Ask Lafeber

Nut Milks or tea for Parrots?

Since parrots are lactose intolerant, can they have Lactaid or nut milks?
Can parrots drink herbal teas?

We are sorry for the delay in replying to your questions from the Webinar What Should I Feed? Nutritionally Balanced Diets are For the Birds! Presented by Kara Burns. There was a death in Kara’s family and she understandably needed some personal time.

Hi Lisa,

Birds should not be given a commercially available product developed for lactose-intolerant humans. The two compounds that lactose is broken down into by these products are toxic to birds. Parrots are not 100% lactose intolerant – they can digest small amounts of certain diary products .Also, not all dairy products contain lactose and/or have very little lactose in them, such as some cheeses and yogurts — still these foods should be fed as an occasional treat and in small amounts.

I do not typically recommend giving herbal tea to Parrots, but they can have herbal tea – as long as it is decaffeinated, room temperature, and be sure to remove strainers or tea bags before offering the tea to your bird.

Thank you,

Kara Burns