Feed What’s Best: Bird-Safe Fruits & Vegetables

Fruits are nature’s candy, and you hold the keys to the candy store. First rule: Do not feed your pet bird the seeds or pits from fruits. They contain toxins that could lead to health issues such as heart complications. Just like with vegetables, limit the amount of iron-rich fruits you give your pet. Despite these precautions, there are plenty of fruits we consider bird safe:

• Apples (skinned)
• Berries – this includes strawberries, blueberries and raspberries.
• Cantaloupe
• Cherries
• Grapes – not too many because the high water content could cause diarrhea.
• Honeydew
• Nectarines
• Oranges, Lemons & Other Citrus Fruits – but don’t overdo it because of their high acidity levels which may cause intestinal issues.
• Peaches
• Pineapples
• Plums
• Watermelon – only in moderation because the high water content can lead to diarrhea.

While nothing’s too good for your beaked bestie, certain fruits and vegetables may be too rich in iron for them. The iron itself isn’t what’s dangerous; however, eating foods with vitamin A and C increases the absorption of iron. Too much iron can lead to iron storage disease which can cause lung damage or even paralysis. If you’re going to give them an iron-rich food, feed it in moderation. With that in mind, here are some vegetables that are generally bird safe:

• Broccoli – only in limited amounts due to broccoli’s high iron content.
• Carrots
• Dandelion Greens – give only small amounts of this iron-rich food.
• Green Beans – another vegetable high in iron, so portion carefully.
• Hot Peppers – the capsaicin (what makes peppers spicy) has no effect on birds and is non-toxic to them.
• Peas – high iron content, so feed sparingly.
• Peppers – red, yellow, green and orange peppers are all good to give.
• Spinach – another high-iron vegetable you need to offer in moderation.
• Tomatoes – give red tomatoes now and then because of their high acidity levels (and avoid green tomatoes altogether).

If you see something on this list, eat it yourself but don’t give it to your pet bird:

• Avocados – highly toxic to birds and could cause all kinds of issues like heart failure and difficulty breathing.
• Bananas, Mangoes & Papayas – for several types of birds, the high iron and high amounts of vitamins A and/or C in these fruits are not a good combination for preventing iron storage disease.
• Iceberg Lettuce/Head Lettuce/Celery Stalks – way too much water content (think diarrhea) while offering little to no nutritional value.
• Leaves From Tomatoes, Peppers & Other Vegetables – could lead to kidney problems.
• Mushrooms – not all varieties are toxic to birds, but we believe it’s better to be safe than sorry.
• Onions & Garlic – can cause digestive issues including vomiting and diarrhea.

While food tolerances can be different between bird species, what’s same for all pet birds is you can’t be lazy about how you go about feeding them. This means:

• It’s best to serve bird-safe fruits and vegetables raw to maximize nutrition.
• Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly to remove any chemicals and pesticides.
• Cut up their fruits and vegetables into small, bite-sized pieces.
• Any fruit or vegetable not eaten after a few hours should be removed to help protect against spoilage.
• Give your bird fresh water every day.
• Clean your pet’s food and water bowls daily.
• Never, ever put their food at the bottom of the cage. You do not want any bird droppings making their way into their food.

When you’re a bird parent, you’re also a bird nutritionist and food cop. There are plenty of nutritious fruits and vegetables out there (and in your fridge) that are bird safe. Anything high in iron, water content or acidity should be given in moderation to prevent potential health problems. Different species of birds can react differently to the same foods, so you’ll need to do some homework. Follow these tips and you’ll have yourself quite the chirpy pet.