Parrots are like little children, in the sense that they will eat more or less anything you put out for them. This is why it’s important for you as a parrot parent to be knowledgeable about the foods that make up your birds diet. The fact you’ve landed on this page show that you care about your parrot and want to become more knowledgeable.
We know they like nuts but are all kinds of nuts safe for them to eat, which brings us to the main topic of this article… Brazil nuts. Are they safe for them? Let’s find out.
Can parrots eat Brazil nuts? Yes parrots can eat Brazil nuts, they are non-toxic for parrots and actually contain an impressive nutrition profile compared to how small they are. A list of the vitamins and nutrients are selenium, copper, magnesium, zinc, manganese and phosphorus. However like many nuts Brazil nuts are high in calories and fats so you shouldn’t give them to your parrot very often.
Brazil Nuts Benefits For Parrots
We know Brazil nuts are good for our parrots, but just how good are they? Let’s take a closer look at the nutritional content.
A 1-ounce (28-gram) serving of Brazil nuts contains the following :
| Calories | 187 |
| Protein | 4.1g |
| Carbs | 3.3g |
| Fat | 19g |
| Fiber | 2.1g |
Very High In Selenium
By far the most prominent mineral in Brazil nuts is selenium, a trace mineral needed for the immune system in your parrot.
Selenium is also an antioxidant, substances that prevent damage to the cells caused by free radicals. These are unstable atoms that cause age related illnesses like cancer.
Selenium also has positive effects on the cardiovascular system and improves cognitive function. Spinach, lentils, cashew nuts and bananas also have a good source of selenium.
Copper
Brazil nuts contain copper, a mineral that works in the body alongside iron to help create form red blood cells.
Other notable benefits of copper include :
- Healthy cholesterol and blood pressure levels
- Healthy bones
- Helps with your parrots blood vessels
- It aids with collagen production
Leafy greens, seeds and nuts can also be given as safe alternatives of copper.
Magnesium
Magnesium can be beneficial as a mood enhancer as it’s responsible for regulating neurotransmitters to send messages through the brain and your parrots body.
Magnesium is also important for the following :
- Muscle contractions
- Helps to create proteins from amino acids
- Converts food into energy
- Anti-inflammatory
- Lowers blood pressure
Bananas, nuts, spinach, kale, almonds and collard greens all contain a healthy source of magnesium if you want some other examples similar to Brazil nuts.
Zinc
One of the main benefits of zinc is the positive effects it has on your parrots immune system. It reduces oxidative stress put on the cells.
Zinc is also helpful for wound healing and can reduce the risk your parrot develops age related illness. This is due to it improving immune response and boosting the activity of T-cells which can help your parrot fight off infection and disease.
Many studies have also found zinc to be great for decreasing inflammation.
Foods high in zinc include :
- Lentils
- Seeds
- Nuts
- Meat
Manganese
Brazil nuts contain manganese, which is important for helping your parrot absorbing calcium efficiently. This is good so they don’t become deficient which can cause an array of problems like cardiovascular issues, poor feather quality and reduced cognitive function.
Your parrot also needs magnesium for :
- Carbohydrate and fat metabolism
- Blood sugar regulation
- Useful for blood clotting
- Helps them for connective tissue
If your looking for other foods high in manganese then pineapples, nuts, spinach, beans and sweet potatoes are all safe options to feed your parrot.
Phosphorus
Phosphorus is important for keeping your parrots bones strong and resilient, without enough of it they may be prone to breaks or fractures.
That’s not all as your parrot needs it for :
- Nervous system
- Muscle contractions
- Proper kidney function
- Helps keep a healthy heartbeat
How You Should Feed Brazil Nuts To Your Parrot
Parrots prefer Brazil nuts raw as they would be similar to how they eat nuts out in the wild. Cooking the nuts would also kill some of the quality nutrients inside that we have outlined above.
Also when cooked there tends to be things like salt and oil added to them which are going to be bad for your parrot.
Larger parrots will be able to handle Brazil nuts whole however smaller parrots should have them broken up a little as they are big and can be a choking hazard.
Are There Any Risks To Feeding Your Parrot?
Brazil nuts aren’t a perfect food and shouldn’t be too involved in your parrots diet. Like many nuts they are high in fats and calories that can have adverse effects on your parrots health.
Nuts are full of healthy fats too however they also contain fats that can bring negative effects to your parrot if consumed too regularly like unwanted weight gain or cardiovascular issues.
What Other Foods Can Your Parrot Eat?
You know Brazil nuts are safe for your parrot to eat but if you’re like me then your always looking for new foods to improve your parrots diet to create some variety and and include vital things that aren’t already in your birds diet.
So what other foods can your parrot eat?
- Fruit & Vegetables
Foods like asparagus, broccoli, carrots, peppers, bananas, blueberries and pineapples are all fine and encouraged for your Parrot to eat.
- Nuts
Things like almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, pistachios and walnuts can be fed to your parrot. Just be wary of the fat content in some of them so they may need to be treated as a snack for your Parrot. We don’t want them getting fat!
Brazil Nuts For Parrots – Final Thoughts
Brazil nuts as a whole are a safe non-toxic food that you can add to your parrots diet, but only in moderation due to the high salt and fat content. They are a great source of nutrition, particularly selenium when fed sparingly. The best way to feed them to your parrot is raw as this replicates the way they would have them in the wild and provides the best nutrition.
I hope you have found this article useful and your parrot enjoys all the benefits Brazil nuts can bring to them.