Most cockatiel owners want to provide their pets with the best diet possible to stay healthy and happy. One of the most frequent questions we get asked is which fruits are safe to offer cockatiels. While there are a host of fruits you can provide your bird friend, in this article, we’re answering the question of mangoes. When it comes to offering this tasty tropical stone fruit to your pet, we have good news: your cockatiel can eat mango, but there are some things to consider before you feed it to them. If you are looking to expand your pet’s diet, keep reading while we look at the benefits and hazards of adding mango to your cockatiel’s diet.
The 2 Reasons Mango Is Bad for Cockatiels
1. Sugar
Mango has quite a bit of sugar at 24 grams per cup, so you need to be sure to limit portion sizes. Too much sugar can lead to several health problems, including diabetes.
2. Pesticides
The mango is quite low in pesticides compared to several other fruits, including the strawberry. However, even a small amount can harm your bird, so we recommend washing them well with a fruit brush before serving them. Removing the skin is even better, as your cockatiel probably doesn’t like it as much as the fruit anyway.
The 5 Reasons Mango Is Good for Cockatiels
1. Low in Calories
Mango is low in calories and has only 107 per cup. Low calories mean that it is less likely to contribute to weight gain, leading to other problems, including heart disease and liver disease.
2. Vitamin A
Mango provides your pet with plenty of vitamin A at more than 1,200 IU per serving. Many birds that primarily eat seeds can suffer from a vitamin A deficiency, which can cause health problems, resulting in white spots on the face and mouth that can become infected. Untreated, it can progress until it becomes difficult for your bird to breathe and often results in death. While captive, pet birds fed a healthy diet are unlikely to suffer from a vitamin A deficiency. Foods like mango are welcome additions to the diet that will help ensure it.
3. Vitamin C
Mangos contain 45 mg of vitamin C in each one-cup serving. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps remove toxins while boosting the immune system to help prevent the onset of disease. It’s non-toxic, and your pet should get as much as it can.
4. Other Vitamins and Minerals
There are several other vitamins and minerals present in mango as well, including vitamins K and B6. Minerals like potassium, magnesium, and calcium help promote strong bones and good health. While there are only trace amounts of these minerals, they are not common to many other foods in the cockatiel diet, so it’s always a good idea to provide them to your pet.
5. Fiber
One cup of mangos contains about 3 grams of fiber. Fiber helps balance your pet’s digestive system and energizes the good bacteria in the lower gastrointestinal tract, which helps your pet expel waste faster.
How Do I Feed My Cockatiel Mango?
How Much Mango Should My Cockatiel Eat?
Most experts recommend that 60% to 70% of your pet’s diet should consist of commercial cockatiel food to ensure that your pet is getting the nutrients it requires to stay healthy. Another 20% to 25% of the bird’s diet should consist of fresh fruit and vegetables, with the remaining percentage can be filled with treats. We should point out that many people consider fruit a treat because it contains quite a bit of sugar.
We recommend limiting portion size to no more than ⅛ of a mango every few days so there is plenty of room for other fruits to give your pet plenty of variety to keep your pet happy.
Feeding your cockatiels the wrong mixture of seeds can be dangerous to their health, so we recommend checking with an expert resource like The Ultimate Guide to Cockatiels, available on Amazon.
This excellent book will help you balance your cockatiels’ food sources by understanding the value of different seed types, dietary supplements, fruits and vegetables, and cuttlebone. You’ll also find tips on everything from housing to health care!
What Other Fruits Can I Feed My Cockatiel?
Your cockatiel can eat a wide range of fruits, including apples, apricots, cherries, pears, and bananas. It can also eat a wide range of berries, including blueberries, strawberries, and cranberries. Cockatiels like a variety of colorful foods, so the more fruits you can add, the better.
Summary
Your cockatiel can eat mango, and it provides your pet with plenty of high-quality nutrients. Some of which are rare in their diet. Vitamin C will help boost the immune system, and vitamin A will help prevent dangerous health conditions. Mango adds color to the diet, and most cockatiels seem to enjoy the flavor. It’s a little high in sugar, so you will need to limit your portion size and frequency.
We hope you have enjoyed reading over this short guide and found the answers you needed. If we have helped you provide more variety to your pet’s diet, please share our look into if cockatiels can eat mango on Facebook and Twitter.
Featured Image Credit by Piqsels
