safe wood and foliage

[Pharoh]

i read that magnolia wood and foliage was safe for cockatoos, then i checked
another list of safe plants and magnolia wasn't on the list as safe but it wasn't on the toxic list either. Can someone verify if magnolia wood and foliage is safe for cockatoos. Also, is it safe for B&G macaws?
Thank You

[KimBear]

You can check multiple lists, and see multiple results. I have the same problem in looking for safe plants for my reptiles to eat. What's listed as safe on one list is not safe according to another. And just because something isn't on a toxic plant list doesn't mean it's safe, or just because it's not on the safe plant list doesn't mean it's toxic. Arg!!!!!

The thing about plants is that they don't just have leaves, but bark, wood, seeds, flowers, stems and roots, and in some cases, one part is fine but the other parts aren't. One example is tomatoes. The fruit part is fine (obviously) but the leaves are toxic.

According to one of the many lists I have, star magnolia (Magnolia stellata ) is safe, but at the beginning of the list it says "It is assumed that the plants listed here are not being used as teas, herbs or medicines" and "if you suspect that a child (or adult) has eaten quantities of any of the plants or any of their parts...call your poison control center." Not very reassuring, is it?

Here's the link to this list, and you may be able to get more information by surfing some of their links:

http://envhort.ucdavis.edu/ce/king/P...t/SAFE-SCI.htm

What I would do is to get as many on-line lists as you can, and see if magnolia lands on any of the safe lists. NOT being on the toxic list wouldn't be good enough. I would also contact a vet to get an animal poison control phone number.

When discussing plants, try to use the scientific name if you can. That way it's clear which plant you're talking about. There are different species of magnolia. We have lots of magnolia trees and I think they're all Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora ) but I wouldn't assume the branches are safe just because I have star magnoila on a "safe" list.

Maybe this will help you find your answer. I wish I could tell you "yes" or "no". Usually until you know something is safe, don't use it.

By the way, if branches and leaves are safe for one species of parrot, it's generally assumed they're safe for others.