We all like kiwi because of its incredible taste and juiciness. But every food on your plate cannot be served to your pets. So, can cockatiels eat kiwi? I explain which parts of a kiwi are good for your bird below.
Let me start off with the straight answer: yes, you can give fresh fruits like kiwi to your feathered friend as it is a source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
But you should always feed kiwis in moderate quantities.
Divide your pet’s diet into other fresh fruits, vegetables, and pellets to have a balanced diet for your bird.
But what parts of a kiwi are safe? And what are these health benefits that I am raving about? You can learn more if you just scroll down!
Kiwi Nutritional Info: Is It Good For Cockatiels?
Kiwi is a small fruit. It is sweet and juicy, and cockatiels love such fruits.
The best thing: you can feed kiwis to cockatiels! There is nothing toxic or bad about this fruit.
In fact, kiwis are one of the favorite fruits of cockatiels.
Not just that, kiwis are packed with vitamins and minerals. About 3.5 ounces or approximately 100 grams of raw kiwi flesh has the following nutrients.
- Water -83.9 grams
- Energy -64Kcal
- Fiber -3 grams
- Carbs -14 grams
- Fiber – 3 grams
- Total lipid fat – 0.44 grams
- Calcium -35 mg
- Iron -0.24 mg
- Magnesium – 15.7mg
- Potassium -198 mg
- Phosphorous – 34mg
- Zinc -0.14mg
- Copper -0.134mg
- Manganese -0.064mg
- Vitamin C -74.7mg
- Thiamin -0.027mg
- Vitamin B6 -0.061mg
- VitaminE – 1.3 mg
- Vitamin A – 4 g
- Vitamin K – 40.3g
Vitamins
- Vitamin A: Vitamin A is necessary for good vision, feather and tissue growth, and building a strong skeleton in birds. Vitamin A is also important for overall growth.
- Vitamin C: Kiwi is a rich source of vitamin C necessary for building bones and enhancing the immune system in birds. Additionally, vitamin C also helps absorb iron in a cockatiel’s body.
- Vitamin E: The flesh of raw kiwi has vitamin E, which is essential for healthy skin and eyes.
- Vitamin K: Raw kiwi contains vitamin K, which is necessary for blood clotting and for healing wounds quickly.
Minerals
- Copper: Kiwi contains a high amount of copper, which is necessary for forming red blood cells.
- Potassium: Potassium helps maintain fluid balance in your bird’s cells.
- Magnesium: Magnesium helps maintain blood pressure and sugar level in the blood.
- Calcium: Kiwi also has calcium, which is required for the bird’s healthy bones and teeth.
Other Benefits
Kiwi is a low-calorie fruit and has low protein and fat. However, it has a lot of fiber, which is essential for maintaining gut health in your bird.
How Should Kiwi Be Given To Cockatiels?
Now that I have shared the ample health benefits of the kiwi fruit. Let’s look at the various parts of a kiwi that you can offer your bird.
Kiwi flesh
Kiwi flesh is the part that your feathered friend will enjoy most while eating.
The kiwi flesh is loaded with vitamins and minerals, which will help your bird stay healthy.
If your bird is new to this fruit, then introduce a small amount of kiwi flesh and observe its behavior towards the fruit.
Some birds will even eat only the kiwi flesh and ignore the rest of the fruit.
Kiwi Skin
Kiwi skin is also good for your bird. However, it may contain chemicals like pesticides.
Ingesting even a small amount of pesticides can harm your bird.
If you have brought store-bought kiwis, peel off the skin and offer kiwi flesh to your bird. If that takes too much time, wash the fruit carefully with water.
Kiwi Seeds
Kiwi seeds are also safe for your bird. Allow your cockatiel to enjoy the fruit’s flesh and seeds.
The seeds contain omega-three fatty acids and protein, which is also good for birds’ health.
How Much (And How Often) Should You Give Your Bird?
Half of a kiwi fruit once a week is enough for your cockatiel, and you can replace the rest of the days with various seasonal fruits.
Pet cockatiels require almost 30 calories daily, and other natural foods like fruit and vegetables should not be more than 20-25 percent of the regular calorie intake.
Fruits should not be more than 10 percent of the overall diet. Giving your bird too much kiwi might have some issues, which I will talk about next
Are There Any Dangers To Giving Kiwi to Cockatiels?
The kiwi fruit contains fiber and numerous vitamins, but like other fruits, the kiwi also contains sugar.
So, if you give more kiwi than recommended, your bird may start suffering from unnecessary weight gain, excess blood glucose, and other health issues.
Additionally, if your cockatiel eats a lot of kiwis, it might not be able to digest it. This can lead to diarrhea or gastrointestinal issues.
So, it’s best to restrict kiwis to half a fruit once a week.
Frequently Asked Questions
What fruits can a cockatiel not eat?
Cockatiels enjoy eating most fruits like kiwi, watermelon, apples, etc.
But certain fruits comprise cyanogenic glycosides. When they ingest these fruits, it releases cyanide toxins which can kill your bird.
Below are some of the fruits that cockatiels should not eat.
Apricots
Plums
Peaches
Nectarines.
Can parrots eat kiwi skin?
The entire kiwi fruit is edible for your little bird.
However, farmers spray insecticides and pesticides on fruits to avoid pests. These chemicals may attach to the kiwi skin and, when consumed, can harm your bird.
So, it’s better to peel off the skin and give the kiwi flesh to the parrot.
What is a cockatiel’s favorite fruit?
Below are a few fruits you can offer to your cockatiel.
Berries
Papaya
Apple
Watermelon
Kiwi
What are cockatiels afraid of?
Cockatiels don’t like the dark. They are prone to night frights. When cockatiels are afraid, they start to flap their wings in the cage.
You need to switch on a soft light and talk to your bird until it calms down in such cases.
Wrap Up
Kiwis are a powerhouse of various vitamins and minerals, and it is also excellent in taste.
There is nothing toxic in kiwi fruit.
Cockatiel owners can feed kiwis to their pets. But always remember to feed kiwi as an occasional treat; otherwise, it can cause obesity and excess blood sugar.
Always remember: a healthy diet for a cockatiel should include various seeds, fresh vegetables, leafy greens, seasonal fruits, and pellets.
Thank you for reading this article!
