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In recent years, there have been significant improvements in terms of the understanding of pet parrot nutrition. Pet parrots were traditionally offered high amounts of fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, and grains. Present day guidelines have cautioned against the inclusion of high-energy or high-fat foods into their diets. This does form a question mark of sorts when it comes to fruits, as they’re usually higher in calories than their vegetable counterparts. Yet, they are usually very appealing for pet parrots.
Though fruits form a very small part of the diet of most pet parrots, they are very important for their overall health and well-being and should not be considered a treat. Strawberries are among the best fruits you can offer your parrot, as they are much lower in sugar than many other fruits, and are readily accepted by many parrots. Let’s explore strawberries as a food item for your parrot in better detail.
Why Strawberries Are Good for Parrots
As far as fruits are concerned, strawberries are one of the best possible options for a pet parrot. Nutritional guidelines for parrots mention that true berries (which are lower in sugar) are the preferred fruits for pet parrots 1. This is due to the fact that pet parrots receive far less exercise than their wild counterparts do, and as such, it’s difficult to justify a high-energy diet for them (which is what fruits would offer).
Strawberries have among the lowest amount of sugars (in the form of carbohydrates) as far as fruits are concerned 2. For context, they have less than half the amount of carbohydrates when compared to apples 3, and less than a third when compared to grapes 4.
Strawberries also contain a myriad of vitamins and minerals which can definitely be beneficial in ensuring your parrot receives adequate nutrition. They also contain an impressive profile of antioxidants (a trait they share with other berries).
Their size also makes them appealing for many parrots, especially since many parrots classified as frugivores (such as macaws) enjoy holding their food in a claw. In short, though fruits should only be a small part of the diet of most pet parrots, strawberries are among the most nutritionally appropriate fruits you can offer your parrot.
Reasons Why Strawberries Can Be Bad for Parrots
Pesticides
The primary problem with feeding strawberries to your parrot is that they can contain pesticides. Though many people recommend using produce washes or mixtures containing vinegar to wash fruit, the FDA 5 and CDC 6 both recommend using just water to wash produce. One of the reasons why they caution against the use of vinegar or other home remedies is because they may alter the surface pH of the fruit, and also compromise its nutritional yield. Pet birds may also be sensitive to the formulations used in produce washes intended for use on foods a human would consume.
An easy (though admittedly expensive) solution to this problem is to source organic strawberries. An alternative is to figure out the days on which your local store restocks its fresh produce supply so that you can promptly pick out the best and freshest-looking strawberries to offer your parrot.
How Can I Feed My Pet Strawberries?
The best way to offer your parrot strawberries is to feed them raw and washed. The tops can be removed (though these aren’t toxic for parrots). Strawberries can be offered to your pet whole or in a size that is manageable for them. Do note that as mentioned above, many parrots enjoy holding fruits in their claws and some individuals may not be appreciative of a strawberry cut in pieces far too small for them to hold! It does take some trial and error to ascertain how your parrot prefers to have their strawberries served to them.
Dried strawberries or candied strawberries are not advised for parrots, as these often contain far too much sugar (or other potentially harmful substances) which can be detrimental for their health.
How Often Should I Feed My Parrot Strawberries?
Most parrots should be offered fruits every day. However, fruits should not constitute the majority of your pet parrot’s diet. In addition, variety is preferred in a parrot’s diet. Therefore, though you can offer most healthy adult parrots strawberries on a daily basis, they should be part of a salad mix that contains other fruits as well.
What Other Fruits Can My Parrot Eat?
You can mix strawberries with several other berries, including blueberries, blackberries, elderberries, cranberries, and more. Parrots can also eat coconut, black currants, red currants, star fruit, guava, and watermelon.
However, keep in mind that fruit should only comprise around 5–10% of your parrot’s daily food intake. We strongly recommend reaching out to your avian veterinarian to better understand your pet’s nutritional needs in greater detail, as each pet’s requirements vary.
Summary
Though fruits often get a negative rap as far as a parrot’s diet goes, they should not be viewed as such. It is true that fruits should be carefully portioned for your pet parrot. However, they are incredibly important for them and definitely something you should offer them on a daily basis. Strawberries are among the best fruits you can offer your parrot, owed to their low sugar content when compared to other fruits.
As your pet parrot’s diet plays a huge role in their long-term welfare, we strongly recommend reaching out to your veterinarian for more information about a meal plan tailored specifically for your parrot.
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