A Parrots diet is the backbone of it’s life and how healthy and happy the bird is going to be so it’s crucial for you as a Parrot parent to make sure your birds diet is full of quality foods that your Parrot can benefit from.
Fruit is one thing that should feature in your Parrots diet as they contain many antioxidants, vitamins and nutrients. Speaking of, I was snacking on some pomegranate the other day and with many things I wondered could my Parrot eat this? This got my researching and I’ve decided to put all my findings into this complete guide where you can find out everything about pomegranates for Parrots.
So the million dollar question… can Parrots eat pomegranate? Yes Parrots can eat pomegranate. It’s a great source of fiber for birds, along with providing vitamin K, vitamin E, vitamin B6 and potassium. All these things combined make pomegranate a great fruit for your Parrot to enjoy.
Pomegranate Benefits For Parrots
We know pomegranate is good for our Parrots, but just how good? Let’s take a closer look at the nutritional values.
Half of a pomegranate is one serving and contains
| Calories | 64 |
| Protein | 1g |
| Carbs | 14g |
| Sugar | 11g |
| Fat | 1>g |
| Fiber | 3g |
Fiber
Pomegranate contains fiber, a type of carbohydrate that the body can’t digest, this in turn helps mainly with your parrots digestive system among other things. Health benefits of fiber include :
- Helps maintain a healthy weight
- Helps control blood sugar levels
- Helps with bowel movements
- Help maintain bowel health
- May help you live longer
Other foods that are high in fiber similar to pomegranate are pears, strawberries, apples, raspberries and bananas.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is important for helping your parrots immune system and boosting their recovery from illness and things like wounds.
Along with these vitamin C is necessary for :
- Repair, growth and development of body tissue
- Helps your parrot absorb iron
- Important for cardiovascular health
- Keeps your parrots skin healthy
Vitamin C can also be found in potatoes, broccoli, brussels sprouts and peppers.
Folate
Folate is also in pomegranate, it’s an essential B vitamin important for producing red and white blood cells. It can also help with :
- Brain function
- Cardiovascular health
- Inflammation
Vitamin K
Vitamin K is the mineral that’s responsible for blood clotting, what this means is if your parrot gets a cut, vitamin K will make it heal quicker and bleed less. It also helps your parrot with regulating their blood calcium levels along with bone metabolism.
It’s typically found in leafy green vegetables like kale or spinach.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E has antioxidant properties. In the body there are unstable atoms called free radicals, these substances damage cells causing disease and illness. Antioxidants neutralize these free radicals to prevent any harm being done.
Vitamin B6
Sometimes called pyridoxine, this group of vitamins has many bodily functions like the creation of red blood cells and neurotransmitters.
This can act as a mood booster for your parrot as neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin are neurotransmitters responsible for making your parrot feel happy.
Foods high in vitamin B6 that you can also safely add to your parrots diet are bananas, papayas, cantaloupe and oranges.
Potassium
If your parrot isn’t getting enough potassium in their diet then they may experience high blood pressure, as one of the things potassium does is lowers it. It also regulates heartbeat meaning your birds heart will keep a steady rhythm.
Both of these things together make potassium well needed for your parrots overall cardiovascular health.
Potassium also ensures proper muscle and nerve function, along with metabolizing carbohydrates and synthesizing protein.
Can Parrots Eat Pomegranate Seeds?
Yes parrots can have pomegranate seeds, parrots love them and they actually contain many health benefits packed inside. Let’s find out more.
Pomegranate seeds contain a high number of antioxidants. These substances work in the body to prevent inflammation and cancer due to harmful substances called free radicals.
The seeds are also rich in fiber so if you want your parrot to get the benefits of a healthier digestive system explained above then feeding a couple of seeds will do the job.
Pomegranate seeds are perfectly safe for your parrot to have and I recommend you feed them to your feathered friend – in moderation of course like anything.
Can Parrots Drink Pomegranate Juice?
Pomegranate juice can be a nice way to give your parrot quality nutrients and vitamins all while hydrating them at once. However it’s important to make sure the juice you buy is no added sugar, or even better you blend some pomegranate up yourself and blend it so you know there are no added sugars or additives.
What Other Foods Can Your Parrot Eat?
You know pomegranate 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!
Pomegranate For Parrots – Final Thoughts
Pomegranate is one of the healthiest foods you can feed to your parrot and it’s for good reason. The vitamins, minerals and nutrients make it obvious why. Like most foods though moderation is important so you’ll need other fruits and vegetables in their diet to get a variety of different benefits. I hope your parrot enjoy this delicious new addition to their diet!