Your parrots diet is going to be the foundation upon how healthy a life they have. This is also going to be in your hands because you as the owner are responsible as to what your parrot will eat on a daily basis. The current recommendation by board-certified avian veterinarians who study avian nutrition is that pellets should make up 50-70 percent of a parrot’s diet, preferably ones that don’t contain sugar or dyes.
The remaining percentage should be filled with fresh organic foods like raw or steamed vegetables, along with a smaller percentage being filled by fresh fruits and nuts.
But are all vegetables suitable for your parrot? What about cabbage?
Can parrots eat cabbage? Yes parrots can eat cabbage it’s perfectly safe for them to do so and won’t harm your pet. Not only are parrots allowed to eat cabbage but it’s actually encouraged you feed it to them, this is because cabbage is an excellent source of fiber, vitamin K, vitamin C and many other wonderful things.
In this article I’m going to outline the benefits of cabbage, if parrots can eat raw cabbage and many other things so read on!
Cabbage Benefits For Parrots
We know cabbage is good for our Parrots, but just how good is it? Let’s take a closer look at the nutritional content.
In fact, just 1 cup (89 grams) of raw green cabbage contains :
| Calories | 17 |
| Protein | 1g |
| Carbs | 4g |
| Sugar | 2g |
| Fiber | 1g |
Vitamin C
Vitamin C plays a large role within Parrots it has many benefits like boosting immune system, lowering blood pressure, keeps the cardiovascular system in check by cleaning plaque from your birds blood vessels and keeping cholesterol from oxidizing among many other things.
However the problem? Parrot utilize a lot of vitamin C just from being alive so it’s important to feed them foods rich in vitamin C like cabbage to counter this.
Other foods that provide an excellent source of vitamin C for your Parrot are :
Vitamin K
Along with vitamin C, cabbage is an excellent source of vitamin K. This is essential in any Parrots diet as it’s essential for synthesis of prothrombin, this means it helps fight against blood clotting along with making your birds bones stronger. Vitamin K also provides additional support to your Parrots immune and regulatory system.
Deficiency in vitamin K can lead to an increase of blood spots in eggs, hemorrhages in the legs and breast along with blood clots so it’s vital your Parrot gets enough vitamin K in his or her diet!
Fiber
Another thing that makes cabbage such a good food for your parrot is the fiber content. Fiber is responsible for normalizing bowel movements. This gives your parrot a much less chance of becoming constipated. It does this by increasing the weight and size of the stool, making it easier to pass through your parrots digestive system.
Fiber also helps with weight maintenance meaning the more fiber in your parrots diet the less likely they will get fat. This is because foods with high fiber tend to be more filling than foods low in fiber. Therefore making your parrot full for longer.
Along with helping bowel movements fiber also aids in bowel health. A high fiber diet plays a part in reducing the risk of your parrots developing hemorrhoids.
Calcium
Parrots need calcium in their diet as it’s vital for 400 of their body functions, yes 400! Luckily cabbage contains some calcium. It also :
- Helps build and maintain the skeletal structure
- Support proper muscle movement
- Plays a role in how nerves transmit message to the body.
- Prevents blood clotting
- Plays a big role in the functioning of enzymes, egg shell formation and fat metabolism.
With all these things that calcium plays a part in it’s vital your parrot receives enough of it.
How You Should Cabbage Feed To Your Parrot
Before preparation it’s important to clean your cabbage to rid it of any possible dirt that could get your parrot ill.
Taking your cabbage, place it underneath the running water. Using your hands or a vegetable scrubber, gently start scrubbing the cabbage. Make sure to leave no space uncleaned. Also make sure not to miss cleaning the inside as well. Sometimes dirt can be hidden deep within so make sure to be thorough. When finished cleaning, pat down dry with a paper towel.
You can give cabbage to your parrot raw or cooked both are safe for your bird to eat. However raw cabbage does contain oxalic acid which effects absorption of calcium although if your bird doesn’t have low calcium levels or is laying eggs then they will be fine.
Are There Any Risks To Feeding Your Parrot Cabbage?
The good news is cabbage won’t pose any life threatening risks to your parrot as it contains no toxins.
However there are two minor risks you should be aware of.
- Feeding raw cabbage to your parrot if they have low calcium levels or are laying eggs. This is because raw cabbage contains oxalic acids which effects the consumption of calcium.
- Not washing the cabbage properly if you are going to give it to your parrot raw. Unwashed cabbage can contain some dirt that may make your parrot sick if not cleaned properly.
What Other Foods Can Your Parrot Eat?
You know cabbage is 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!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Birds Have Raw Cabbage?
Yes birds can have raw cabbage and it’s safe for them to eat. The only condition your bird shouldn’t have raw cabbage is when they have low calcium levels or are laying eggs.
Cabbage For Parrots – Final Thoughts
Cabbage makes an excellent food for parrots to benefit from. Remember the higher quality diet your parrot has, the better of quality of life they will also have.
Ultimately as their parent it’s up to you so research what you feed them and try to give them the best quality nutrition that they deserve. Cabbage is one of these foods as it’s full of vitamins and nutrients that your parrot will thank you for. I hope your parrot enjoys their new snack!