Author: Birdzone
Peanuts are not a true nut. They are a legume, the same family as beans and peas.
Like many ‘true nuts’ they are rich in nutrients, low in saturated fats and are a natural part of many birds diets.
Peanuts are an excellent source of biotin. They are also a very good source of copper as well as a good source of manganese, niacin, molybdenum, folate, vitamin E, phosphorus, vitamin B1, and protein.
They are low in saturated fats and in addition, provide resveratrol, the phenolic antioxidant also found in red grapes.
Peanuts are susceptible to molds and fungal invasions. The main concern being aflatoxin, a poison produced by a fungus called Aspergillus flavus.
Actually, this mold can appear on just about any grain, legume, veggie or fruit, but peanuts, corn, rice, wheat, soy beans, brazil nuts, pistachios and barley are more susceptible than other types of foods because they tend to be grown in warm, humid climates.
Better storage and handling methods have virtually eliminated the risk of aflatoxin, and the better the quality the less likely the contamination, but be aware that low-grade animal feed products are more likely to be contaminated than those products sold for human consumption.
As Peanuts are used extensively in most pelleted and seed based diets for Birds, it is important to ensure that you know what you are buying.
Birdzone uses only the highest quality human grade peanuts.
All our Nuts & Grains are kept in cold storage, and we recommend that customers who live in the warmer climates store their bird foods under refrigeration to prevent any possible problems.