Fruit and vegetables should make up around 15-20% of a parrots diet. However does this mean that all fruits and vegetables are safe for our feathered friends to eat? One of these fruits in question is the pineapple. It’s a tropical fruit with a sweet taste. However just because it’s a fruit does this make it suitable for our parrots to have? Let’s look into it further.
Can parrots eat pineapple? Yes parrots can eat pineapple, the sweet taste and excellent nutritional profile of pineapples make them a safe, delicious fruit to feed our parrots. Pineapple is a great source of potassium, riboflavin, magnesium, manganese and other antioxidants that make it a great choice to feed your parrot.
In this article I’m going to cover the benefits of pineapple, any risks and other important things you should know about feeding your parrot pineapple so read on in case you miss any vital information!
The Benefits Of Pineapple For Parrots
Fiber
Pineapple contains fiber, a macro-nutrient responsible for your parrots digestive and bowel health. It does this by preventing constipation and lowering the chances your bird gets hemorrhoids.
Fiber can also act as a weight maintainer. This means with enough fiber in your parrots diet it would be quite hard for them to get fat. This is due to foods high in fiber typically being more filling so it would be hard for your parrot to overeat.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is great for so many things in a parrots body but the bad thing? They use up a lot of it just by being alive so it’s important a parrots diet has enough vitamin C in it.
The benefits of vitamin C include :
- Controls blood pressure
- Boosts the immune system
- Washes heavy metals out of their system
- Regulates blood pressure
- It’s an antihistamine and anti-inflammatory
Other foods high in vitamin C that you can feed your parrot include broccoli, citrus fruits, strawberry and cantaloupe.
Manganese
Manganese is necessary for the formation of connective tissue, bones, blood clotting factors, and sex hormones in the body. It also aids fat and carbohydrate metabolism, calcium absorption, and blood sugar control. Manganese is also required for proper nerve and brain function.
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 is a great vitamin that helps with your parrots cardiovascular system, it’s also important for brain function and neurological systems.
Foods with a healthy dose of vitamin B6 include : carrots, salmon, potatoes and other starchy vegetables.
Can Parrots Drink Pineapple Juice?
It’s advised not to give parrots pineapple juice. This is because pineapple juice doesn’t offer the same nutritional values that fresh bits of pineapple offers. You may be asking why not? After all pineapple juice is still pineapple, right? Not quite. Pineapple juice is usually filled with additives and high amounts of sugar that can harm your parrot.
If you want to give your parrot pineapple juice you can blend up a fresh pineapple and give it to them. This way you know that there are no high amounts of sugar or other additives that will negatively impact the health of your parrot.
Can Parrots Eat The Core Of A Pineapple?
Surprisingly the core of a pineapple actually provides a lot of the nutrition we originally want to eat pineapple for. The core antioxidants like vitamin C that can boost parrots immune system and help fight against free radicals. If enough free radicals form in the body it can cause harm such as diseases like cancer so it’s important to feed your parrot foods like pineapple to combat this.
What Other Foods Can Your Parrot Eat?
You know pineapple 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 oranges 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 Conures Eat Pineapple?
Yes, Conures can eat pineapple. It’s a great source of vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, vitamin B6 and manganese and fiber.
Can African Grey’s Eat Pineapple?
Pineapple is safe for African Grey’s to eat. It’s a great source of vitamins, nutrients and antioxidants. Be sure to feed them fresh, organic pineapple as it provides the best nutrition.
Pineapple For Parrots – Final Thoughts
Pineapple is completely safe for your feathered friend to have in their diet. It comes with many nutritional benefits that will only improve your parrots quality of life. Just be sure to feed it to them in moderation as pineapple is high in natural sugars.
Also try to avoid pineapple juice and other sources of pineapple that don’t come directly from the fruit. Fresh organic pineapple is going to give your parrot the best nutrition and will contain no refined sugars that come with pineapple juice or tinned pineapple. I hope your parrot enjoys a new snack in their diet!