FINCHforum

Does anyone have experience with mandevillas being toxic to finches? It grows really well outdoors here and would look great shading my aviaries. I have read these are both toxic and non toxic.

Charlie, I think many of the plants on the toxic plant lists are ones that would be more harmful for hookbills, which tend to eat more of the foliage. I have had baskets of pothos ivy sitting on top of some flight cages, the birds pull parts inside the cage and do actually nibble, and I've never had a problem, yet it is on many toxic lists. I would guess probably half the plants I have used around my birds (where they could get to them) have been on one toxic list or another. And a plant can be on the toxic list at one site, and non-toxic on another site, so you don't know who to believe. I think these lists can be used as a guide, but I wouldn't worry too much about many of the plants.

Do you have a spare Zebra you can use as a guinea pig? Just kidding, folks!

I was reading something about how birds know what is safe, and.usualky.once they taste it, and know it is not okay. If you do not have a spare zebra to use I have few grens and strawberries who could be used as lab rats.

DanteD716 wrote:I was reading something about how birds know what is safe, and.usualky.once they taste it, and know it is not okay. If you do not have a spare zebra to use I have few grens and strawberries who could be used as lab rats.

Dante, you made my day, I needed a laugh!

Good, I am happy I hoped you would get it as a joke and not offensive!