Cheese OK?

[Hayabusa]

Pogo has discovered that if I'm eating something it must be good. I try not to give him anything that I know would be bad for him, but he goes nuts for cheese. I keep the portions very small, but if I just let him have his fill I think he's OD on it.

So, is cheese now and then OK or not?

BTW, Pogo is starting to talk up a storm and pick up complicated whistles. I taught him to do the "Woody Woodpecker" whistle ... it's hilarious. I'll try to catch him on video soon and post it.

[AbbeyNMommy]

Hi Scott,
Pogo sounds like Abbey,,,,,,,,he also has to check out my food!
Cheese? I really do not know, but cheese is dairy..........I would think it would be a good idea to limit his intake of diary products, but I am just guessing............

[RingneckedPrincess]

Cheese can be a good source of calicum just don't over to do it!

Dani

[PearlRuby]

Originally Posted by RingneckedPrincess

Cheese can be a good source of calicum just don't over to do it!

Dani

Yep Dani is right just don't overdo it.

[birdyland]

Parrots cannot process milk sugars. I feed my big birds very small portions of HARD cheeses like aged cheddar or parmesan, avoid soft cheeses all together. I would think a small bird would only be able to handle a crumb!

Ask your vet ;-}

[Cindy215]

Yep, no cheese or dairy for birds.

[AbbeyNMommy]

Originally Posted by Cindy215

Yep, no cheese or dairy for birds.

I thought so! Thanks for clearing that up for all of us!

[txbird]

I give my 3 birds a few bits of part skim low fat mozzarella every other day. 21 years and no problems so far. Try and tell a parrot cheese is bad! Mine all lust after it! I can guarantee my DYH will talk if he sees a bit of cheese!

From Dr Margaret A. Wissman, D.V.M., D.A.B.V.P.

http://www.exoticpetvet.net/avian/dairy.html

"Some milk products do not contain lactose, such as cottage cheese and other types of cheese. Generally, it is thought that it is safe to offer yogurt and cheese, although products that contain lactose are probably safe, if offered in small amounts."

IMO, small amounts OK, in moderation, is the key if you are going to give it at all.

[Cindy215]

Why give it at all? You can't ask the bird if they have gastrointestinal pain or anything else. Just like dogs, they will eat it but it's NOT of any value.

There are no nutrients in cheese that birds cant get in their natural foods and I choose not to risk their discomfort just because they cant differentiate what's good for them or not. And it's taking up valuable eating energy and stomach space better used for working foods.

I think it's irresponsible for Wissman to word that article like she did. Then again there's quite a bit I disagree with her on.

Like clipping for one. She advocates clipping then on the very home page of her site she states:

"Flight is a highly energetic form of exercise. A budgerigar flying at sea level uses 1 ½-3 times as much oxygen as a mammal of similar size running. During flight, the bird increases its oxygen consumption by about 13 times over the resting metabolic rate. To facilitate flight, most bones of birds are hollow. "

So just like she knows flying is BEST for birds she doesnt suggest the BEST (non clipping) but offers second class citizen status to them in deference to humoring people.

Same with cheese. She KNOWS it could be a gi discomfort and of no value and that other people may misinterpret that vague article and give the wrong, or too much cheese...but still states she gives cheese every day. Without even knowing if it makes them uncomfortable since birds dont pass gas like dogs. I guess to humor some similar human reason,,,I have no idea.

[Valo's Moirana]

Originally Posted by Cindy215

Why give it at all?

that's my take on it... valo would eat absolutely EVERYTHING from my plate, IF i would let him.... and he doesn't care - for all he thinks, the coffee looks as appealing as beer (at least that's my impression).... so, there are already a lot of things i withhold from him... and cheese is one of them....

people are not sure about whether it's good or not, so why should i even give it to him? because he likes it? well, then i also should feed him chocolate - looking at his eyes when i have a pieces - and some coffee to rinse it down....

this is not meant to sound harsh, but i'm a little confused to why questions about issues like this come up (besides educational).... no human would take a drug that researchers are NOT SURE about.... there's soo much out there that can be fed to the birds, that according to current research is safe and valuable for them, i start there and leave the questionable stuff out...