Can macaws eat peanuts?

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With caution
Peanuts · for macaws

Yes, with care — human-grade, shelled, unsalted peanuts are okay as an occasional treat. The risk is aflatoxin, a mold poison that causes liver disease in birds.

What it means for macaws

Macaws tolerate fat better than smaller parrots, so peanuts can be a more legitimate part of their diet than it would be for a budgie — still in sensible amounts, and never salted. Macaws can handle a generous portion for their size.

The full picture on peanuts

Peanuts themselves are not toxic; the danger is Aspergillus mold, which produces aflatoxin and thrives inside peanut shells — especially in bulk bins and bird-feed-grade nuts. Chronic low-dose exposure causes liver disease; a moldy nut can cause acute poisoning. Peanuts are also fatty enough to crowd out better foods.

See the full peanuts guide or the Macaw diet guide for more.

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