Vegetables, herbs and fruits are essential in a parrot's diet. They contain a huge amount of vitamins, microelements and nutrients. Every owner should know what vegetables parrots eat.
Before you feed your parrot vegetables, you need to sort them out and inspect them. Vegetables must be fresh, ripe, free from mold and rot. Before use, they must be washed, cut into pieces, or grated. Preference is given to vegetables that were grown in the garden rather than purchased in a store.
What vegetables can you give your parrot?
In order for your parrot to be healthy, you need to take care of it with a properly balanced diet. We have already discussed what to feed a parrot in this article; you can read about what fruits you can give here. Now we will try to talk about what vegetables can be given to parrots?
Vegetables and herbs are another integral part of a healthy poultry diet. Vegetables have large reserves of various vitamins, microelements and fiber.
It is important that all the vegetables and herbs listed below are of proper quality. Always give priority to what you grow yourself. After all, purchased products may contain a large number of different chemicals, as a result of their treatment against pests and to extend the storage period.
Choose a high-quality seed mixture that your birds will enjoy eating.
Your task is to find or make your own mixture that has a wide variety of grains. What seeds do lovebirds eat from seeds? Perfect for: millet, canary grass seeds, oatmeal, niger seeds, flax, sunflower, safflower and rapeseed.
Other seed mixtures may contain soybeans, fennel seeds, rye, whole brown rice, sesame and poppy seeds.
- The seeds do not have much nutritional value for lovebirds. Therefore, they are recommended to be given only in very small quantities as treatment. They should never be your bird's only food source.
- Use only fresh seed mixture. If it smells dusty or old, you shouldn't give it to lovebirds.
Vegetables in a parrot's diet
Carrots are a vegetable that must be present in your parrot’s feeder. Carrots contain a very large amount of vitamin A and carotene. Serve raw, in slices or grated with a boiled egg or breadcrumbs. As a rule, parrots do not refuse such salads.
Pumpkin and melon are also healthy components of the diet. They contain many vitamins and microelements, sugars. The seeds have a lot of vitamins A, D, E, K. Like all vegetables, pumpkin is given raw, cut into pieces.
Squash and zucchini boast fiber content.
Cucumbers are a vegetable containing a lot of water and vitamin E. It is strictly forbidden to give cucumbers from the store, especially in winter. Very often they exceed the permissible nitrate standards even for humans. Cucumbers grown from your garden in the summer can benefit your bird.
Tomatoes – contain vitamins B, C, carotene. Like cucumbers, tomatoes should come from your own garden. Parrots eat both pulp and seeds.
Cabbage - produces green leaves. They are very rich in vitamins and microelements. We recommend not to forget about cabbage, both for the parrot and for yourself, especially in the winter season. Petioles tend to accumulate harmful substances.
Bell peppers – parrots are only allowed bell peppers. Anything spicy is not allowed.
This is not a complete list of vegetables that can be given to a parrot. Below, we will provide a more complete list in pictures. It is also necessary to give your parrot greens.
Why does a bird refuse fruit?
There may be several explanations for this. Perhaps the bird is simply afraid to try unfamiliar food, since it has never seen anything like it before. Such fears worry both chicks and adults. If this is your case, offer your bird fruit more often. And before you give a piece to the bird, try it yourself. And so that the pet can see it.
A parrot may also refuse fruit because it was once treated to a spoiled or unripe fruit, after which it felt unwell or became completely ill. Such impressions are remembered in order to prevent the bird from eating food that is inappropriate for it. How to save a bird from an unpleasant experience? Replace it with a new one. Look for the fruit that the bird will perceive positively.
His childhood can tell you why a parrot doesn’t eat fruit. If you took a bird from a reseller or a pet store that sells rare birds, your pet probably entered the country illegally. Such birds are transported in terrible conditions and fed only to last until they are sold. Having become accustomed to a meager diet, usually limited to grain crops, the parrot cannot accept other food for a long time. However, this does not mean that attempts to accustom him to fruits should be abandoned. Continue to arouse interest in healthy food, and one day the bird will be tempted by the bright fruit.
A bird may also ignore fruit because it is sick. She may have gastrointestinal problems that prevent her from enjoying plant-based foods. If you notice a deterioration in your bird's appetite or problems with stool, contact your veterinarian.
You can ask an ornithologist about why your parrot does not eat fruit, if this specialist has been observing your pet since childhood. Perhaps you simply offer not the ripest and not the most delicious fruits?
Greens in the diet
Greens must be present in the diet, no less than vegetables or fruits.
Make sure that your greens are thoroughly washed under running water. Like vegetables, greens should come from your own garden or rural ecological area, and in no case from the city.
- meadow grass
- burdock (burdock)
- branches of various thicknesses of fruit trees with buds, with young green leaves
- grapevine
- greens of cereal crops: oats, wheat, etc.
- woodlice
- carrot and beet tops
- knotweed
- leaf salads
- nettle leaves scalded with boiling water
- quinoa and spinach in limited quantities
- clover
- plantain leaves
Other
You can supplement the menu of your favorite pets with wheat, millet, and oats. If the question arises about whether it is possible to give a parrot a watermelon, then it is preferable to give one grown in a local melon at the end of summer. Parrots also love Chinese cabbage. It is not recommended to give celery.
The digestive system of parrots easily copes with the digestion of grains, young bark, herbs, and vegetables. By introducing foods that are allowed for them into the diet, the owner ensures good health and excellent mood.
Source
Can a budgie eat a cucumber?
You should not use only specialized grain feeds; in addition to them, your budgie should be fed fruits and vegetables (a storehouse of vitamins for your pet). But first you need to find out which of them are necessary for the bird and which can be harmful.
Is it possible to give a budgie a cucumber? This question interests many bird owners. Of course yes. This vegetable is widespread in subtropical and tropical regions, with characteristics close to the bird’s natural habitat.
Can there be harm?
There must be moderation in everything. The elements contained in cucumbers are beneficial for birds, but an excess of vitamins and minerals is just as bad as their deficiency. Some substances, for example, iodine, are retained in the bird’s body and are not released 100% naturally. A high concentration of even beneficial elements negatively affects the animal’s immune system .
Therefore, when offering a vegetable to your pet, you should check for the presence of similar substances in other products and, if necessary, limit their consumption. It is more advisable to design the diet in such a way that every day the parrot receives a different set of fruits and vegetables. Let's say the first day - corn, the second - bananas, the third - cucumbers, then tomatoes, etc. You also need to monitor the composition of industrial additives.
Useful properties and vitamins of fresh cucumbers for budgies
It is a known fact that cucumber consists of 90-95% water. However, in addition to this component, the fruit contains a complex of useful elements and compounds that are important and extremely necessary for the full functioning of a budgerigar.
Experts identify the following components:
- Fiber is responsible for the proper functioning of the digestive tract and improvement of intestinal motility; a natural substance that protects the body from external and internal toxins, saving the body from too rapid oxidation of cells - beta-carotene;
- normalization of the growth and development of tissues in the parrot's body is guaranteed by folic acid, in addition, it takes part in the synthesis of amino acids and enzymes that contribute to the normal functioning of the immune and cardiovascular systems;
- Vitamin A assumed responsibility for the proper development of the bone apparatus and the protection of the skin and feathers from the harmful effects of external factors;
- vitamin B1 is a primary component necessary for the normal functioning of metabolic processes (proteins, fats, carbohydrates) in the body, and also ensures the proper functioning of the nervous system; Vitamin B2 is involved in the process of formation of red blood cells and regulation of reproductive function; The well-known vitamin C strengthens the parrot’s immune system, fights viruses and bacteria, regulates circulatory and hormonal balance;
- To stabilize the nervous and cardiovascular system, vitamin PP is necessary, it also helps improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract (accelerates the process of food absorption, stimulates the functioning of the digestive tract).
Is it possible to give a budgie a cucumber?
All of the above beneficial substances that make up this green vegetable certainly answer positively the question: can a budgie eat a cucumber? First of all, it must be fresh and of high quality, so as not to harm the health of the budgie. You should give preference to homemade cucumbers from the garden rather than store-bought ones (they may contain large amounts of nitrates and other harmful substances that are used to accelerate the growth of the vegetable, treat it against pests and extend the shelf life).
If you live in an apartment building or in a large metropolis and you do not have the opportunity to grow vegetables yourself, you need to be a little more responsible when choosing cucumbers, go to markets, shops and choose from the entire assortment those that inspire confidence. Under no circumstances should you give your budgie cucumbers after cooking (pickled and salted vegetables can cause poisoning or even lead to death).
A few reasons against
Quarreling
Even between two identical feathered pets, hostility can arise. What can we say about different types of birds? A pair of birds such as a budgerigar and a cockatiel may simply not get along in the same cage. Especially if one bird is suddenly and without preparation placed with another.
When a parrot lives in a cage for more than two to three weeks, it begins to consider it its territory. Gradually the pet gets used to doing without its fellows. The sudden appearance of a neighbor can unsettle him from his usual lonely life and lead to a quarrel.
If a fight breaks out, the cockatiel will begin to peck at the opponent. And thanks to its powerful beak, it can cripple the “wavy”. If there are a lot of budgies, then the cockatiel is unlikely to cope alone. In any case, the quarrel that arises will not lead to anything good.
Nuances of feeding
It is impossible to create the same properly balanced diet for birds of different species. If a cockatiel and a budgerigar eat from the same feeder, they will not receive enough vital substances. As a result, this state of affairs will lead to the birds getting sick.
Risk of complications
If a cockatiel and a budgerigar start living in the same cage, they will be in close contact. If one of the birds gets sick, it will infect the other. Simultaneous treatment is extremely inconvenient, because each pet requires a different dosage of medication.
Cell selection
It is very difficult to choose a cage that is suitable for both feathered pets. Large cages with sparse bars are suitable for cockatiels, and small cages with sparse bars are suitable for budgies.
In a small cage, the cockatiel will suffer due to insufficient space for normal life activities. And a budgie can hurt its neck in a cage with sparse bars.
In addition, for cockatiels and "wavy" it is necessary to select completely different accessories for the cage. For example, unlike cockatiels, budgies should have:
- small toys;
- smaller drinking bowl;
- shallow feeder;
- perches with a diameter of at least fifteen millimeters.
For cockatiels, objects this small will be uncomfortable.
Birds of different sexes
If a male and a female of different species live in the same cage, then they can make attempts to create a pair. Let's say a female budgerigar takes a liking to a male cockatiel. As a result, she will begin to experience constant stress due to the impossibility of continuing the relationship. Also, the female may begin to lay unfertilized eggs, which will lead to calcium deficiency in her body.
It is unlikely that separating the birds will help in this case, because budgerigars tend to choose a mate for life. If the “wavy” is separated from his chosen partner, this can only worsen the situation. Even though it's a cockatiel. The bird risks getting sick from melancholy and depression.
If the owner of feathered pets decides to breed a particular species of bird, then events may not develop as he would like. Sympathy between a cockatiel and a budgie sometimes arises, even if they are in different cages. In this case, the bird in love may develop antipathy towards the new neighbor of the opposite sex, placed by the owner in its cage. Up to and including fights. For example, if a female budgerigar pecks a male of her own species, then there can be no question of any procreation.
Is it possible to give cucumber to a budgie, lovebird and cockatiel?
Loving owners always take care of the health of their pet, and nutrition is a fundamental factor in the development and maintenance of the body of parrots. Birds simply love to feast on vegetables and fruits; the freshest fruits always attract the attention of birds, but not everyone is suitable for food. Every owner wants to pamper his friend and wonders, is it possible to give a parrot fresh cucumber? Fortunately, there is no need to worry, because this product is not only the most popular in their diet, but it is also extremely beneficial for the body, which means it can be included in the diet.
Benefits of cucumbers
Undoubtedly, the cucumber is rich in vitamins and microelements, and is also enriched with water and will not only please the budgie with its crunch, but will also quench its thirst. In addition to its pleasant taste, cucumber is really beneficial for birds due to its high content of nutrients:
Cucumber is rich in various microelements: potassium, magnesium, iodine, zinc, phosphorus and others necessary for the favorable existence of birds. All of them participate in the formation of bone tissue and ease the load on the heart, nervous and digestive systems. Your pet really needs them, which means you shouldn’t completely exclude cucumbers from the list of foods you eat.
What not to give
Despite the omnivorous nature of parrots, there is a list of foods that are not recommended for them to consume. This list is not categorical, but it is better to follow the recommendations and not overload your pet’s body.
Raw potatoes
Despite the fact that boiled potatoes can sometimes be given to feathered pets, it is better not to give raw potatoes to your parrot. Tubers contain many useful substances, but they contain a lot of starch, which negatively affects intestinal function.
Radish
Birds love the juicy pulp of radishes, but after eating they may experience problems in the form of upset.
This vegetable is distinguished by high levels of spice, which irritate the gastrointestinal mucosa, disrupt its functioning and can cause serious illness. Products with a pungent taste are prohibited for use on birds.
Eggplant
The negative impact of eggplant is expressed in its high solanine content. This toxic substance causes intoxication and can significantly ruin the well-being of your feathered friend.
Green and onions
The high content of essential oils and phytoncides makes onions unsuitable for use as parrot food. Once in the body, it can cause vomiting and upset. With frequent use it causes anemia.
Garlic
Despite the high content of useful substances, including anthelmintic, antimicrobial and tonic properties, garlic is dangerous for birds.
Do not eat green parts of the plant or pieces of bulbs. In case of frequent use, death is possible.
Parsley
It is categorically not recommended to feed the bird parsley root, but regarding its greens, zoologists have differing opinions. However, in order not to harm your pet, it is better to choose another type of herbs that does not contain such a large amount of essential oils.
Dill
This spice, which budgies love so much, can have a negative effect on the bird's internal organs. But this only happens if it is abused.
You can give dill to your parrot once every 2 weeks to diversify its diet.
Cilantro
Unlike other spicy plants, cilantro greens are strictly prohibited from being introduced into the diet of pets. Its components are very irritating to the gastrointestinal tract and cause discomfort.
