Cilantro, which is also known as coriander leaves or Chinese parsley, is a very nutritious herb for both humans and pet birds. Due to the attractive smell and delicious taste of cilantro, it is a favorite among birds.
But the question is, can cockatiels eat cilantro? Absolutely! Cockatiels can eat cilantro as it contains a lot of essential nutrients for them. But it should only be a small part of their diet.
In case you wish to know more about how to prepare this snack for your pets or what amount is ideal for cockatiels, continue reading.
Can You Feed Cilantro to Cockatiels?
As we have already mentioned, you can feed cilantro to cockatiels. In fact, cilantro is a very safe and useful herb for pet cockatiels. The bird loves the taste of this herb, and cilantro contains a lot of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients for the bird’s well-being.
Before we get to the detailed discussion, let us take a quick look at the nutrition chart of cilantro.
Nutrition Values of Cilantro
- Carbohydrate – 0.587g per cup (16g)
- Protein – 0.341g per cup (16g)
- Fat – 0.083 g per cup (16g)
- Vitamins – B2, B3, C, K
- Minerals – Calcium, Phosphorus, Manganese, Magnesium, Iron
- Electrolytes – Sodium, Potassium
Is Cilantro Good for Cockatiels?
As you can already see, cilantro is full of nutrients that will benefit pet birds like cockatiels. The amount of carbs and protein is quite good in cilantro, which can be a great snack for cockatiels.
Cilantro has lower fat content than many other safe herbs, which will keep your cockatiels in good shape. Along with these, there will be necessary vitamins and minerals in cilantro to ensure the healthy growth of your bird.
So, Can Cockatiels Eat Cilantro?
It is pretty clear from the above discussion that cilantro is very healthy food to be in the diet of your cockatiels. But remember, you should not let your cockatiels eat cilantro all day.
This shouldn’t be the main diet of these birds. They will require more carbs and protein, which will come from pellets. Cilantros can only be fed as snacks, that too a few times per week.
You should also limit the amount of cilantro your bird gets to graze. This herb is very easy to digest, so it won’t stay in the stomach, and your bird will feel hungry even after eating a lot.
Do Cockatiels Like Cilantro?
Cockatiels love cilantro very much. The scent and taste of this herb are their favorite, so they will love to graze on cilantro. It is much better if you have a small herb garden in the room, where cockatiels tend to sit and graze very often.
So, it is clear that cockatiels like cilantro with their hearts out. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you should allow your bird to eat cilantro all day long. To know how much cilantro you should allow to eat, check the following sections.
Health Benefits for Cockatiels Eating Cilantro
As Cilantro is full of vitamins and minerals, it will fill the demand for essential nutrients for your cockatiels. The carb and protein content is also good in cilantro, so it will be a great snack for cockatiels.
Eating cilantro will help your bird remain healthy. And the taste of this herb will keep them joyous if they are bored with eating regular diet every day.
How Much Cilantro Should Cockatiels Eat?
Cockatiels like cilantro or cilantro is good for cockatiels; it should never be the reason for feeding too much cilantro to cockatiels. Though this herb is nutritious, providing it too much isn’t always good. So, you should limit the amount of cilantro in your birds’ diet.
As pellet is the main diet of cockatiels, you should give at least 60% of it in their daily meals. Keep about 30% for vegetables because cockatiels also love to eat vegetables.
According to the food preferences of cockatiel chicks in captivity, 10% of their daily diet is cilantro, other nuts, and seed mixes. And you shouldn’t feed cilantro to your birds every day. Giving them a few bites twice or thrice a week will be enough.
How Do You Prepare Cilantro for Cockatiels?
Though cockatiels like to graze cilantro directly, you can chop the herb finely to make it easily digestible for cockatiels. You can also shred cilantro and add some seasonings to improve the taste.
Adding some nuts or seeds will make them love their treats even more. And it will also increase the nutritional value of the meal. But be careful while adding nuts that contain too much fat.
Though cilantro is very good food for adult cockatiels, feeding it to baby cockatiels might not always be the same. Baby cockatiels might not have enough digestive power to eat raw cilantro. And some babies can even be reluctant about it.
If you want to feed cilantro to baby cockatiels, you should blend the herb and give it to babies in a small amount.
Video of a Cockatiel Eating Cilantro
FAQ
Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about cockatiels’ eating habits.
Cilantro and other herbs like basil, oregano, chamomile, lavender, etc., are highly suitable for cockatiels.
Some foods like avocado, eggplant, lobelia, etc., are toxic foods for cockatiels. So, you should keep your bird from eating these items.
Baby cockatiels love a lot of veggies, including broccoli, corn, spinach, pumpkin, carrots, sweet potatoes, etc.
Conclusion
Now that you know whether cockatiels can eat cilantro, it will be easier for you to moderate the food in their diet. As cilantro is highly nutritious, you should definitely include this in your birds’ diet.
But be careful not to overdo it, as eating too much cilantro can increase the fat content in your birds’ bodies.
Do you know if your cockatiels can eat bananas or cherries? Read our articles about it to learn more.
