Dates

[Michelle & Fids]

I bought whole dates for the birds tonight. Anyone know if the pit/seed inside is safe for them or if I need to take it out?

[WingedVictory]

We buy a Volkman seed mix that has dates in it but they are pitted.

gary

[Phyllis]

Looks like they are fine if ingested. Not bad, not good, just not toxic. I found other sources, but they all pretty much said the same thing.

79D-3
Preliminary analysis and potential uses of date pits in foods

J. S. HAMADA, I. B. Hashim and F. A. Sharif, Southern Regional Research Center, USDA-ARS, Box19687, New Orleans, LA 70179

METHODS: Date pits were milled in a heavy-duty grinder to pass 1.2-mm screen. The components of date pits were determined using standard analytical procedures. Osborn Solubility fractionation of protein was carried out by consecutive extraction of Hexane-defatted pits using 2% NaCl, 70% ethanol, 0.1 M acetic acid and 0.1M sodium hydroxide.

RESULTS: Date pits were odorless and had light to dark brown color and a bland to a slightly bitter taste. They contained 7.1-10.3% moisture, 5.0-6.3% protein, 9.9-13.3% fat, 65-69% neutral detergent fiber, and 1.0-1.8% ash. Free fatty acids were 0.3% and increased slightly to 0.4% after one week storage at room temperature. The free fatty acids of pits from a date processing factory was 11%. About 22, 20 and 6% of the total protein of pits were soluble in salt solution, ethanol and acetic acid, respectively. Residue protein that could only be solublized by 0.1 M NaOH was 53%.

SIGNIFICANCE: Date pits contain a substantial amount of oil that needs to be characterized. Conditioning and milling procedures of date pits must be optimized to avoid oil rancidity. Poor solubility of date pits protein needs to be investigated. Pits contained a huge amount of fiber that may have health benefits. Research is continued to characterize isolated components and search for bioactive constituents with antimicrobial, antioxidant and other health promoting activities in pits

[Michelle & Fids]

Thanks Phyllis, I'm not sure if it matters though. They have never had them before so it is possible they will just toss them out for Mama to clean up

[Michelle & Fids]

All that worry and most of the birds wouldn't even try them. I only had 5 out of 20 macaws eat them, the rest either picked them up and threw them or ate around them. The 3 Quakers and both Caiques nibbled on them. The Amazons ate around them and my M2 ripped hers to shreds and made soup with it I tasted one and can't say I blame them for not eating them

[Karen]

I tasted one and can't say I blame them for not eating them

Maybe if you mince them up and stick them in Birdie Bread they might try them. I am used to my two sticking their beaks up at anything new here too. By the time they get used to seeing it, I don't have anymore!

[Michelle & Fids]

Originally Posted by Karen

Maybe if you mince them up and stick them in Birdie Bread they might try them. I am used to my two sticking their beaks up at anything new here too.

That's a good idea.

Originally Posted by Karen

By the time they get used to seeing it, I don't have anymore!

That's how it works here too