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A Bird's Diet: Fruits and Veggies

© Mary Wilson

"Eat your fruits and vegetables!" Children hear it. Adults hear it. Our parrots hear it.

As humans, it's easy to know which fruits or vegetables to eat. We know what we like, and what we don't. Broccoli, brussels sprouts and spinach rank high on the list of foods that most children hate; however, if we offered the same foods to our parrots, they may eat them with relish. How does a parrot owner know which foods are okay to feed to a bird and which aren't?

Thankfully, with parrots it's easy to know which foods are appropriate. Anything that is healthy for humans, with the most notable exceptions being onions and avocados, is healthy for a bird. No coffee, caffeine, chocolate, and very limited salt and sugar. If it is a natural fruit or vegetable, it's pretty much fair game.

In the wild, parrots enjoy the fruits of the jungle. Tropical fruits such as mangos, kiwis, bananas, and others are big hits with our birds. But how to serve them? And what if our beloved parrot turns up his beak in disdain at our gourmet fare?

For small hookbills, fruits and vegetables should be cut into "bird-sized" pieces. Since smaller birds, like large parrots, don't eat with their feet, the food should be small enough not to intimidate. Only a teaspoon or so should be served at first; not only does such a small amount not overwhelm the bird, but it also won't take long to eat, which helps reduce spoiling.

Uneaten and unserved portions can be served or stored in the refrigerator (or shared with human members of the family).

Some small hookbills, such as parakeets, are known to be finicky eaters and may not enjoy the "fruits" of your labor right away. Keep trying. Some birds do better if a buddy eats the food first, so a cage mate or human partner might help.

I wouldn't advocate canned produce, nor dried fruits, unless they don't contain sulfer. Citrus fruits should be served in moderation.

Vegetables are done much the same way, though may be less messy. Carrots, zucchini, and other veggies can be grated, which will quickly cut them down to "bird-sized" pieces. Frozen vegetables do make handy snacks. Less salt is used during the freezing process than during the canning process, and less chemicals go into freezing foods as well. There also isn't the risk of metal toxicity from the cans. (Note: While there haven't been any studies, human or avian, done on cans, given that small metal shavings can fall into the can while it is being opened, I would try to avoid feeding anything from a can to our birds to remove one more possible risk from our bird's environments.)

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