Coffee, anyone?

[Sucre]

My husband and I are both huge coffee drinkers. We've always got a cup going.

Sucre LOVES coffee and if you turn your back for a second his head is all the way down in your cup. Now, I know caffeine isn't good for anyone in excessive amounts, but a recovering meth addicted cockatoo probably doesn't even need to inhale the aroma of coffee.

When he first started doing this, I thought okay, just put a lid on it. He has no problem removing lids, can even do it without spilling the coffee, and I just replaced my $30 YETI this weekend from his overly exuberant removal of the lid.

Should I just make him his own cup of decaf and stop fighting it? Anyone else have a coffee lover? (He also loves wine, but I refuse to share that.)

[Mare]

We have a goffins cockatoo, Sassy, who loves to share my husbands cup of tea in the mornings. I always have to be the bad guy and tell them,,that's enough! Does Sucre fly..or is he clipped?

[Casper's 2nd best friend]

Casper tried Margaret's camomile tea once and gulped down far too much... which soon came back up again. That was when I realised where the phrase "as sick as a parrot" comes from. :th_eek:

[kendrafitz]

Funny that you posted this today. I was muttering to myself while wrestling a cup of coffee out of Rosie's beak this morning. She hasn't managed to get a taste yet.

I don't know if coffee, even decaf is bad for parrots. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will come by.

I love that Sucre will remove lids to get to your coffee. He is a guy that knows what he wants. ;)

[Albert]

From what i've read caffine is not ok for birds, thats why chocolate is on the banned list, too. I suppose a small amount
is not going to kill them immediately but....

[Penny]

Coffee is not a good idea. I solved the problem at my house by getting Kiki her own (much smaller) mug and putting hot water and unsweetened apple juice in it. I showed her the steam when it was first poured, then she would drink it when it was cool enough for her. The apple juice had enough natural sugars to give her a "morning boost" and the water kept it from being too much sugar at once.

[Sucre]

Good idea, Penny! I've tried putting orange juice in his own coffee mug but that's a no go. Maybe it's the warmth he likes.

Mare, Sucre is clipped. We had to clip him when he turned into THE TERMINATOR and decided I had to die. But, he's always on us and hops very quickly, and the coffee is always close by. We haven't had a problem with any of our cold drinks, so Penny may be onto something. We've stopped letting him out of the cage in the mornings so we can get a cup or two in peace...It's hard wrestling with a cockatoo at 5 a.m.

[kendrafitz]

I'm curious if you tried hot water/juice and if it worked?

[Sucre]

I tried it. It didn't work. He snubbed it and went straight for my coffee.

[wingman]

I wonder if in the wild they chew on coffee beans, maybe it is the aroma???

[Penny]

Well, it was worth a try. :th_laughing8:

[Sucre]

Well, it was worth a try. :th_laughing8:

I've learned that everything is worth a try with Sucre! My husband walked into the kitchen the other night when I was cutting up fruits and veggies for the birds and said they were eating better than we were!

We've just pretty much had to cage him when we have coffee. I don't want him drinking something that isn't good for him, but he's very insistent!

[Casper's 2nd best friend]

Would decafienated coffee be OK for Sucre or is it not just the cafiene that is the problem?

[plax]

Even most decaffeinated coffees contain a certain amount of caffeine. I don't believe it is wise to allow pet birds to consume caffeine at all. If in doubt, ask an avian veterinarian (or at least google it).

[Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]

Beyond the health risks associated with allowing pet birds to ingest caffeine, it should also be realized that foods or beverages that are normally served hot should always be allowed to cool to a point at which a finger can be plunged into said substance for several seconds without discomfort. This is important because the soft surface tissues within the forward portion of a parrot's oral cavity are relatively dry. Unlike our own oral cavities, which are normally moist. The natural oral moisture (saliva) that humans and other mammals possess in significant quantities serves as thermal insulation that is protective for our soft oral surface tissues. Saliva helps cool hot substances by dissipating heat, so humans are able to consume food and drink at greater temperatures than parrots without risk of injury. Therefore, please be careful and test the temperature of heated food and drink substances before offering them to your birds.

[Penny]

Even most decaffeinated coffees contain a certain amount of caffeine. I don't believe it is wise to allow pet birds to consume caffeine at all. If in doubt, ask an avian veterinarian (or at least google it).

[Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]

Beyond the health risks associated with allowing pet birds to ingest caffeine, it should also be realized that foods or beverages that are normally served hot should always be allowed to cool to a point at which a finger can be plunged into said substance for several seconds without discomfort. This is important because the soft surface tissues within the forward portion of a parrot's oral cavity are relatively dry. Unlike our own oral cavities, which are normally moist. The natural oral moisture (saliva) that humans and other mammals possess in significant quantities serves as thermal insulation that is protective for our soft oral surface tissues. Saliva helps cool hot substances by dissipating heat, so humans are able to consume food and drink at greater temperatures than parrots without risk of injury. Therefore, please be careful and test the temperature of heated food and drink substances before offering them to your birds.

Good information!