ECAA - Eastern Canada Avian Association

Please ensure all vegetable are thoroughly washed in a good vegetable wash. Vitamin content is much higher in raw vegetables, but more digestible if cooked.
Alfalfa sprouts (leaves). Alfalfa is rich in calcium, magnesium, potassium and carotene which acts as an appetite stimulant. It is carotene that converts into Vitamin A when metabolized by the digestive system.
Artichokes
Baby corn
Bamboo shoots. High in sodium, but little nutritional value.
beans (pinto, kidney, nary, garbanzo, mug, butter, haricot, adzuki)
Beans (pole, wax, green, etc.)
Beet greens. High in vitamin A, potassium, thiamin, riboflavin. Vitamin A is the most important as is essential for skin and feather condition, eyesight and helping the body fight infection.
Bok choy
Broccoli, good source of vitamin A, riboflavin, ascorbic acid. strong disease fighter. Abundant in anti-oxidants, high in cancer fighting activities, rich in cholesterol-reducing fibers and it helps regulate blood sugar.
Brussels sprouts. Feed in moderation as can cause thyroid problem if overfed. Good source of potassium, thiamin, ascorbic acid.
Cabbage. Red in lower in vitamin content
Carrots. Help to promote tissue healing and excellent source of beta carotene, (infection-fighting, immune boosting anti-oxidant and artery protector) good source of potassium.
Cauliflower. Good source of potassium
Cayenne. Digestive aid, good source of vitamins A, C, B complex, calcium, phosphorous, iron. Inhibits up to 75% of all bacteria. Known to lower illness related to heart, cholesterol, arthritis and other problems if eaten regularly.
Celery. little nutritional value, high water content
Chard
Chayote
Chicory. vitamin A
Chickweed. High in Vitamin A, strengthens the stomach and bowels
Chili peppers. high in Vitamin A
Cilantro
Collard greens. Good source of calcium, vitamins A,C, potassium and riboflavin.
Corn
Comfrey
Cucumbers (high water content)
Cranberries. Known for it's properties to help bladder and urinary problems. Also contain antibiotic and antiviral properties
Dandelion greens (rich in vitamin A)
Eggplant (cooked, mature ripe pods only)
Endive. Source of vitamin A
Garlic. Anti-tumor properties, contains 17 anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial substances. A natural antibiotic, it stimulates the immune system and kills parasites. It also helps to eliminate lead, zinc and other toxins.
Ginger root.
Green beans (source of Vitamin A and potassium)
Jicama
Kale (vitamin A)
Kohrabi
Leeks
Lettuce. Feed in moderation as has high water content. Romaine, chickory, boston, aruula and other dark or red varieties are better than iceberg and other light colour greens.
Lima beans. Baby lima beans are a good source of potassium, thiamin, niacin.
Mixed veggies (frozen). Good source of Vitamin A, though not as high as in the canned varieties, but lower in sodium.
Mushrooms. Even though they contain niacin and riboflavin, they have little nutritional value.
Mustard greens. Vitamin A and calcium
Okra
Onions. Personally I say NO to fresh onions, as I said to a lady that emailed and asked me about onions just last week. Others say they are questionable. Onions, like some other oxalates, can bind up calcium. Again, personally I only use powder in mashes, sparingly and would never consider giving any of my pets, dogs or birds, raw onions.
Parsley. High in Vitamins A and C, calcium, chlorine, copper, phosporus, potassium and an incomplete protein. Helps to cleanse the kidneys.
Peas (green, sugar snap, peas in pod) (green and yellow split). Good source of Vitamin A, phosphorus, thiamin and niacin.
Peppers (red, green, yellow, jalapeno, chili). Red pepper flakes are high in Vitamins A and C, as well as several minerals. They help increase circulation and promote clotting.
Potatoes (white, red, new, cooked) baked is best. White and red potatoes are good sources of B6, potassium, phosphorus, iron, thiamin, niacin, ascorbic acid.
Pumpkin (cooked). Seeds are gland heaters, may kill some intestinal parasites. The high zinc content promotes issue growth. Canned pumpkin contains the highest amount of Vitamin A of all vegetables.
Radishes. Little nutritional value)
Spinach. feed in moderation as can bind calcium in system. High in Vitamin A and potassium. Frozen cooked spinach has the highest amount.
Sprouts (alfalfa, bean, etc.) These contain vitamin C and are nourishing to the glands but are an incomplete protein.
Squash (butternut, acorn, etc. cooked). good source of Vitamin A, potassium, niacin. Summer squash has lower vitamin value than winter varieties do. Seeds high in silenium.
Sweet potatoes. Good source of vitamin A, niacin, B6. Boiled is best. Canned mashed sweet potatoes are highest in vitamin value, but not the candied variety.
Tomatoes. good source of Vitamin A and ascorbic acid. Tomato paste, sauce, and puree all have high Vitamin A values but may also be high in sodium.
Turnip greens. Turnip greens are high in Vitamin A and calcium.
Watercress. This is high in Vitamin A, C, E and aids the kidneys.
Yams (good source of Vitamin A, niacin, B6) Boiled is best
Yellow wax beans (lower than green beans in vitamin value)
Zucchini (see squash).

FRUITS

Apples (all varieties, no seeds) Applies contain malic and tartaric acids, which keep the liver and digestion healthy.
Apricots (no pits or area near pit). Dried, unsweetened apricots have the higher Vitamin A content of all fruits. Excellent source of potassium, niacin, riboflavin and iron.
Bananas . Good source of B6, potassium, riboflavin). You should remove peel before giving to your bird, but I have to admit, I serve my bananas in slices to my Hahns. Without the peel they will not eat them. I believe they don't like the feel of the mushy banana. They eat the inside and drop the peel to the floor for the cleaners!
Berries (strawberries (have to be washed extremely well with a veggie wash), blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, cranberries) Strawberry leaves help to remove metallic poisons from the blood. Raspberry leaves help soothe the entire system. Blackberries are a source of ascorbic acid and strawberries a source of vitamin C and potassium.
Cactus fruit
Cherimoya
Cherries, No pitts. Can be helpful in healing gout.
Coconuts
Coquitos (mini coconuts)
Currents
Dates. Source of potassium and niacin
Figs. Source of potassium and iron
Grapes (red, green, black) Grapes help the kidneys by decreasing the acidity of uric acid
Grapefruit. Source of Vitamin C)
Guavas
Kiwis. Source of potassium and ascorbic acid.
Kumquats
Leeches
Lemons
Mangos. source of vitamin A, niacin, vitamin C and potassium.
Melons (rinds are toxic, watermelon, honeydew, crenshaw, cantaloupe, (good source for vitamins A, C and potassium. Watermelon, while high in water content, contains vitamins A, C, potassium, thiamin and phosphorus. Honeydew is low in vitamin content.
Nectarines (no pits or area near pit) This is a source of Vitamin A and niacin.
Oranges. This is a good source of Vitamin C. Frozen, undiluted concentrate can be used for cooking and contains the highest amount of potassium and Vitamin C. Contain flavonoids, carotenoids and terpenes, which are natural cancer inhibitors. If squeezed over soft foods, said to keep them fresh longer.
Papaya. Contains papain, which aids digestion and helps the stomach and pancreas and is high in vitamin C.
Passion fruit
Peaches (no pits or area near pits). Unsweetened, dried varieties have more vitamin A, riboflavin and potassium.
Pears (no seeds). good source of potassium.
Pepino melons
Pineapple
Plantains. Good source of vitamin A, C and potassium
Plums (no pits)
Pomegranates. Great for the kidneys.
Raisins. Good source of potassium, thiamin, niacin and phosphorus.
Star fruit
Tangerines.

DAIRY

Calcium is very, very important for our birds. Birds will have a problem digesting milk, so I only use dried milk powder in my recipes sparingly. If giving cheese, do so sparingly as too much can cause constipation.
Yogurt. Good source of calcium, potassium, phosphorus.
Eggs. (any style, shells included - if boiled, please do so for 20 minutes). sources of B12 and the yolks are good source of Vitamin D. High in cholesterol.
Cheese (any variety is acceptable in moderation). This is personal decision. I personally do not feed my birds hard cheese, but have been known to roast their chick peas in cayenne pepper and parmesan cheese before serving. Soak and boil chick peas before roasting.

MEAT

Birds need protein, which seeds cannot provide completely, but meats and fish can and are good sources of B12, B6 and zinc. Use your own judgments here, as personally I have only given my birds well cooked chicken and tuna.
Turkey. While turkey is a good source of zinc, different parts of the turkey will vary in fat and calories.
Chicken. Good source of zinc as well and like turkey, different part will vary in fat and calories.
Tuna fish (water packed, make sure it is low in sodium as well)
Liver, cooked. Extremely high values of vitamin A and also contains B12, B6, D and folacin.

NUTS

Almonds. High in calcium and B6, which helps fight infections, also a good source of phosphorus and potassium. Highest amount of calcium in all nuts and the second largest amount of potassium and phosphorus.
Brazil Nuts. Highest source of phosphorus of all nuts and also high in potassium, not as high in fat as macadamia nuts.
Cashews. Low in fat
Filberts (or hazelnuts). Second highest amount in calcium and contain some vitamin A.
Macadamia nuts. Highest in fat and calorie content of all nuts. Also low in protein.
Peanuts. highest amount of protein of all nuts, good source of vitamin E.
Pecans. Low in protein but high in calories. Has some vitamin A value with little calcium
Pine nuts. contain the lowest amount of calcium of all nuts, also is low in protein and in phosphorus
Pistachio nuts. Highest amount of potassium and vitamin A of all nuts, third highest in phosphorus value. Also contain calcium, thiamin and phosphorus.
Walnuts. Some vitamin A value and is the fourth highest in potassium.
Almond butter, cashew butter, hazelnut butter, peanut butter and macadamia butter (homemade is best because you can cut down on the oil and sugar used.)

FATS and OILS

Use sparingly.
Margarine (contains the same amount of calories as butter, but it has no cholesterol. Some have sodium added to them. Also contain vitamin A, E.
Butter. Same calories as margarine but contains cholesterol.
Oils (include corn, olive, peanut, safflower, soybean and sunflower oils). Calorie content is the same for all oils, although slightly higher than that of margarine or butter, but is has no cholesterol. Has calcium, phosphorus, sodium, vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, ascorbic acid and vitamin E values.