Cockatiels are birds who can copy your speech similarly to parrots. Native to Australia and New Guinea, they are fantastic pets to have.
So, can cockatiels eat oranges? Yes- indeed they can, and oranges are suitable for their health. Other than giving seed-like foods and crunchy feeds like carrots, you can add oranges to their diet for some good old essential vitamins such as vitamin C. Vitamin C will help them be active and prevent scurvy from occurring.
So how will you add oranges to your cockatiel’s diet? Keep reading to learn more about it and if there are any risks with oranges.
Can Cockatiels Eat Oranges?
Oranges are a great source to get Vitamin C. Your cockatiels will be happy with this addition to their diets. As oranges are tasty and nutritious. Here is a list of nutrition components that are available in an orange (140gm) from Healthline:
- Calories: 66
- Water: 86% by weight
- Protein: 1.3 grams
- Carbs: 14.8 grams
- Sugar: 12 grams
- Fiber: 2.8 grams
- Fat: 0.2 grams
- Vitamin C: 92% of the Daily Value (DV)
- Folate: 9% of the DV
- Calcium: 5% of the DV
- Potassium: 5% of the DV
Other than all these components, oranges also contain vitamins such as Vitamin C, which helps boost immunity, and vitamin B, which helps convert their food into energy for their body. They also provide Vitamin B9 and Potassium that helps in regulating the blood pressure of your cockatiels.
Because cockatiels enjoy oranges, you may be tempted to feed them the peels as well. Orange peels are beneficial to some pets, but there is a catch. However, with cockatiels, it is preferable to remove the peels.
Orange peels do not poison cockatiels, but feeding them is still not a good idea. Orange peels are naturally crunchy and can cause choking in cockatiels and other pet birds in the same family.
Same as the peels, you should not feed them the oranges seeds. Only the orange is more than enough. Add them with their regular feed of other seeds — for instance, sunflower seeds, sallet seeds, millet seeds, etc.
Mixing oranges with their regular feeds help them get a balanced diet without worrying too much about the ingredients. Although incredibly healthy, your pet should not consume excessive oranges. Cockatiels, like other birds, require a varied diet, and oranges alone will not suffice.
A typical rule of thumb is to keep a balance when it comes to feeding. As a result, you should never feed too many orange bits in a single day.
Do Cockatiels Like Oranges?
Cockatiels enjoy eating oranges. You may easily feed such fruit to your pet, and oranges offer cockatiels vitamin C while providing flavor and texture to their meals.
Health Risks For Cockatiels Eating Oranges
Although oranges are nutritious snacks, they pose dangers to cockatiels if not correctly given. You should have the below points in mind when feeding your cockatiels oranges.
Orange Seeds Can Be Harmful.
To begin with, orange seeds are not wholly harmful but also not beneficial. Orange seeds may be difficult for cockatiels to consume, and as a result, it is best to remove the seeds before feeding oranges.
Orange Peels Can Potentially Be Harmful.
Orange peels, as previously said, are safe for other pets but not cockatiels. Orange peels may not contain any toxic ingredients, yet your pets may find them difficult to ingest and digest. Remove the peels before serving to ensure safety.
How Many Oranges Should Cockatiels Eat?
Oranges and other fruit delights should account for 10% of their daily intake. Seeds and other foods like peanut butter and bread pieces are further examples of such culinary pleasures.
Pellets should account for most of their daily diet, accounting for 60% of the total. The second is 30%, which should comprise mixed vegetables such as carrots, cabbages, and others.
Furthermore, it would be preferable to not feed oranges excessively to your cockatiel. Consider getting a variety of fruits and vegetables, such as apples, pineapples, blueberries, and watermelons.
How Do You Prepare Oranges For Cockatiels?
As with other foods, ensure the fruits are clean. Cut the orange in half and throw it to the bird, but be more inventive. Nail an orange half to the deck. Cut your orange like a sandwich cucumber or similar to a tomato. Be careful not to lose fruit juices.
The juice contains a significant amount of nutrients, not the skin. If you give dried oranges to your bird, ensure they don’t have too much sulfur dioxide. Oranges can also be juiced, diluting juice by mixing water to reduce acidity.
Can You Feed Oranges To Baby Cockatiels? If So, How?
Of course, you can feed baby cockatiels oranges. Like any other food, you must use a syringe to feed oranges and grind the feeds you want to give your baby cockatiels.
Use a syringe to open up the beak of your cockatiel from one side and give drops of food. Slowly feed the puree of food you have made to the cockatiels babies. Be careful and patient not to hurt them as they can be fragile.
Cockatiel enjoying oranges with joy.
FAQ
Here are some questions answered which you may have about your pet cockatiels:
Most fruits are safe and nutritious for birds to take in small amounts, but fruits with seeds (apples and pears) and pits (cherries, apricots, peaches, nectarines, and plums) should not be provided without first removing the pits and seeds.
Every other day, you can feed your cockatiel berries, melon, papaya, or kiwi other than citrus fruit orange. Once a month, give your cockatiel honey or millet spray. Always give your bird clean water.
Conclusion
Finally, you know the answer to your question, “can cockatiels eat oranges?” Feed them with moderation, and your pet should be healthy and happy. As mentioned earlier, keep the peels and fruit seeds of oranges away from the feed. Giving your pet some oranges with other feed will not pose any problems. You can also read on this link to learn about their feeding behavior in captivity.
Do you know if your cockatiels can eat grapes or bread? Read our articles about it to learn more.
