Can Cockatiels Eat Fruit? 15 Great Options
Can Cockatiels Eat Fruit? Are you thinking about finding out if your cockatiel enjoys fruit? Awesome! Fruit can be a staple in the diet of your bird friend. Since the majority of types contain a variety of crucial (micro)nutrients that support their health. A diversified feed also makes your bird’s life more enjoyable and keeps it from growing bored! For a list of 15 fruits that are safe to give to your bird pet, continue reading.
What Fruit Can Cockatiels Eat
Popular as pets, cockatiels are renowned for their friendliness and stunning plumage. Although pellets and seeds should make up the majority of their diet, they can occasionally indulge themselves in a variety of fruits. Apples, bananas, pears, and grapes are some of the greatest fruits for cockatiels. To keep your cockatiel healthy and content, give them a couple of little pieces of fruit every day. Goffin’s Cockatoo
Which foods won’t harm cockatiels?
You can provide them with extra if they seem to like it. The very clever birds can be trained to learn tricks, manners, and habits. As soon as you bring your cockatiel home, you can begin training them. Cockatiels may be trained to perform a variety of feats, including playing fetch and flying to you.
Additionally, cockatiels can be trained to exhibit behaviors like step-up (getting on your finger), refraining from biting, and screaming. Because they are social creatures, cockatiels adore interacting with their owners. They frequently attempt to perch on your shoulder or head because they like to be caressed and scratched.
Additionally, cockatiels enjoy playing with toys and will frequently spend hours with a particular toy. Consider buying another cockatiel if you are thinking about getting one or already own one. When they are in pairs or groups, cockatiels are significantly happier. They frequently shave and sleep next to each other. Additionally, cockatiels in couples or groups are frequently calmer and more relaxed.
Which fruits are suitable for cockatiels to eat?
No more than 10% of their diet should consist of these. A cockatiel’s diet should primarily consist of pellets, with occasional servings of fresh fruit and vegetables.
No more than 20% of their total diet should be made up of fresh vegetables, such as dark leafy greens, which should be served every other day. Every other day, you can also feed them fresh fruit like berries, melon, papaya, or kiwis, but this should only make up 10% of their diet.
How to give your cockatiel fruit
To add some excitement, provide fruit in various formats. Giving complete pieces encourages longer periods of active feeding, which results in a more natural mealtime experience for your bird. For an even greater challenge, you can even skewer the fruit on a parrot kabob!
For cockatiels who are still uncertain about the idea and may be afraid of huge chunks, cutting fruit into small pieces works nicely. To get a parrot who has never had fresh food to try it, add some seeds or pellets on top.
What portion of fruit should you give your cockatiel?
I want to emphasize that feeding your cockatiel a lot of fruit every day is not a smart idea before we get to the list of fruits that are safe for them. While you can always provide your bird with a variety of veggies for cockatiels, most fruits are sadly just too sweet. Consider that the fruits we consume as humans have typically been intentionally cultivated to contain high levels of sugar in order to make them more appetizing for our consumption before offering your bird a whole banana.
They are a far cry from the half-ripe fruits that some wild parrots eat, which come from trees that we have never even heard of. Cockatiels aren’t actually among the wild fruit eaters, as I said, “some wild parrots.” Cockatiels normally graze on a variety of ripe or unripe grasses and seeds, as mentioned in the comprehensive page on cockatiel nutrition.
Nevertheless, the arguments supporting fruit as a healthy complement to a cockatiel’s diet are still valid. Fruits and berries are packed with nutrients and add excitement to mealtime. Simply don’t go overboard!
Now that everything is out of the way, here is a complete list of 15 fruits that are safe for cockatiels!
Can cockatiels eat bananas?
Yes! You can definitely give your cockatiel a slice of your banana if you’re eating one. Cockatiels also enjoy eating dried banana chips, which are a crispy alternative to fresh bananas. Just be sure the brand you choose has no added sugar.
Can cockatiels eat strawberries?
Yup! Strawberries, for example, are a particularly fantastic choice for your bird because they are actually a little lower in sugar than many other fruits. You can give your cockatiel strawberries that have been frozen, but you must thaw them first. And if your cockatiel ends up stained and appearing as though it just committed a murder, don’t be alarmed!
Can cockatiels eat watermelon?
Definitely! As the name implies, a large portion of watermelon is made up of water, making it a fantastic choice for keeping you and your bird hydrated on hot summer days. But once more: sugar. Don’t go overboard.
Can cockatiels eat blueberries, right?
Everyone is aware of the abundance of vitamins and antioxidants in blueberries. Giving your bird these blue wonders to eat will therefore provide them access to the same advantages that we humans have. It would be ideal to give your bird one or two blueberries a few times per week.
Can cockatiels eat peaches?
Of course! Any cockatiel will enjoy the wonderful, succulent feast of peaches. Likewise, your avian buddy can safely eat plums and nectarines. Due to its lower sugar content than many other fruits, the closely related apricot is also a fantastic option. Simply watch out that your pet doesn’t chew on any of these fruits’ deadly pits! Although it’s unlikely that they’ll be able to open one, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Can cockatiels eat grapes?
Indeed, many ‘tiels adore them. Grapes are absolutely harmless for birds but can be poisonous for other pets like dogs. Don’t give more than half a grape at a time though, as this fruit has a high sugar content. Raisins can also be used as a treat, but make sure to purchase organic varieties. Sulfur dioxide has been applied to non-organic raisins, particularly sultanas, to extend their shelf life and maintain their color. You shouldn’t regularly give that to your feathered companion.
Can cockatiels eat Oranges?
Yes, but you should exercise caution when eating citrus fruits. Lemons and limes are a little too acidic, while oranges and clementines are fine in moderation. They can upset a bird’s stomach if they eat a lot, much as they can in people.
Can cockatiels eat blackberries?
Blackberries are packed with beneficial antioxidants and have a variety of other advantages, much like blueberries (and many other berry varieties!). The ideal strategy is to give your crested friend no more than one or two blackberries per week because they are bigger than blueberries.
Can cockatiels eat Pineapple?
Pineapple is a luscious fruit that is rich in fiber and potassium, which is fantastic news for cockatiels who tend to love it. Fresh pineapple is the best food to give your bird companion because the entire fruit is safe to consume. Although canned or dried pineapple can be fed, this is not the greatest option. The majority of brands don’t have the same nutritional advantages and are high in sugar.
Can cockatiels eat Mangos?
Absolutely! Mangos have a ton of vitamins A and C as well as many other advantages. Unfortunately, mangos also have a lot of sugar, therefore owners should only give their cockatiels a minimal amount of them. When I’m finished with a mine, I prefer to give it the pit. They enjoy picking out every last scrap of flesh, which can keep them occupied for hours.
Can cockatiels eat raspberries?
Your ‘tiel is absolutely fine to eat raspberries. A raspberry’s skin is highly transparent, like that of all berries, therefore if pesticides were used during its growth, it might have trace levels of those chemicals. Because of their small stature, cockatiels are more vulnerable to pesticide harm than people are, so it is always preferable to feed them organic produce.
Can cockatiels eat apples?
Yes, they do, and they favor the crunchy texture. Keep the peel on the apple for added fiber, but wash it beforehand before feeding. Apple seeds can be harmful to your bird to eat, just like many other fruits on this list, so make sure to take them out before eating!
Are cherries edible by cockatiels?
Yes! Cherries are a favorite food of cockatiels, and they make a tasty treat for your crested friend on occasion. Do remember that a cherry pit’s center contains a substance that, when consumed, turns into the poisonous gas cyanide in the body. Be cautious rather than sorry and remove the cherry pits, even though I can’t envision a cockatiel tearing apart a cherry pit.
Cockatiels can eat pomegranates, right?
Definitely! In contrast to many other fruit seeds on this list, pomegranate seeds are entirely secure. Arils, the edible pomegranate seeds, are a good source of folate and vitamin K. They provide a great snack for your ‘tiel because of their nutritious advantages. Pomegranate arils are quite tasty despite being little, so your bird shouldn’t eat more than two or three at once.
Cantaloupe is edible to cockatiels?
Of course! Cantaloupe, honeydew, piel de sapo, and many other melon kinds are safe for cockatiels to eat. Before feeding the melon, there is no need to remove the seeds. The majority of parrots enjoy cracking open melon seeds because they are completely safe. In fact, birds who are still wary of new foods may find the whole fruit more alluring if the seeds are left on.
What fruits can cockatiels not eat?
While most fruit is typically safe and good for birds to eat in moderation, some fruits with seeds are not (such as apples and pears). The seeds and pits of some fruits, including cherries, apricots, peaches, nectarines, and plums, should not be given to birds without first being removed since they may be poisonous to them. Can Cockatiels Eat Fruit?
Oranges, grapefruits, lemons, and limes are examples of citrus fruits that should be avoided. Because the high acid level can disrupt a bird’s digestive system.
Conclusion
Fruits are a great way to supplement your cockatiel’s diet because they give your bird vitamins and minerals that aren’t present in a typical pellet diet. Their lives are enhanced by the increased variety in their nutrition. Fruit is their favorite food by a wide margin! It’s a good idea to keep offering it even if yours isn’t so that it ultimately gets acclimated to the idea. Can Cockatiels Eat Fruit?
Cockatiels are mostly granivorous, unlike some parrots, such as macaws, which are frugivorous (consuming mostly fruit). Fruit shouldn’t be a regular meal source; premium pelleted food is a far better option. Fruit pieces are to cockatiels what candy bars are to humans—delicious, but with entirely too much sugar for regular consumption. Can Cockatiels Eat Fruit?
Your crested companion’s ideal diet might resemble something like this:
- A 70% pellet diet
- 15% fresh produce, including sprouts
- 10% fruit in fresh
- 5% dried seeds and snacks
A tiny amount should always be given to your cockatiel when introducing new food to ensure that it is well-tolerated by them. Fruits are no different, so give your ‘tiel a few pieces of a new fruit to try before giving them a complete plate to see how they respond. The good news is that every fruit specified on this list and many others are safe for cockatiel owners to give their birds. Can Cockatiels Eat Fruit?
