Although peanuts are a simple way of giving your garden birds an all-round nutritious treat there are some precautions you should take: Do not feed birds salted, flavoured, or roasted nuts. Birds are unable to process high quantities of salt and they may become very sick or even die.
Can wild birds eat salted peanuts in the shell?
We recommend against it. Here's why: There is no scientific data to prove that the periodic use of salted peanuts does harm to birds. This is partly because of the very small amount of salt usually found on peanuts and the fact that peanuts typically make up a small percentage of a feeder bird's daily diet.
Can birds eat salt?
While common backyard birds can process small amounts of salt without difficulty, large quantities are dangerous. Avoid offering birds any foods high in salt, such as salty meats, chips, or other animal foods that include salt for nutritional value.
Are salted peanuts OK for squirrels?
Well, squirrels have a natural appetite for nuts and berries, as well as other plants in their habitat. Please avoid feeding them salted nuts of any kind. While squirrels can tolerate a small amount of salt, their kidneys cannot filter out the large amount of sodium contained in salted nuts.
Are peanuts toxic to birds?
While peanuts have plenty of nutritional benefits, parrot-owners want to be aware of aflatoxins, a mold that can grow on peanuts if not properly stored. Aflatoxin can cause liver damage in both birds and humans if ingested. If your parrot consumes peanuts with aflatoxins, it can be toxic or even fatal to your pet.
