Understanding your parakeets’ diet is key to keeping them as healthy as possible. If you have a basic understanding of pet birds, you’re aware that they eat pellet and seed mixes as their food base, but can parakeets eat fruit and other fresh human foods? Yes, they can! You can supplement your parakeets’ diet with a variety of fresh vegetables and fruits.
When offering your parakeet fruits, you will want to ensure you’re feeding your parrakeet the correct fruits, as not all of them will be suitable for their consumption. The right fruits can provide wonderful health benefits, as they are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. We’ve put together a list of acceptable fruits for parakeets and some information about each one below.
The 19 Fruits Parakeets Can Eat
1. Apples
Apples are safe for parakeets and are among their favorite fruits. You’ll want to cut the pieces small enough for them to eat comfortably. You cannot feed a parakeet an apple with seeds in it. Apple seeds are toxic to parakeets because they contain amygdalin, a compound that converts into cyanide once it enters the intestine.
2. Apricots
Apricots, like apples, can make a great snack for your parakeet as long as you remove the pit. The pit is toxic to parakeets but the apricots themselves can be a healthy inclusion to a well-balanced diet.
3. Bananas
Bananas don’t pose the risks that some other fruits do, since they are seedless. Bananas are pretty big for parakeets, so it’s advised that you cut them into small, more manageable pieces.
4. Blackberries
Blackberries are a perfect-sized fruit for a parakeet. They do have seeds, but they are not toxic to birds and pass well through their digestive systems.
5. Blueberries
Blueberries are one of the best fruits you could feed your parakeet. They are healthy, contain no toxic pits or seeds, and are the perfect size for them. Bonus, parakeets love them!
6. Cherries
Cherries are a great source of potassium, copper, vitamin A as well as antioxidants. They are easy to serve as long as they do not contain the pits, like some of the other fruits on this list, the pits are toxic and a choking hazard and should not be offered to your parakeet.
7. Coconut
Coconuts are a healthy, enjoyable snack for parakeets. They are rich in magnesium, iron, and other vitamins and minerals that are great for your bird.
8. Grapes
Another parakeet favorite is grapes. Grapes are a great source of vitamin K and copper. You’ll want to make sure they’re seedless, but that’s not too difficult as seedless grapes are readily available at grocery stores.
9. Grapefruit
Grapefruits make a good source of vitamin C and a wide range of phytonutrients. You need to remove the seeds before serving.
10. Mandarin Oranges
Another great source of vitamin C is mandarin oranges. Again, remove these seeds since they contain cyanide-producing compounds once digested. Break them small enough pieces for your parakeet and it makes a great snake.
11. Oranges
Similar to the mandarin oranges, a navel orange will make a great snack as well. The seeds have the same cyanide-producing compound and will need to be discarded before serving.
12. Mango
Mangos are filled with plenty of vitamin C and vitamin A. You’ll want to remove the pit even though it is not toxic. They are just large and it’s pointless to offer it along with the mango.
13. Melons
Melons are a very nutritious fruit that is full of vitamin C and vitamin A. They make a great snack for parakeets.
14. Peaches
Peaches are another great source of vitamin C and vitamin A. This is another fruit with a toxic pit that needs to be removed before serving. Make sure to cut the peaches into smaller, more bite-sized pieces.
15. Pears
Pears are a great source of fiber for parakeets. You’ll want to remove the skin before serving since it’s not ideal for them to digest. Remove all seeds as well, they have similar toxicity as the other fruit seeds and must be avoided.
16. Pineapple
Pineapples are also a very good source of vitamin C and various B vitamins. It’s a must that you remove the outer skin of the pineapple, it is too tough for the parakeet to penetrate. Once you have it skinned, cut it up into bite-sized pieces.
17. Plums
Plums are very nutritious fruits for parakeets and contain a great amount of vitamin C and fiber. Again, the pits are toxic as well and will turn to cyanide in the digestive system.
18. Strawberries
Strawberries are a great fruit to add to a parakeet’s diet. They will enjoy the taste and will get the needed health benefits that strawberries offer.
19. Watermelon
Watermelons are a great source of vitamin C and lycopene. It’s best to get a seedless watermelon or ensure that you remove all the seeds in a seeded one. These seeds are not toxic but pose a large choking hazard to your bird.
Can Parakeets Eat Dried Fruit?
Parakeets can eat dried fruit, but it does depend greatly on how the dried food is prepared. Some dried fruits contain a sulfur coating that acts as a preservative to prevent bacteria and molds from growing on them. While human digestive systems can handle these preservatives, parakeets cannot.
You could choose to dry your fruit at home by using a dehydrator or opt for dried fruits made specifically for birds that can be found in pet stores and online. It’s best to go this route rather than having to worry about sulfur in dried fruits meant for humans. If you do buy dried fruit from your local grocery store, make sure to check the label.
Conclusion
Fruits and vegetables combined will only make up about 20% to 25% of a parakeet’s diet. Now that you have a good understanding of the fruits that parakeets can eat and the precautions to take when doing so, you can implement them into the fresh food portion of their diet.
Featured Image Credit: Roi Shomer, Shutterstock
