When a Quaker Parakeet is young, it "quakes" for attention or or for its mother to feed it. Quaking behavior may continue throughout the bird's life. It is an effective way to tug at the owner's heart strings.

When it comes to food, and we are faced with a quaking bundles of feathers, should we give our Quakers anything they want? Absolutely not! The big question is, what to share and not to share?

The what NOT to share list of foods should include, but is not limited to:

avocado � caffine� alcohol �chocolate �carbonated drinks� dairy products� salt �processed foods� certain fruit seeds, pits, stems, or leaves.

The reasons for not sharing some of the foods listed above should be obvious, but some of the foods listed need some explanation as to why they might not be safe for avian consumption. Keep in mind that Quakers appear to be prone to diseases of the liver. While a formulated diet is recommended for Quakers, it would be foolish to assume that we would not supplement their diet, or would not give the occassional treat. As owners, we need to be educated about which food are appropriate for our Quakers and we need to learn to practice moderation.

Avocado is a good example of a food that requires more explanation. In order to reproduce successfully, plants must protect themselves from predators. Tropical plants, such as avocado, often produce bitter, astringent, sour, or poisonous substances to deter predators. In avocado, the protective substance is contained in the pit, surrounds the pit, and leaches into the "meat" of the fruit. It can cause an allergic reaction in many avians. The allergic reaction can prove fatal. Some avian species in areas where avocado grow have adapted to the protective substance that the plant produces, but, should you risk finding out if YOUR bird may be affected?

Apple and pear seeds, peach, apricot, prune, cherry and plum pits contain cyanogenic glycoside. When chewed, cyanogenic glycoside becomes hydrogen cyanide to protect the seed or pit. For this reason you may want to avoid these seeds and pits. Grape seeds are also questionable and all fruits have a high sugar content, albeit "natural" sugar.

Tomatoes are members of the nightshade family. The leaves and stems have toxic compounds called alkaloids, and should not be consumed. Green skinned potatoes and potatoes sprouts, commonly referred to as "eyes", contain toxins called glycoalkaloids which can give the consummer a real bellyache!

While all the toxins we have talked about are "natural", they are toxins, nonetheless.

Birds have no mechanism to rid themselves of the gas carbonated drinks produce. Carbonated drinks also contain salt. Avians cannot excrete salt as humans can. They retain it. Table salt is not the same as the salt wild avians might seek out at salt "licks". Processed foods contain excess amounts of salt and should be avoided.

Chocolate, coffee, and cocoa contain theobromine, which has proven to be toxic to birds.

Birds cannot adequately digest large amounts of dairy products. While dairy products are a good source of protein, they should be offered with extreme moderation.

Below is a list of safe foods suggestions. It is by no means complete. These are only healthy and safe food suggestions to try in addition to a good, formulated diet.

GRAINS - BREADS & CEREAL GROUP       �Cooked Brown Rice       �Whole Wheat Pastas in moderation       �Oatmeal       �Sugarless Whole Grain Cereals       �Little bits of Whole Grain Bread

FRESH VEGETABLES        �Peppers        �Cucumbers        �Tomatoes-minus stems & leaves        �Green peas- in pods provides extra fun        �Corn-watch cob ingestion if fed on the cob. Corn can cause allergic reaction in some birds        �Squash-cooked        �Dark green Cabbage & red cabbage        �Cauliflower        �Broccoli        �Kale        �Spinach        �Carrots        �Beets        �Cooked Potatoes, Yams & Sweet Potatoes        �Turnips- cooked        �Celery        �Green beans        �Brussels Sprouts        �Legumes- should all be cooked        �Chard

MEAT GROUP�all need to be cooked well done       �Beef, Turkey, Chicken       �Fresh fish is best, but if fish is canned, buy it packed in water

FRUITS       �Melons       �Figs       �Raisins       �Papaya       �Mangos       �Citris       �Apple without seeds       �Bananas       �Berries       �Apricots

NUTS       �Nuts are fatty & contain a lot of oil. Feed nuts sparingly.