Can Cockatiels Eat Curry Leaves? Are They Toxic For Birds?

Curries are shunned by almost every bird forum as a strict no-go for pets. But what about curry leaves? Can cockatiels eat curry leaves, and if so, what restrictions should you be wary of? Let me fill you in!

Cockatiels are one of the most popular pet birds. They are both adorable and affectionate.

All they need in return is a simple mix of seeds, pellets, fresh fruits, and vegetables so that they can have a healthy diet.

But as bird owners, we need to be wary about everything our birds eat.

Spices are typically considered bad for most birds, so it is natural to ask: can cockatiels eat curry leaves?

The simple answer is yes; they can eat curry leaves. These beneficial leaves contain calcium, iron, Vitamin A, and Vitamin C, which are necessary for cockatiels.

However, like all good things, you should give curry leaves only in moderate quantities to them.

In this article, I will explain the benefits of curry leaves, how much to give to your bird, in what form, and what to watch out for.

I will top it off with answers to some questions that a lot of bird owners are asking. So are you ready for the ride? Let’s go!

Curry Leaves: Are They Good For Cockatiels?

As I said above, curry leaves are good for cockatiels. Despite the bad rap they get from curry (which has other reasons for being infamous), curry leaves aren’t harmful to pets.

In fact, they are the powerhouse house of many vitamins and minerals. They are a nice treat to add to your feathered friend’s diet.

The USDA has not yet listed nutrients for a specific portion size of curry leaves. So, it’s difficult to say exactly how many nutrients your pet bird will get from a few grams of curry leaves.

What we do know is that they are an excellent source of Vitamins A, B, C, and E.

Here are the benefits of these nutrients for your bird:

• Vitamin C in curry leaves helps boost the immune system and prevents the risk of various chronic diseases like heart disease.
• Vitamin B is essential for the digestion and growth of red blood cells.
• Curry leaves also have vitamin A, which is necessary for good vision, skin, and healthy breeding.

How Should Curry Leaves Be Given To Cockatiels?

It’s best to serve raw curry leaves to your bird.

You can pluck one or two branches with a lot of fresh curry leaves from the tree and then wash the leaves thoroughly in water.

Washing the leaves helps in removing the dust and dirt from them.

Remove the leaves or serve them directly to your cockatiel with the stem.

Your little bird will enjoy chewing the leaves. Add a bowl of fresh water on the side so that they can sip as and when they get thirsty.

Can You Feed Curry To Cockatiels?

Now let’s get to the real villain in this story: curry. Curry leaves are known by that name because they are an important component of curries.

You might be surprised to hear that curries can be harmless to pets. You just need to know how to make them!

If you make curry by adding curry leaves, turmeric, coriander, and chili peppers and keep the oil and salt to a minimum, there is nothing in there that will harm your bird.

I will go so far as to say that you can offer this type of curry once in a while to your cockatiel.

Unfortunately, most people use onion, garlic, ginger, and a lot of spices in the curry. These curries should never be given to pets.

• Garlic, in particular, have allium, which can be toxic for birds.
• Similarly, onion contains sulfur compounds which are again harmful to cockatiels.
• Adding excess ginger to a curry can cause diarrhea and vomiting in birds.
• Too much oil and spices can also cause digestive issues.

So you see, the bad reputation that curry leaves get has nothing to do with them! 

How Much Curry Leaves Should You Give To Your Bird?

You can give your bird 10-15 curry leaves once a week.

It can be one small part of a balanced diet of pellets, fresh fruits, and vegetables.

Keep the fruits and vegetables limited to 30 percent of the daily calorie intake, and the rest should be pellets. You can also offer dried fruits once in a while.

Are There Any Dangers To Giving Curry Leaves to Cockatiels?

Curry leaves have fiber which is good for the gut health of a bird.

But if you overfeed them, your cockatiel can suffer from diarrhea, vomiting, and other digestive problems.

Some birds might be allergic to curry leaves.

When starting out, serve only in small quantities and observe your bird. If it has no adverse reaction, you can serve a few more leaves.

Frequently Asked Questions

Wrap Up

Curry leaves are an excellent fresh food that can be offered to cockatiels without worrying about it.

Only give a few curry leaves first, and check if the bird has a negative reaction to them.

Moreover, keep in mind that your little bird has a small stomach and cannot digest an excess of curry leaves (or anything for that matter)

Keep the food intake limited. Otherwise, it can lead to diarrhea.

Thank you for reading this article.