We parrot owners are always looking for new foods we can share with our feathered friends. You may be aware that you can offer many veggies and fruits—even some parts that we normally scrap. But you may not think of your bird while sprinkling basil on a homemade pizza, or while preparing a cup of cinnamon tea.
Did you know that parrots can actually eat many of the herbs and spices we like to flavor our human foods with? Some even offer certain health benefits. But how do you know which herbs and spices are safe for parrots, and which you should skip? A Bird Toy is here to help!
Wait, does my parrot need herbs and spices?!
At this point, most parrot owners know their bird should receive daily servings of fresh parrot-safe vegetables, plus regular portions of parrot-safe fresh fruits. But herbs and spices? Do you really have to grow basil and mint for your feathered friend in addition to all the other work you’re already putting into feeding them a healthy diet?
Don’t worry: these foodstuffs are not an indispensable part of parrot diet like fresh produce is. This being said, they do provide a wide range of (micro)nutrients. Additionally, certain herbs and spices also have proven health benefits (while others are said to offer health benefits without there being convincing proof, so it’s worth doing your research before investing!). Milk thistle is one example: studies underline its liver-protective properties.
The most important reason for most parrot owners to include herbs and spices in their bird’s diet, however, is enrichment. Boredom and inactivity are big drivers of stress and obesity in parrots, which in turn can cause undesirable behaviors (feather plucking, aggression, and excessive vocalization—a fancy term for non-stop screaming) and even physical illness. And how do you prevent boredom and inactivity? Well, variety is the spice of life, pun intended.
As you’re likely aware, you should always be working on figuring out ways to keep your parrot busy and encouraging it to put its smart brain to use. Food, our birds’ favorite thing in the world, is a fantastic tool in this eternal quest for enrichment. Herbs and spices are great assets because they’re novel, can be rotated endlessly, and can be presented in all sorts of different ways.
Whether it’s a sprinkle of paprika to make their normal pellets more colorful and tasty, a yummy fresh basil plant to destroy—which makes your house smell amazing—or a fun new toy made of dried ginger slices and cinnamon sticks: herbs and spices are bonus foods, not staples. However, they’re a mighty handy weapon in the conscientious parrot owner’s bird enrichment arsenal.
There’s just one tiny little catch: as with vegetables and fruits, not all herbs and spices are parrot-safe. Most are, but a few should partially or entirely be kept away from your bird. That’s why we’ve compiled a handy, printable list (the most complete one you’ll find!) for you to bookmark or stick on the fridge. This way, you can quickly check any herb or spice to verify whether you can share it with your flock or not. Let’s have a look!
Safe & unsafe herbs for parrots
The herbs and spices discussed on this list can generally be used in moderation. The exception is if they feature a “⚖️” emoji—see the legend. None of them should be a staple food for your bird, but they can be offered weekly or so. They work well as toppings, in (foraging) toys, or just to stimulate exploration and curiosity. Your bird may not even actually eat them, but rather just enjoy the act of chewing or shredding.
The list includes some plants that you can forage for in the wild, such as yarrow. Keep in mind that you should collect these far away from roadsides and other polluted areas! If you don’t have access to clean picking locations, it’s best to grow your bird’s favorites in your own garden. Be sure to always buy pesticide-free starter plants. Any store-bought varieties should be 100% natural and not contain additives such as salt, anti-caking agents, or artificial smoke (some, like paprika, tend to have all three).
Legend
⚖️ = use sparingly only (ie., an occasional sprinkle rather than big chunks). This is usually due to large amounts of volatile oils, which are tasty but can be irritating in larger doses.
☣️ = deadly, keep away from your parrot in all forms, no exceptions. All the others listed as “no” warrant observation for an upset tummy, but are not known to be responsible for any avian fatalities.
| Name (common, scientific) | Parrot-safe? | Usable parts: | Offer as: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allspice (Pimenta dioica) | Yes | Berries, leaves | Dried, ground, tea ⚖️ |
| Anise (Pimpinella anisum) | Yes | Seeds, leaves | Dried, ground, tea |
| Basil (Ocimum basilicum) | Yes | Leaves, flowers, seeds | Fresh, dried |
| Bayberry (Myrica sp.) | Yes | Leaves | Dried ⚖️ |
| Bee balm (Monarda sp.) | Yes | Leaves, flowers | Fresh, dried, tea |
| Borage (Borago officinalis)* | Yes | Flowers | Fresh, dried |
| Calendula (Calendula sp.) | Yes | Flowers | Fresh, dried |
| Catnip (Nepeta cataria) | Yes | Leaves, flowers | Fresh, dried ⚖️ |
| Caraway (Carum carvi) | Yes | Seeds, leaves, flowers | Fresh, dried, ground ⚖️ |
| Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum, Amomum subulatum) | Yes | Pods, seeds | Dried ⚖️ |
| Celery plant (Apium graveolens) | Yes | Leaves, stalks, root | Fresh, dried, ground |
| Celery seeds (Apium graveolens) | Yes | Seeds | Dried, ground ⚖️ |
| Ceylon (true) cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) | Yes | Bark | Dried, ground, tea ⚖️ |
| Chamomile (Matricaria recutita & Anthemis nobilis) | Yes | Flowers | Fresh, dried, tea |
| Chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium) | Yes | Leaves | Fresh, dried |
| Chili pepper (Capsicum sp.) | Yes | Fruit, seeds | Fresh, dried, ground, ⚖️ |
| Chinese cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia) | No | N/A | N/A |
| Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) | No | N/A | N/A |
| Cloves (Syzgium aromaticum) | Yes | Buds | Dried, ground ⚖️ |
| Cilantro plant (Coriandrum sativum) | Yes | Leaves, flowers | Fresh, dried |
| Cilantro seeds (Coriandrum sativum) | Yes | Seeds | Dried, ground ⚖️ |
| Cumin (Cuminum cyminum) | Yes | Seeds | Dried, ground ⚖️ |
| Curry leaf (Murraya koenigii) | Yes | Leaves | Fresh, dried ⚖️ |
| Dandelion (Taraxacum sp.) | Yes | Leaves, flowers | Fresh, dried |
| Dill (Anethum graveolens) | Yes | Leaves, seeds, flowers | Fresh, dried, ground |
| Echinacea (Echinacea sp.) | Yes | Roots, flowers | Dried, tea, parrot-safe extract |
| Fennel plant (Foeniculum vulgare) | Yes | Leaves, root | Fresh, dried, ground, tea |
| Fennel seeds (Foeniculum vulgare) | Yes | Seeds | Dried, ground ⚖️ |
| Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) | Yes | Seeds, leaves | Fresh, dried, ground ⚖️ |
| Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) | Unclear | N/A | N/A |
| Galangal (family Zingiberaceae) | Yes | Root | Dried, ground ⚖️ |
| ☣️ Garlic (Allium sativum) | No | N/A | N/A |
| Ginger (Zingiber officinale) | Yes | Root | Fresh, dried, ground, tea |
| Ginseng (Panax ginseng) | Yes | Root | Dried, tea |
| Hibiscus (Hibiscus sp.) | Yes | Flowers | Fresh, dried, tea |
| Holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum) | Yes | Leaves | Fresh, dried |
| Juniper (Juniperus communis) | Yes | Berries, needles | Dried, ground ⚖️ |
| Laurel (bay leaf; Laurus nobilis) | Yes | Leaves | Dried ⚖️ |
| Lavender (Lavandula spp.) | Yes | Flowers | Fresh, dried ⚖️ |
| Lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora) | Unclear | N/A | N/A |
| Lemonbalm (Melissa officinalis) | Yes | Leaves, flowers | Fresh, dried, tea |
| Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) | Yes | Leaves | Fresh, dried, tea |
| Lemon myrtle (Backhousia citriodora) | Yes | Leaves | Fresh, dried ⚖️ |
| Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) | No | N/A | N/A |
| Makrut lime (Citrus hystrix) | Yes | Leaves, rind | Fresh, dried, ground, tea ⚖️ |
| Mace (Myristica fragrans) | No | N/A | N/A |
| Marjoram (Origanum majorana) | Yes | Leaves, flowers | Fresh, dried |
| Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) | Yes | Extract, seeds | Drops of extract in water, crushed dry seeds |
| Mint (Mentha sp.) | Yes | Leaves, flowers | Fresh, dried, tea |
| Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) | Yes | Leaves | Dried ⚖️ |
| Mustard seeds (Brassica sp.) | Yes | Seeds | Dried, ground ⚖️ |
| Nasturtium (watercress; Tropaeolum sp.) | Yes | Leaves, flowers | Fresh, dried |
| Nigella (Nigella sativa) | Yes | Seeds | Dried, ground ⚖️ |
| Oregano (Origanum vulgare) | Yes | Leaves, flowers | Fresh, dried |
| Pandan (Pandanus amaryllifolius) | Yes | Leaves | Fresh, dried, food stuffed inside |
| Paprika (Capsicum annuum) | Yes | Fruit, seeds | Fresh, dried, ground |
| Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) | Yes | Leaves, flowers | Fresh, dried ⚖️ |
| Peppercorns (Piper nigrum: black, white, green, red) | No | N/A | N/A |
| ☣️ Peppercorns (Schinus sp.: pink) | No | N/A | N/A |
| Peppermint (Mentha × piperita) | Yes | Leaves, flowers | Fresh, dried ⚖️ |
| Red clover blossom (Trifolium pratense) | Yes | Flowers | Fresh, dried, tes |
| Raspberry leaf (Rubus idaeus) | Yes | Leaves | Fresh, dried, tea |
| Rose petals (Rosa sp.) | Yes | Flowers | Fresh, dried, tea |
| Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) | Yes | Leaves, flowers | Dried ⚖️ |
| Sage (Salvia officinalis) | Yes | Leaves, flowers | Dried ⚖️ |
| Saffron (Crocus sativus) | Probably yes | Stigmas | Dried, very small amounts ⚖️ |
| Sorrel (Rumex spp.) | Yes | Leaves | Fresh, dried ⚖️ |
| Star anise (Illicium verum) | Yes | Fruit | Dried, ground ⚖️ |
| St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) | Yes | Flowers | Dried ⚖️, discuss with vet |
| Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) | Yes | Leaves | Fresh, dried ⚖️ |
| Sumac (Rhus coriaria) | Yes | Berries | Dried, ground ⚖️ |
| Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) | Yes | Leaves, flowers | Fresh, dried ⚖️ |
| Thyme (Thymus sp.) | Yes | Leaves, flowers | Fresh, dried, tea |
| Turmeric root (Curcuma longa) | Yes | Root | Fresh, dried, ground, tea ⚖️ |
| Turmeric leaves (Curcuma longa) | Yes | Leaves | Fresh, dried, food stuffed inside |
| Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) | Discuss with your veterinarian | Root | Check with vet ⚖️ |
| Vanilla bean (Vanilla planifolia) | Yes | Pods | Dried, ground ⚖️ |
| Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) | Yes, topically | Leaves, bark | Extract, topical only |
| Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) | No | N/A | N/A |
| Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) | Yes | Flowers | Fresh, dried ⚖️ |
*Borage seed oil, which is sometimes used topically, can be deadly. The rest of the plant is also mildly toxic, so stick to the occasional flower.
Did you know? Some of these herbs and spices can be freeze-dried, which is another fun way to present them. Check out our yummy freeze-dried ginger, for example!
Conclusion
Although there's no need to scramble to find as many herbs and spices as possible for your parrot to eat, some of these edible plants can make a great addition to their food rotation. Parrot-safe herbs and spices add variety, contain a range of important (micro)nutrients, and help keep your parrot entertained.
And lastly, although our birds don’t have many taste buds to work with, the strong flavor of certain spices in particular is sure to make mealtime just a little more exciting!
Sources
Muwalla, M. M., & Abuirmeileh, N. M. (1990). Suppression of avian hepatic cholesterogenesis by dietary ginseng. The Journal of nutritional biochemistry, 1(10), 518-521.
Saeed, M., Babazadeh, D., Arif, M., Arain, M. A., Bhutto, Z. A., Shar, A. H., ... & Chao, S. (2017). Silymarin: a potent hepatoprotective agent in poultry industry. World's Poultry Science Journal, 73(3), 483-492.
