It is time to discuss the green round fruit with red watery and tasty pulp inside. Yes, you guessed it right. Watermelon is a low-calorie, delicious snack for us but can you offer this to your pet parrots or not?
Watermelon is a safe fruit for your parrots however it is better to avoid offering them the watermelon rind as it is sprayed with pesticides. Parrots love to eat this juicy and tasty fruit. My parrots usually dive into the pulp and then start munching on the seeds first.
Watermelon pulp and seeds are safe for your parrots. Watermelon rind is also safe if it has been grown organically.
Nutritional Value of Watermelon
Now you know that you can offer watermelon to your parrot as a treat and it is safe. Let us discuss its benefit for your parrots as well. Watermelon has got 90% of water content and it is packed with several nutrients along with vitamins A and C.
Watermelon is a booster pack for a parrot’s immune system. It helps in a variety of body functions for your pet birds such as,
Blood Regulation
Antioxidants such as L-citrulline are available in watermelon which smoothens the blood regulations and improves the functions of arteries.
Digestion
Watermelon is filled with fiber content which can help your bird’s digestive system.
Hydration
In summer, your parrots can get dehydrated and in this case, watermelon can keep them hydrated as it has a 90% watery content.
Nervous System
One more antioxidant is available in watermelon which is Choline. Choline improves the muscle movement, learning, and memory of the bird.
There are more nutrients available in watermelon that also help your bird’s body function.
Other nutrients that watermelon contains in 154 gm of serving:
Nutrient | Amount in 154 Grams of serving |
Calcium | 10.8 mg |
Fiber | 0.6 g |
Carbohydrate | 11.6 including 9.6g of sugar |
Phosphorus | 16.9 mg |
Magnesium | 15.4 mg |
Vitamin C | 12.5 mg |
Potassium | 172 mg |
Folate | 4.6 mcg |
Choline | 6.3 mg |
Vitamin A | 43.1 mcg |
Lutein & zeaxanthin | 12.3 mcg |
How to Serve Watermelon to your Parrots?
You can serve watermelon to your parrots in small slices or chop the slices to avoid mess. An ideal method to serve this fruit to your parrots can be,
- Remove the rind first
- Chop the pulp of the watermelon
- Serve the chops along with the seeds
Do not offer the rind as it can be coated with pesticides. You can only offer the rind if you are sure that the fruit has grown organically.
Is Watermelon Safe for Parrots?
Watermelon is the safest fruit for parrots and it gives healthy nutrients to your bird however you may notice that your pet bird is ejecting watery poop or red poop.
Do not worry though, this happens sometimes after your parrot has eaten watermelon but this will get back to normal in 3 – 4 hours.
This happens due to the fruit’s water content. Remember to feed watermelon in moderation and do not overfeed it to parrots. Feed it as a treat to your parrot as it has high sugar content as well.
Can Budgies Eat Watermelon?
My budgies say yes to watermelon every time I offer them. They love watermelon seeds and after they finish the seed they jump on the watery pulp which keeps them hydrated but I do not serve them regularly due to the sugar and watery content as it can cause diarrhea.
Can Lovebirds Eat Watermelon?
Lovebirds also love to eat watermelon, always remember to proportionate your lovebird’s diet as they are a small specie of parrot and should have a small portion of watermelon same goes for budgies.
Can Cockatiels Eat Watermelon?
I have heard that cockatiels are not great fans of fruit whereas my cockatiels like to eat watermelons in the summer. I have made a proportion of my cockatiels diet and approx. 20% diet is based on fruits.
Final Words
Watermelons are a great source of multi-nutrients and minerals. Keep this fruit as a one-off portion once a week in the summer to keep them hydrated. Watermelon can also provide a little portion of calcium as well to your pet birds.