Knowing what to feed your parrot is an essential part of keeping her as pet as well as bonding with them. Sometimes we worry about the type of food to give them and most especially when working with fruits.
When I first brought my parrot home, I was told by her initial caregiver that fruits and vegetables are essential to a parrot’s diet. I decided to do my research on the types of fruits that I needed to feed her and whether watermelon was a great selection.
Can parrots eat watermelon? This is a definite yes! Watermelon is one of the safe fruits that you can offer to your parrot. Parrots usually eat the seeds first then the rest of the fruit. It is important that you remove the rind to ensure that you do not expose your parrot to pesticides and other potential issues.
It is also advisable however to remove the seeds and soak them overnight so they can become soft and easy for your parrot to feed on them.
Watermelon provides nutritional value to your parrot when coupled up with different types of fruits and vegetables. They boost your parrot’s immunity and health which can even define their level of activity.
What nutrients do watermelons provide your parrot?
Watermelons come loaded with fibers, which work great for your parrot’s digestive tract. Watermelon provides a high nutritional value to your parrot.
When feeding your parrot watermelon, they are guaranteed of benefiting from high levels of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and a limited number of calories.
Choline: Watermelon contains this water-soluble vitamin which is known to aid in learning, muscle movement, maintaining the cellular structure memory and reducing inflammation.
Amino acid L-citrulline: This amino acid is contained in watermelon and it helps in improving and recovery of the muscle of soreness.
Vitamin A:Â This vitamin in watermelons aid in the production of feathers for your parrot.
Vitamin C: This an antioxidant found in the melon that helps with skin health as well as boosting immunity which is very essential for your parrot.
Potassium: This is an essential mineral contained in the watermelon that will provide your parrot with the means to control blood pressure and improve their general heart health.
Other nutrients found in watermelon in small quantities that work for your parrot are:
- Iron
- Thiamine
- Riboflavin
- Magnesium
- Phosphorous
- Manganese
- Calcium
Nutritional facts of watermelon:
A full cup of diced watermelon making for 152 grams provides:
- 43 calories
- 0 grams of fat
- 2ml of sodium
- 11g of carbohydrates
- 1g of fiber
- 17% vitamin A
- 21% vitamin C
- 2% iron
- 1% calcium
It is important that you check on the sugar content that you are feeding your parrot. Lots of sugar in their diet is not good for their health. Ensure that this is well regulated to be on the safe side.
Additionally, we recommend reading our two articles below on pretty common fruits with high sugar content:
How can you serve watermelon to your parrot?
Parrots enjoy eating the seeds of watermelon. It is advisable that you soak this for them overnight so it can be easy for them to peck them. When feeding them, ensure that you remove the rind for them to avoid them coming into contact with pesticides.
You can chop the watermelon into small pieces to help reduce the mess they create while eating the watermelon. Chopping helps reduce the surface area and makes it easy for them.
You should, however, be ready to do some cleaning after your bird has had enough of the watermelon. If your parrot has not finished eating the fruit after two hours, it is recommended that you withdraw this to help prevent bacteria that can be harmful to your parrot.
Can parrots have watermelon juice?
Definitely! You can give your parrot watermelon juice! They actually enjoy this. You can serve this with a piece of the fruit.
How can you avoid pesticides being ingested by your parrot?
The watermelon you are feeding your parrot is most likely to have pesticides used during its growth process. This is why it is advisable to remove the rind before feeding your parrot the watermelon.
The rind usually has a waxy coating used in the preservation of the fruit while transporting it. The rind could also potentially contain pesticides which are harmful to your parrot. Do not offer the rind to your bird as a safety precaution.
However, those who choose to feed their parrot the watermelon with the rind. You should thoroughly wash your watermelon before feeding them. Alternatively, you can choose to feed your parrot watermelon that has been organically grown.
How much watermelon should I feed my parrot?
It is recommended that you feed parrots at least two times a day. How much you need to feed your parrot is dependent on the parrot species you keep.
Parrots such as macaws need one and a half cups of fruits as well as vegetables on a daily basis and the smaller species of parrots such as lories need an only ¾ cup.
Fruits that are not safe for your parrot
It is important to note that there are fruits that are not suitable for your parrot. These are inclusive of:
Avocados
You should avoid feeding them avocados especially the pit and skin which happen to be the most toxic parts of the fruit.
Rhubarb
This is another one that you should totally avoid. It has oxalic acid a poisonous substance for birds.
You should also avoid giving your parrot the seeds of the following fruits:
Apricots, cherries, peaches, plums, apples, and nectarines. They contain small quantities of a poisonous substance and since parrots are small in size, it is easy to be affected even by ingesting small quantities of the seeds of the fruit.
Related Questions
Can birds eat watermelon rind? Some people actually give this to their birds to nibble at. It is however recommended to remove this before you offer the same to your bird. The rind usually has a waxy coating used in the preservation of the fruit. The rind could also potentially contain pesticides which are harmful to your parrot.
Can parakeets eat watermelon? Yes, they can! Giving your parakeet fresh fruits is one way of meeting their nutritional needs. Watermelons are a favorite for parakeets and they provide them with nutrients such as vitamin C. You should feed this to your parakeet at least once a day or interchange that with another fruit.
Can parrots eat strawberries? Parrots enjoy eating strawberries. They provide your parrot with vitamins C and other minerals. The only downside to feeding your parrot strawberries is contamination. It is estimated that strawberries have triple the amount of pesticides found in other fruits.
Can Indian ringnecks eat watermelon? Yes, they do! Indian ringnecks love a variety of seasonal fruits inclusive of watermelons. It is important however to limit the amount of watermelon they take depending on their size.
Thank you this was a good refresher for me. I have had an Amazon (yellow naped) for 26 years his name is Nihi. He is painting with watermelon as I type. Thank you again.