Looking to feed mangos to your cockatiel? Read the article below to understand how, how much and in what ways you can give it to your bird.
Cockatiel owners should give a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables to their pet birds for an ideal diet.
While most fruits are safe for your bird, it is always good to check.
In this article, I will try to clear one of these doubts: can cockatiels eat mango?
Mango Nutritional Info: Is It Good For Cockatiels?
Mangoes are liked by most of us, so it is no surprise if you want to give it your cockatiel.
Fortunately, you can offer them to your feathered friend as it has many vitamins and minerals required for a cockatiel to stay healthy
I am listing below the nutrients present in 100 grams of raw mango.
- Water – 83.5grams
- Energy – 60Kcal
- Protein – 0.82 grams
- Total lipid fat – 0.38 grams
- Fiber – 1.6grams
- Sugar – 13.7grams
- Calcium – 11mg
- Iron – 0.16mg
- Magnesium – 10mg
- Phosphorous – 14mg
- Potassium – 168mg
- Zinc – 0.09mg
- Manganese – 0.063mg
- Copper – 0.111mg
- Thiamin – 0.028mg
- Vitamin C – 36.4 mg
- Vitamin B-6 – 0.119mg
- Vitamin A – 1080 IU
Vitamins
- Vitamin A: Mangos have a good amount of vitamin A, which is essential for good vision, skin, reproduction, and immunity in birds.
- Vitamin A deficiency can result in white spots on the mouth and face. If you don’t treat this disease, it can spread to other parts of the body
- In the worst case, your bird might even face difficulty breathing!
- Vitamin C: Mangoes are rich in vitamin C, which is vital for bone development and the immune system of cockatiels.
- Vitamin B6: Vitamin B6 is required for brain development in birds. Additionally, it helps in keeping the nervous system and immune systems healthy.
Minerals
- Potassium: Potassium helps maintain fluid levels inside the birds’ cells and aids in keeping the blood pressure in control.
- Calcium: Calcium is required for the health of your bird’s bones and teeth. It also plays a vital role in blood clotting.
- Magnesium: Magnesium supports nerve function and helps keep the cockatiel’s brain, and prevents heart disease.
- Phosphorous: Phosphorous helps in repairing your bird’s cells and bones.
Other Nutrients
Mangoes contain fiber, which is vital for your bird’s digestive system. It also contains protein that helps build muscles, repair cells, and make new ones.
How Should Mangoes Be Given to Cockatiels?
You need to wash the mango properly in water and then use a fruit brush. I normally remove the skin before giving it (I will explain why in the next section).
You can cut the mango into pieces, remove the pit, and serve the flesh to your pet cockatiel. Keep a bowl of fresh water near them so your bird can take a drink if it wants to.
Mango Skin
Yes, you can give mango skin to your bird, but only if it is grown organically.
The skin of mangoes has a good number of antioxidants and other vital nutrients which are beneficial for cockatiels.
However, farmers often spray pesticides, fungicides, and various chemicals on the fruit to avoid pests.
So, giving the mango skin can cause chemicals to enter your bird’s body and harm cockatiel.
However, the level of pesticides and chemicals is extremely low in mango compared to other fruits.
But still, we will recommend peeling the store-brought mango skin and serving your bird.
Mango Pits
Mango pits are too big for a cockatiel to eat. Moreover, the pit is hard, so it is difficult for your cockatiel to break.
It is best to remove the mango pit and only serve the mango flesh to your bird.
Mango Juice
Mango is a juicy fruit. Homemade mango juice is quite good for your cockatiel.
You can dilute the juice with water so it will be easier for your pet bird to drink and enjoy the taste.
Store brought mango juice contains a high amount of sugar and other preservatives, so only give fresh mango juice to your cockatiel.
Dried Mango
Dried mango can also be good for your pet cockatiel. But you must check the ingredients before giving dried mango to your little bird.
If there is a lot of salt in it, then it is not good for the bird. But if the mango is simply baked, you can serve it to your baby.
In general fresh foods are always better for birds than the packaged stuff.
How Much (And How Often) Should You Give Mango To Your Bird?
You can give 1/8th of mango every alternate day to a cockatiel so that it will have plenty of room for a wide variety of fruits to eat.
Cockatiels should be fed approximately 30 calories in their daily diet. Out of that, nearly 20-25 percent should comprise fresh fruits and fresh vegetables for a balanced diet.
Of this, fresh fruits can be about 10 percent.
Seasonal fruit like mangoes are rich in sugar; hence, you should not give too much of them to your cockatiel.
Are There Any Dangers To Giving Mangoes to Cockatiels?
Fresh mangoes are good for cockatiels, and they love the sweet taste. But it is the sugar content in them that is a big problem.
There are almost 24 gms of sugar in one cup of raw mango!
So, giving an excess of mangoes can cause diabetes, obesity, and other health issues in birds.
Giving a lot of mangoes can also result in gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can cockatiels eat frozen mango?
Yes, you can give cockatiels frozen mango. But some will enjoy it while others may not.
Frozen mango should only be served as an occasional treat to your bird because consuming a lot of mangoes can result in diabetes and obesity.
Always serve fresh fruits and vegetables like sweet potato to your cockatiel.
What fruit is poisonous to birds?
Most of the fruits are safe for your bird. But there are few fruit seeds like apples and pears which contain cyanide which can be poisonous for birds.
Again, fruits like cherries, apricots, peaches, and plums contain pits which are not good for the bird.
So, remove the seeds and pits and then offer these fruits to the bird.
Human foods such as chocolate and caffeinated products like tea and coffee are also a strict no-no.
Is mango safe for lovebirds?
Yes, mango is perfectly safe for love birds. It is enriched with numerous vitamins and minerals vital for the bird’s health.
Additionally, it contains sugar which helps give your bird energy for their daily activities. But don’t give too much because of the high sugar content.
Can I give mango to my budgie?
Yes, you can give mangoes to budgies as well because it is a powerhouse of different vitamins and minerals.
It also contains fiber which is essential for the bird’s gut health.
As with cockatiels, make sure not to give the fruit in excess, and try always to give only fresh fruits.
Wrap Up
Mango is a delicious fruit, and, what’s more, it is safe for your bird.
It is rich in fiber, Vitamin C, and other minerals essential for your bird’s growth. But fresh mangoes are also high in sugar.
So, you must feed it to your bird in moderate quantities to avoid health issues.
Cockatiels enjoy juicy fruits like mango or citrus fruits like oranges, so you will have no problem feeding it them.
Make sure not to give it in too much quantity as it can cause diarrhea or other health issues in birds.
Thank you for reading this article.
