Are you one of the strawberries lover who thought to share these delicious red berries with your parrot and then got worried if it’s safe or not? Do not get worried as we are going to discuss today in detail if parrots can eat strawberries and all risks associated with them.
Short Answer:
The answer to the question is Yes, parrots can eat strawberries and they receive a lot of nutrients from this fruit such as vitamin C, K, magnesium, and other antioxidants however there are a variety of risks associated with them which you should know.
Nutritional Value of Strawberries
As you know strawberries are safe to feed to your parrots as it contains a good amount of natural vitamins which are vitamin C, and K, and other nutrients which boost their immune system.
The main strawberry contents are 91% of water, 7.7% of carbohydrates, 0.3% of fat, and 0.7% of protein.
The nutrients of 100 gm of raw strawberries are:
• Calories: 32
• Water: 91%
• Protein: 0.7 grams
• Carbs: 7.7 grams
• Sugar: 4.9 grams
• Fiber: 2 grams
• Fat: 0.3 grams
Other nutrients like Iron, copper, phosphorous, and potassium are also found in strawberries which are the key factor of Good health for your parrots.
How to Serve Strawberries to your Parrots?
In the wild, parrots get aware of a variety of fruits and vegetables while searching for food but it is different for captive parrots as they are only aware of the food that they have been served by the owner.
Your parrots will like the taste of strawberries and receive a variety of nutrients as mentioned above however if your pet has not tasted them before then you will have to introduce this fruit to him and that can be tricky sometimes. Strawberries can be served to parrots in a variety of forms such as Fresh, Dried, or Juice.
Can Parrots Eat Dried Strawberries
You can serve dried strawberries to your parrots but do remember that sugar content is concentrated in dried fruits which can harm your bird. Some parrots like their strawberries as dried but make sure to give them these as a treat like once a week or month.
Some parrots do not like fresh strawberries therefore you can offer them dried strawberries.
Can Parrots Eat Fresh Strawberries
Parrots can eat fresh strawberries if they are familiar with the fruit but if you are just introducing this fruit first time to your parrot then be cautious to discard the uneaten strawberry as bacteria and fungus can attack it.
I offered some fresh strawberries to my parrots in the feed mix and some liked them and finished their bowls while others left them untouched.
Can Parrots have Strawberries Juice
Try to avoid serving strawberry juice to your parrots as it will contain a lot of sugar content and this can harm your parrot.
Is Strawberry Bad for Parrots?
Strawberries are home to pests therefore you need to wash the fruit thoroughly before offering it to your parrots.
Sugar: It is not a good idea to serve strawberries to parrots daily, remember strawberry is not a form of food or necessary for parrots as it’s a treat, and this can only be served once or twice a week.
Strawberries contain sugar which can cause allergic problems to the parrots if you feed them in excessive amounts. Try to give other fruits as well so they can take other nutrients too.
Limited Amount: Always serve a small amount of strawberry to the parrot so it can finish it otherwise the parrot will create a mess and bacteria will attack the remaining part of the strawberry. Bacteria will affect the immune system of a parrot and as a result of bacteria attacks your parrot might be at risk of diarrhea and allergies.
Can Budgies Eat Strawberries
Budgies need to develop their liking for a fruit or vegetable same as humans. Some of my budgies liked the strawberries when I offered them in a feed mix whereas some liked to eat them as dry.
Remember the size of the parrot as small species of parrots will have a small portion of the fruit while big species such as Macaw, cockatoo, and Amazon Parrot will have big portions of the fruit.
Can Cockatiels Eat Strawberries
Yes, Cockatiels eat strawberries and they easily develop the taste for strawberries, this is what I learned so far however I do not recommend offering food that your cockatiels do not like.
Can Lovebirds Eat Strawberries
Yes, lovebirds eat strawberries which I confirmed by surveying my fellow aviculturist aviaries and I saw that their lovebirds liked eating strawberries while 40% of them refused to touch them. If I talk about my lovebirds, they tried it a bit and then leave it.
Can African Grey Parrots Eat Strawberries
Yes, African grey parrots eat strawberries but same like other parrots who have not developed the tastebuds for this fruit may refuse to eat it as mine does. Sometimes you would have to offer them in different forms such as drying them first in a dehydrator before introducing them.
Final Words
Strawberries are a good source of nutrients for parrots but there are some risks attached to them as discussed above. I would recommend introducing fruits to your parrots however if they are reluctant to eat them then do not push them to have strawberries as they receive all the nutrients from other diets as well.
