Guava, a tropical fruit that grows in humid countries are very similar to pears only with some added crunch to them. They have a sweet tropical taste to them making you feel like you’re on your summer holidays after only one bite.
This article isn’t about us though it’s about our feathered friends. Parrots need a well balanced and varied died that includes pelleted foods, nuts, seeds along with fresh fruits and vegetables. However does this mean all fruits like guava are safe for our parrots to eat? Let’s find out.
Can parrots eat guava? Yes parrots can eat guava infact it’s encouraged that you feed it to them as a parrot parent. All parts of the guava are edible however due to the bitter taste of the skin parrots may not enjoy it as much as the flesh or seeds. Guava contains vitamin A, C, fiber, potassium, iron, calcium and antioxidants that make it a safe yummy fruit for your parrot to enjoy.
In this article I’m going to explain why guava is so healthy for birds, can they eat the seeds and some other things you should be aware of before you serve it to your parrot so read on!
Guava Benefits For Parrots
We know is good for our Parrots, but just how good is it? Let’s take a closer look at the nutritional content.
One whole guava contains:
| Calories | 31 |
| Protein | 1g |
| Sugar | 5g |
| Carbs | 8g |
| Fat | 1g |
| Fiber | 3g |
Vitamin A
Guava is full of vitamin A, a vitamin important for bone health, eye health, vision and keeps your parrots skin healthy and youthful.
Other health benefits of vitamin A include :
- Helps with hearing
- It’s also an antioxidant that can reduce the risk of cancer and disease
- Important for a parrots immune system
- Allows for proper functioning of mucus membranes
Broccoli, carrots, sweet potatoes and mango are all different sources of vitamin A that are safe to feed your parrot.
Vitamin C
A vitamin crucial for so many roles inside your parrots body with the main one being boosting their immune system. Vitamin C is also known for it’s antioxidant properties. This means it helps protect the body against cell damage caused by free radicals.
Free radicals are unstable atoms that cause harm in the body and if they build up enough can cause age related illness like cancer or brain diseases.
Vitamin C also plays a role in :
- Washing heavy metals out of the body
- Anti-inflammatory
- Prevents cholesterol from oxidizing and removes plaque from blood vessels
- Lowers blood pressure
However vitamin C doesn’t work on it’s own you need to be feeding your parrot a variety of different healthy foods so they get other vitamins and nutrients as they need each other to work efficiently.
Foods that also contain vitamin C include tomatoes, kiwi, strawberries, cantaloupe, broccoli and kale are all safe alternatives to guava.
Fiber
Is your parrot constipated often? This means they likely aren’t getting enough fiber in their diet. Fiber works by softening stools for an easier passage through the digestive system.
Other health benefits of fiber :
- Weight maintainer – Foods with fiber are more filling so your parrot is less likely to overeat
- Helps control blood sugar levels
- Helps maintain great bowel health
- Lowers cholesterol
- May help you live longer
Lentils, kale, spinach, brussels sprouts, beets, carrots and raspberries also provide your parrot with an excellent source of fiber.
Potassium
Guava also contains some potassium an important mineral for reducing blood pressure and water retention. It’s known more importantly for aiding your parrot with muscle contractions, regulating their fluid balance and how their nerves send and receive signals.
Potassium is also linked to improved cardiovascular health.
Iron
Iron is important for treating anemia, a condition where the body has low levels of red blood cells. This can lead to increased fatigue, nausea and a fast heartbeat. It does this by forming hemoglobin, a red blood protein whose job it is to carry oxygen in the blood.
Iron is also important for :
- Regulation of body temperature
- Boosting the immune system
- Improved energy and focus
Nuts, dried fruit and leafy green vegetables like spinach are also great sources of iron that are safe to feed your parrot.
Calcium
Calcium is important for many things in your parrots body with a big one being the health of parrot eggs, this comes as no surprise because they are made up of around 97% calcium.
It also plays a role in many other functions like :
- The functioning of the skeletal structure
- Supports muscle movement
- Fat metabolism and blood clotting
- Nerve signals
- Hormone secretion
Seeds, lentils, almonds, spinach and kale also contain that much needed calcium you can give to your parrot.
Can Parrots Eat Guava Seeds?
Yes parrots can eat guava seeds and they are actually one of the most nutritious parts of the fruit, it’s just a matter of if your parrot likes them or not due to the bitterness.
Guava seeds are full of antioxidants, fiber and potassium. They have also been studied to lower blood pressure and help with constipation.
Can Parrots Eat Guava Skin?
The skin is where a lot of the nutrients in guava are contained, however just like seeds guava skin is quite bitter and your parrot might not like it. Don’t worry if they don’t there is still enough goodness inside the flesh for them to reap the health benefits.
How You Should Feed Guava To Your Parrot
All parrots are different and have preferences just like us humans so you’ll need to find out which way your bird prefers. You have a few options.
Option #1 : Cut the guava into little slices and let them eat away.
Option #2 : Slice the guava into two so they have a bigger portion to choose from.
Option #3 : If you’re struggling to get your parrot to eat guava you can cut it up and throw it into a fruit salad with other fruits that you know they do like.
What Other Foods Can Your Parrot Eat?
You know guava 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!
Guava For Parrots – Final Thoughts
Guava is a delicious and nutritious exotic treat your parrot can reap the benefits from. They can eat the whole fruit – flesh, seeds and skin included as there are no toxins that are life threatening to your parrot. As guava is a fruit it shouldn’t play a big part in your birds diet as they should only make up around 20% of a parrots diet.
I hope you’ve found this article useful and your parrot enjoys a new addition to their diet!
Related reading : Can parrots eat pineapple?