Content
- Why do parakeets need fruits and vegetables?
- Fruit for Australian Parakeets
- Vegetables for parakeets
- How to give fruit and vegetables to the parakeet
Most people who decide to have a bird as a pet are enchanted by the Australian parakeet or common parakeet, since it is a very cheerful bird, which enjoys human company and also has a great intelligence.
Like any other living being, for our parakeet to be in a good state of health it will need to cover its basic needs, food being one of the main ones. But after all, what parakeet eats? In this PeritoAnimal article we show you the fruits and vegetables for parakeets, foods that are essential in their diet and that allow them to prevent various diseases.
Why do parakeets need fruits and vegetables?
There are several cares that the parakeet needs and that we must take into account, although food is one of the most important, as it clearly influences the health of our pet. The parakeet's diet should consist mainly of a good mix of birdseed and millet, which is often found in many bird seed preparations.
It will be necessary to complement this staple food with an extra amount of calcium and for this it is recommended to use a cuttle bone (sepia).
Obviously, water is another element that they should always have at their disposal as it participates in various functions, although with all these basic resources the parakeet's diet is not balanced. Why?
What parakeet eats must contain a lot of vitamins and minerals and the best way to get it is through natural foods such as fruits and vegetables, which are essential for the health of your pet.
Fruit for Australian Parakeets
Among the fruits that parakeets eat and that they like the most are the following:
- Red fruits: Blueberries, strawberries or cherries are excellent for preventing cardiovascular problems, often rich in vitamin C and beta-carotenes.
- Peach: Contains high antioxidant properties and helps prevent stomach cancer due to its anti-tumor properties. They are also good for the parakeet's vision and dermis.
- Tangerine: Tangerine is very rich in vitamin C, so it is an excellent antioxidant. It also has fiber and a low amount of sugar.
- Orange: Like tangerine, orange is rich in vitamin C, but it is also excellent for preventing colds and protecting the body in general.
- Banana: Banana is a very complete nutritional food, but which we should not abuse. Just give the parakeet once or twice a week in small portions.
- Melon: Melon is rich in vitamins A and E, in addition, it offers a lot of water to the parakeet's organism. It also helps to eliminate toxins from the body. We should limit its consumption because it is so rich in water as it can cause diarrhea.
- watermelon: Watermelon is also rich in antioxidants and contains vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin B3. It is a very healthy food and rich in vitamins, but we must regulate its consumption due to its high water content.
- Papaya: It is an excellent diuretic and is very rich in vitamin C and A. It also has antioxidant properties and provides a lot of fiber to the body.
It is important that all fruits that have skins are peeled, it should also be taken into account that bananas are not suitable when the parakeet is constipated.
Vegetables for parakeets
Give preference to dark green leaves. The vegetables that parakeets usually like the most are as follows:
- Endive: Endive is a perfect vegetable to regulate intestinal transit and, although in small amounts, it contains vitamin C.
- Spinach: Offering spinach to the parakeet is a good option since, in addition to being a potent anti-inflammatory, this vegetable has many vitamins and minerals, as well as calcium, very important for the parakeet's health.
- Chard: Chard is very rich in vitamin A, iron and vitamin C. They usually love them and can be a good help to avoid constipation.
- Lettuce: Provides vitamin B1, B2 and B3 but contains a lot of water, so it is important to moderate its consumption.
- Carrot: Carrots are a vegetable that should never be lacking in the parakeet's diet. Provides vitamins A, B, C and E, as well as minerals and antioxidant compounds.
- Tomato: Tomatoes are very rich in water (so, once again, you should moderate your consumption) but they are excellent for their content in vitamins A, B and C. They help to keep our parakeet's digestive system healthy.
- Eggplant: It is an excellent vegetable because it is diuretic, antioxidant and fiber.
- Bell pepper: It has a high content of vitamin C, vitamin B6 and is one of the favorite vegetables of parakeets.
- Zucchini: Zucchini is also a good option, although in this case it is essential that it is always peeled.
- Chicory: Chicory is very nutritious. It has some minerals such as iron, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin A, B complex vitamins, vitamin C and D.
- Almeirão: It acts in an antioxidizing way because it is rich in vitamin A. Remember to always offer your leaves fresh and well washed.
- Cabbage: Rich in vitamins A and C, cabbage also has calcium, beta carotene, fiber and anthocyanins, in addition to having a low caloric content.
- Scarlet eggplant: Jilo, in addition to having a low caloric content, is rich in vitamins A, C and some of the B complex. It also contains minerals such as iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium and phosphorus and antioxidants.
How to give fruit and vegetables to the parakeet
Fruits and vegetables not only provide vitamins but are also very useful for prevent our parakeet from suffering from constipation and to make sure you are always well hydrated. However, they don't need to eat them daily. Fruits and vegetables should be given every other day, at room temperature and previously washed with plenty of water.
As you may have already seen, you can offer your parakeet a wide variety of foods, although it is recommended that you only use the ones mentioned, as some fruits and vegetables can be toxic, some examples of this are the following fruits: avocado, lemon, plums or onions. Taking care of your parakeet's diet will make it healthier and happier.
Now that you know what parakeets eat, you might be interested in this article about the best toys for parakeets.
If you want to read more articles similar to Fruits and vegetables for parakeets, we recommend that you enter our Balanced Diets section.