Feeding parakeets is not a difficult thing to do. Also, there are various foods that parakeets love to eat. But besides their favorite foods, there are also some foods that parakeets cannot eat, so what can parakeets not eat?
There are various foods that parakeets can not eat, such as chocolates, avocados, fruit pits, fruit seeds, garlic, onion, etc. The brief information regarding many foods, including fruits and vegetables that they can not eat, is discussed below.
Table of Contents:
Table of Contents
What Fruits Can Parakeets Not Eat?
Parakeets can have a variety of fruits, but there are several fruits you should never feed to a parakeet because some fruits or their seeds can be toxic to parakeets. Here is the complete list of what fruits parakeets can not eat.
Avocado
Avocado is at the top of the list of toxic fruits for parakeets and all birds. Avocados may be your favorite but never feed them to your parakeet.
Here comes the question, what makes Avocado so toxic for birds? Avocados have persin, which is seriously harmful to all birds, including parakeets. Persin is a toxin for all birds, affecting the heart in several species of birds, including parakeets.
What Happens When Parakeets Eat Avocado?
In case you accidentally give Avocado to your parakeet, here are possible outcomes.
- Sudden death.
- Lethargy.
- Heavy breathing/ difficulty in breathing.
- The sudden collapse of birds.
If your parakeet has consumed Avocado, immediately rush to the nearest veterinary clinic for medical help. The vet will perform an immediate toxic removal process, which can save your parakeet.
Oh, don’t worry, this is not toxic to humans. You can enjoy Avocado as usual! Never give it to your lovely birds.
Fruit Pits
Fruit pits are also equally toxic as avocados for parakeets. Because fruit pits have persin, this toxin is commonly present in all fruit pits and seeds. Here are some fruits which have pits, and you must remove them and wash fruits before giving them to parakeets.
- Mango
- Plums
- Peaches
- Cherries
- Lychees
Note: Only pits of the fruits, as mentioned earlier, are harmful to birds, not the fruits. These fruits are perfectly safe and healthy for parakeets. Just remove the pit and serve them.
Fruits Seeds
While most of the fruits are safe for parakeets, seeds are toxic for all birds. As mentioned above, all fruit seeds also have a significant amount of toxic compounds. Can parakeets eat sunflower seeds?
Fruit seeds also have a small amount of cyanide, known as a cardiac – toxin, which makes the fruit seeds very harmful to parakeets.
Though these seeds might be tempting for parakeets, never feed fruit seeds to them. Here are some fruit seeds that are harmful to parakeets.
- Apples
- Oranges
- Passion fruit
- Grapes
- Watermelon
- Kiwi
- Guava
- Melons
- Papaya
- Pear
These fruits are healthy and safe for parakeets but don’t forget to remove the seeds. Can baby budgies eat seeds?
What Fruits Are Safe For Parakeets?
Generally, all seasonal fruits are safe for parakeets. They can eat a variety of fruits except for avocados. Fruits are full of Vitamins and minerals.
They are a great source of energy for parakeets. Add different fruits to the parakeet diet and watch them sing with joy. A complete list of what fruits parakeets eat is shared in the next heading. What do baby birds eat?
What Fruits Can Parakeets Eat?
Parakeets are also known as budgies, and they can eat almost all local fruits available at grocery stores. Parakeets have versatile feed options; they love to eat anything from seeds, nuts, veggies, insects, and fruits. Can parakeets eat mango?
Wild parakeets approximately eat 20% of fruits in their diet per day. Fruits have essential vitamins, and minerals and are also a source of hydration for parakeets.
Hence, if you are a bird owner and have a couple of parakeets, you must know what fruits can parakeets eat.
Although they can eat a variety of seasonal food, you should consider certain health factors because some fruits like Avocado have been proven to be toxic for parakeets.
Here are the fruits that parakeets can eat. All of the following are 100% safe and healthy for parakeets. Always serve thin slices and de-stoned fruits (If required).
- Apricots (dried & soaked)
- Apples
- Bananas- and banana skins
- Blueberries
- Blackberries
- Coconut
- Cherries
- Cranberry
- Grapes
- Grapefruit
- Guava
- Kiwi
- Mango
- Melons
- Lychee
- Oranges
- Pineapple
- Ripe-Persimmons
- Plums
- Pear
- Papaya
- Passion fruit
- Raspberry
- Watermelon
- Strawberries
Can Baby Parakeets Eat Bananas?
What Veggies Can Parakeets Not Eat?
Just like fruits, parakeets can eat a wide variety of seasonal veggies. But some commonly used vegetables are found to be toxic for parakeets, such as asparagus, garlic, eggplant, green tomatoes, etc.
Asparagus
Asparagus is one of the suspicious veggies. This one has mixed opinions about if it’s toxic for parakeets.
According to research, asparagus have asparagine, which is toxic to the digestive system of parakeets. While some people say it’s safe for them, In our opinion it’s always better to avoid any suspicious item.
Because there’s no need to take a risk when you have plenty of veggies available for parakeets, those are safe and healthy.
Garlic
Garlic is known for adding flavor and aroma to our recipes. But it’s not the same when it comes to parakeet’s feed.
Garlic has allicin, which can cause hemolytic anemia in birds, including parakeets.
Eggplant
It would be best if you will not feed eggplant to parakeets, even if it’s raw or cooked, because eggplant contains high levels of solanine which can cause severe digestive upset in parakeets. Can Parakeets Eat Cantaloupe?
Onion
Like garlic, onion is also a big no for parakeets. Onions have a significant amount of sulfur, which can cause anemia in parakeets. Hence in any form, whether cooked, dried, or raw is not suitable for parakeets.
Green Tomatoes
Green or unripe tomatoes are not an ideal choice of food for parakeets. Unripe tomatoes are relatively more acidic than ripe tomatoes.
Green tomatoes can disturb the digestive system of parakeets. So always choose ripe red tomatoes.
Mushrooms
Mushrooms are a type of fungus. Certain types of mushrooms have been known to cause digestive problems and liver failure in all birds, including parakeets.
What Foods Are Toxic To Parakeets?
Besides fruits and vegetables, parakeets also eat seeds, nuts, and protein sources like eggs and meat. Parakeets need a balanced diet with a mix of all foods, as mentioned earlier. The toxic foods for parakeets are chocolates, rhubarb, bread, xylitol, etc.
But some people don’t have enough knowledge that some commonly available food options can be very toxic for parakeets.
Chocolate
Caffeine products are highly toxic for parakeets. Chocolate has high levels of caffeine and theobromine, which can affect the overall metabolism of parakeets, which can cause hyperactivity, tremors, seizures, or in extreme cases, the death of birds.
Xylitol
Xylitol is an artificial sweetener. Commonly found in sugar-free candies, gums, or other sugar-free claimed products. Xylitol can cause severe hypoglycemia and liver damage in parakeets.
Rhubarb
This is a certain type of plant, and its leaves are toxic for parakeets as they have oxalate crystals, which cause serious kidney problems in parakeets.
Foods With High Fat, Sugar, & Sodium
Anything containing high levels of fat, sugar, and sodium is considered toxic for parakeets.
High amounts of sugar are not suitable for parakeets. While an excessive amount of salt (sodium) will disturb electrolyte and fluid balance, this will result in dehydration.
So next time, be careful and always serve unseasoned veggies and low portions of sugar-rich fruits.
What Are Safe Foods For Parakeets?
As we have discussed earlier, a huge variety of fruits and vegetables are safe for parakeets. Apart from fruit and vegetables, parakeets also eat other certain foods. These food options are 100% safe and nutrition-packed for parakeets such as nuts, seeds, bird food, grains, bird pellets, etc.
Nuts
Parakeets like to eat different nuts, and these are rich in vitamins and nutrients. Also, parakeets enjoy eating them and cracking them. Here are nuts that are all safe and healthy for parakeets.
- Almonds
- Pistachios
- Peanuts
- Walnuts
Seeds
Parakeets enjoy cracking seeds. Bird seeds are full of protein and essential nutrients. There is a wide range of seeds that are safe for parakeets. These include the following.
- Grass seeds
- Herb seeds
- Oilseeds
Bird food
Pet store bird food is also 100% safe and healthy for your parakeets. So it’s a great go-to feed for parakeets when you are out of fresh food options.
Grains
Whole grains are also safe and healthy food for parakeets. The following are common grains for parakeets.
- Amaranth
- Barley
- Buckwheat (whole)
- Canary seed
- Oats
- Quinoa
- Rye
- Sweetcorn kernels
- Wheat
Bird Pellets
Parakeet pellets are a blend of an all-around balanced diet for parakeets. These are great options to feed wild parakeets and pets as well.
Parakeet pellets may not be as tempting as a fresh feed of fruits, veggies, nuts, or seeds. But they give an essential nutrient-rich diet to parakeets.
Hard-boiled Eggs
Eggs are the main source of proteins. Like all birds, parakeets need protein in their regular diet. You can serve a hard-boiled unseasoned egg to your parakeets occasionally. This will maintain their healthy growth and development.
Cooked Meat
Meat is another excellent source of protein for parakeets. Meat is a delicious and healthy addition to the parakeet’s food. Always serve fully cooked and unseasoned meat to parakeets.
Can Parakeets Eat Bread?
A simple answer is yes. Bread is safe for parakeets. But it’s not a recommended diet. Only whole grain bread is considered a tasty and good diet option for parakeets.
Always ensure bread is freshly baked multi-grain and has no harmful preservatives and added sugar or salt. Can baby birds eat bread?
Can Parakeets Eat Wild Bird Food?
Parakeets can safely eat wild bird food because wild bird feeding patterns are dependent on seasonal veggies, fruits, and wild seeds. So there’s no harm in it. You can also attract some wild parakeets by serving some quality feed for them.
Final Thoughts
Parakeets are not selective when it comes to their eating behavior. They are capable of eating different types of foods that they can easily consume through their beaks. But there are several foods that parakeets can not eat.
These foods are toxic to their health, and some foods may cause death. It is advised not to feed them any food which is mentioned above as harmful to them.
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