*Toxins – many things in our environment are toxic, The avian respiratory system is extremely sensitive to many different types of gases and smoke. Rapid gut transit times and gastrointestinal absorption, combined with a metabolic rate, accelerate the effect of an ingested toxin in birds. What may be harmless to humans, dogs and cats may be quite toxic to birds.

*Some common plants that are known to be toxic to birds:

Avocado

Black Locust

Clematis

Lily of the Valley

Oleander

Philodendron

Poinsettia

Rhododendron

Yew

Virginia Creeper.

*Shipping, overcrowding, excessive breeding and mixed species aviaries may lead to a yeast infection under the gizzard lining in finches.  Signs of  this infection are sudden deaths, weight loss, or passing of intact seeds in the droppings. Most cases are diagnosed on post mortem examination.

*Rock Doves, endemic to the Eastern Mediterranean region, were brought into captivity as a source of food, meat and eggs, about 5000 – 10,000 years ago. This domestication is the earliest known for any bird species.

* Recent experiments with pigeons suggests that milk thistle extracts (silymarin) may have a protective effect against damage from aflatoxins ( toxins liberated from fungi in food).