them. Tina let us know it's all OK.

[sailorkelly]

All I know is that I feed Abbey fully cooked brown rice. She loves it, and is still alive. I am sure a very smart members will be able to give you the scientific reasons

[xafsmom]

If rice killed them, then I'd have an aviary full of dead birds.

*looks outside* *looks in breeding barn* *looks at all the pets*

Nope! All kickin' and squawkin'!

[LovelySydney]

I use brown rice all the time, mix it in with veggies - the birdies love it (for once its not food that gets thrown around!). Maybe you are thinking of when people used to throw rice outside at weddings and seagulls would die from ingesting it? I dont even know how true that is, might just be an urban legend.

[hollyhawkz]

Ooooh good point, I never thought of that, I was thinking cooked rice!

[girly]

Brown rice is the first thing Jezebel goes for in her food bowl and she gobbles it up like there's no tomorrow! Every day!

[NotEnoughTime]

I've also never had problems with feeding my birds rice... I do believe there is an "old wives tale" about rice at weddings... http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/r/riceatweddings.htm

[pippy]

My birds all like brown rice. The danger arises when the rice is left for too long at room temperature once cooked, rice is a common source of food poisoning...

Uncooked rice can contain spores of Bacillus cereus, bacteria that can cause food poisoning. When the rice is cooked, the spores can survive. Then, if the rice is left standing at room temperature, the spores will germinate into bacteria. These bacteria will multiply and may produce toxins (poisons) that cause vomiting or diarrhoea. Reheating the rice won't get rid of these toxins.

So, the longer cooked rice is left at room temperature, the more likely it is that bacteria, or the toxins they produce, could stop the rice being safe to eat.

It's best to serve rice when it has just been cooked. If that isn't possible, cool the rice as quickly as possible (ideally within one hour) and keep it in the fridge for no more than one day until reheating.

So just make sure you throw out any rice which remains uneaten after a little while.

[Angelsmum]

Yep, cooked brown rice is the first thing my 3 go for too.