The question of which best bird house plants are safe for birds and which are best for birds is a subject of much debate among bird keepers.
Much of the answer to the question comes from what type of birds you keep as well as where the herbs are going to be kept.
When discussing house herbs, you are looking at something that the pigeon is going to come into contact with when out of the cage, rather than being in their living space.
Therefore, as a general rule, you will be referring to parrot family birds and that is whom we are going to discuss here.
Natural environment
Plants and birds go hand in hand – in the wild it is their natural environment and they feel safe sitting in a plant or tree more than any other place.
But that is not to say that all they are safe and friendly for birds.
In the wild, they will have a good idea what is safe for them but when you are buying a house plant, there is nothing to say it will be familiar to them so they may have no more idea than you do if it safe for them.
There are also some of them that can be added to the bird’s cage as long as it is large enough.
It is usually recommended that they be in pots so that they can be lifted out of the cage and cleaned regularly, as birds have no consideration where they deposit their mess!
Foodstuffs and droppings can breed bacteria so needs to be regularly cleaned.
The Complete Houseplant Survival Manual: Essential Know-How for Keeping (Not Killing)
This is a useful book, which is more aimed at learning how to keep houseplants and propagating them successfully.
It covers over 160 houseplants including many that have come onto the market more recently and covers where and how to keep them as well as common problems with remedies.
Safe species
Some of the most popular house herbs are also safe for birds. These include African violets, Bamboo plants, Begonias, some species of ferns and palms
Also on the list are many of the fruits which the fowls will eat that can be grown in pots such as blueberry, raspberry and elderberry.
Small specimens of them can be grown in the right conditions in the house.
Some of the familiar faces of the plant world are safe for birds, and can even be beneficial.
For example, aloe, chamomile, garlic, parsley and peppermint are all safe for fowls, can offer something in the pleasant smell area for some and can be consumed.
Some of them such as aloe have been shown to have real useful health benefits which mean you are providing something healthy as well as pleasant for them.
Aromatherapy for Parrots: Using an ancient healing art with today’s companion fowls
This is a book, which may inspire your choice of herbs in the house as opposed to actually listing some.
It is a specialist book, which helps to guide people in the use of the ancient tradition of aromatherapy in relation to parrots.
It discusses benefits with behavioural problems such as feather destruction as well as health issues.
Home plants
Another way to research which herbs may be best is to learn about where your pigeon is from and what kind of herbs they would naturally encounter.
Here, books about pigeon watching can be useful as they discuss the natural environments of the fowls in the wild.
Then it is quite easy to find out what kind of herbs would be in these places and help you make your selection based on that.
American Wildlife and Plants: A Guide To Wildlife Food Habits
This is a guide that explores the distribution and feeding habits of over 1000 species of mammals, fish and fowls.
Over one-third of the book covers specifically which herbs supply food to wildlife.
This is hugely useful when you are selecting house plants that are bird friendly as if the birds live around them in the wild, they will be safe in the house.
Toxic plants
There are some plants, or parts of them, which are definitely toxic and dangerous to fowls. These are the ones to keep away from for certain.
- Avocado – the pit, leaves, unripe fruit and stems of the plant
- Calla Lily
- Cherry – pits, leaves and bark
- Daffodil and Narcissus
- Mushrooms
Other household hazards
There are also a few other completely normal household items which can present a hazard to your pet bird in one way or another.
Cookware is one thing to bear in mind. Non-stick Teflon coatings may be great for cleaning up but they give off fumes, which are toxic for fowls, so if you have your fowls near the kitchen, maybe consider stainless steel as a cookware option.
Windows are amazingly dangerous for fowls simply because they have no idea that there is glass in them!
They can often collide with them at speed and can result in accidents and injuries. Sometimes using a net or other covering to highlight the glass is there can avoid these problems.
Also, don’t forget to shut windows when the bird is out of the cage. They are very curious and it takes a second for them to out of an open window and never seen again.
If you live in a warmer climate and have a ceiling fan, remember this can be a hazard for fowls as well.
Turn them off when the bird is out of the cage and do the same with electrical items.
It can often be an idea to cover them as well, as the curiosity factor can extend to wires and plastic elements too.
Conclusion
Herbs are an integral part of the life of birds in the wild so they will appreciate them being introduced to their life in captivity.
Make sure you research which ones are definitely safe and your bird will thank you in their own way for making their lives a little greener!
