Is Peanut Butter and Peanuts ok for parrots?

Peanuts can contain the mold aspergillus as was previously said. This mold can cause aspergillosis, an illness that can be deadly. Because of this I try and avoid peanuts. I don't know about the UK but here in the US a very small percentage of this fungus is allowed in human grade peanuts and peanut products. In pet products I heard the amount is not regulated at all. This being said aspergillus can be present in the soil and the air too and not just peanuts. It doesn't effect us humans normally but our birds can get sick from it. Many strains of this mold are actually harmless and are used as a preservative in some of our bird foods, only certain strains can actually be harmful. You can feed peanuts and I know many people do, I personally don't want to take the risk. I'd check to see how your country regulates the amount of aspergillus that is allowed in foods and how much is allowed if any even is. As was also said though peanuts are high in fat. While most of this is healthier fats, fat is still fat and a lot of it can still be harmful.

I believe some parrots can get reflux from nuts (Shah is one of them). Therefore, he can never have nuts again. It is entirely up to you what you feed your quaker but the reflux wont show up in droppings. If Maya seems to be okay, then as long as it is only an occasional treat, it should be okay.

Thanks both. With regard to aspergillosis, I purify the pet room (with an electric air purifier) every day and clean any mould caused by dampness as soon as I see it, which isn't often. Maya lives in the same room as our bunny rabbit, Cleo, who has fresh hay most days, but she is also cleaned out at least twice a week. I change her water every day and her dry food every two or three days. I never leave wet food out for more than 4-6 hours. I clean her cage tray and change her newspaper every other day, or every day if it's particularly soiled. I try to make sure rooms are well ventilated, particularly in the Summer, when it gets quite warm. Do you think this is ok to help prevent Aspergillosis? Should I be doing anything else?

Ok, thanks. I see stuff like this and go into panic mode about my little birdie. I think I might forego peanuts, although peanut butter hasn't harmed her, but she doesn't have it very often at all as it's very fatty. Better to be knowledgeable about it though, as then you're for-armed to deal with it, so thanks for the extra information and advice!

Ok, good to know Maya has never had a fresh peanut, she's just had peanut butter, and aflatoxins are obviously controlled in these, and aspergillus spores are at a minimum. We've changed the hay set up on recommendation by the vet, so that Cleo has a 'hay tray' and a 'litter tray', the hay tray being removed at night so the room can be vacuumed and ventilated, thus minimising the build up of any spores. As the hay does not get damp, there are unlikely to be many, but it should help. Am I right in assuming that aspergillus is a mould/fungus and so needs damp to grow?

Ralph doesn't get peanuts-- I discard the few that come in his Higgins safflower mix, since it's thought to be risky to feed them. George the YCA used to get them often, and would actually eat the shells and not the nuts. Fortunately, he never suffered any illnesses from it, but I used to buy good quality human-grade peanuts, which may have added a little safety factor. Years ago, it was common practice to give peanuts to parrots, and it was never hinted that there might be a problem with doing so.