I need to identify a plant to figure out if it is bird safe.
February 7, 2011 1:54 PM Subscribe
I need to identify a plant to figure out if it is bird safe. Thanks!
I was given this plant and it has happily grown in my house for many years, but my cockatiel has suddenly taken an interest in it. I need to know if it is bird safe or if I need to find it a new home.
Here is a piccie.
I was given this plant and it has happily grown in my house for many years, but my cockatiel has suddenly taken an interest in it. I need to know if it is bird safe or if I need to find it a new home.
Here is a piccie.
Best answer: According to this page, it's safe. I wouldn't let it eat too much, though. Prevention is better than cure, and all that.
posted by Solomon at 2:04 PM on February 7, 2011
posted by Solomon at 2:04 PM on February 7, 2011
Response by poster: I forgot to mention that it blooms a small white flower.
posted by Calzephyr at 2:04 PM on February 7, 2011
posted by Calzephyr at 2:04 PM on February 7, 2011
Response by poster: Thanks Solomon! I'm thankful it's safe, as I did catch him nibbling on it today although I don't think he ate any. He's just getting into everything right now because he wants to build a nest and the usual distractions aren't working. Life with birds :-) Muffin thanks you too!
posted by Calzephyr at 2:11 PM on February 7, 2011
posted by Calzephyr at 2:11 PM on February 7, 2011
Kalanchoe may be correct, but your plant, particularly the leaf form, looks more like a sedum to me, found on this list of plants considered toxic to birds. You could take the plant to a nursery for a professional ID. Kalanchoes have specific light and watering requirements to induce flowers; does your plant easily rebloom? That would make sedum more likely.
Muffin is adorable.
posted by vers at 4:03 PM on February 7, 2011
Muffin is adorable.
posted by vers at 4:03 PM on February 7, 2011
Response by poster: Hi Vers, thanks :-) I have been watching him all afternoon and he doesn't seem to have suffered any ill effects from the way he is ripping apart a raffia toy at the moment.
I have stonecrop in my flowerbed - it blooms yellow every summer. I haven't noticed the similarities between the two before. It's flowering now - I think it flowers about twice a year. I tried to get a picture of the flowers - they have 2-3 petals and the overall plant as well. HTH and thanks for answering :-)
posted by Calzephyr at 4:25 PM on February 7, 2011
I have stonecrop in my flowerbed - it blooms yellow every summer. I haven't noticed the similarities between the two before. It's flowering now - I think it flowers about twice a year. I tried to get a picture of the flowers - they have 2-3 petals and the overall plant as well. HTH and thanks for answering :-)
posted by Calzephyr at 4:25 PM on February 7, 2011
the best distract-you-little-buggers-from-chewing-my-home-to-bits toys I have found are a bundle of thin bird-safe twigs held together with a rubber band. I've used apple tree twigs, and they keep Dr. Buzzard and Dr. Benway from eating the baseboards. Muffin is awesome!
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 4:28 PM on February 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 4:28 PM on February 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Er, the houseplant is flowering. I live in Calgary and the stonecrop is under a foot of snow!
posted by Calzephyr at 4:37 PM on February 7, 2011
posted by Calzephyr at 4:37 PM on February 7, 2011
Response by poster: Love the names! I thought Muffin was such a silly name when we picked him up, but it's the only one that suits him. He spent most of his life with clipped wings so he likes people to pick him up and carry him places. He is fully flighted now and seems to be more independent. He came in a too small cage and now he has a big flight cage.
He has a coconut half that he's interested in and some bamboo toys. He's been going after boxes, which I don't mind. He has five manzanita perches, paper balls...I should get a new branch for him though. I had one for the budgies and they loved it! Thanks for the reminder :-)
posted by Calzephyr at 4:44 PM on February 7, 2011
He has a coconut half that he's interested in and some bamboo toys. He's been going after boxes, which I don't mind. He has five manzanita perches, paper balls...I should get a new branch for him though. I had one for the budgies and they loved it! Thanks for the reminder :-)
posted by Calzephyr at 4:44 PM on February 7, 2011
Well, a retraction to my earlier post. I showed the photos to a professional horticulturalist, and she's fairly certain based on the flower form that your plant is in the kalanchoe genus, species uncertain. A botanical garden with a specialty in succulents might be able to narrow the ID down further for you.
So, that's good news!
posted by vers at 11:05 AM on February 8, 2011
So, that's good news!
posted by vers at 11:05 AM on February 8, 2011
Best answer: Thanks for double checking vers! The flowering bit sure looks a lot like the flaming katy anyway :-) Muffin made a second dash for that plant and I just have to keep it out of the way and hope he forgets about it. He's still alive and kicking, so all is good!
posted by Calzephyr at 7:30 PM on February 10, 2011
posted by Calzephyr at 7:30 PM on February 10, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Solomon at 2:02 PM on February 7, 2011