The typical healthy parrot diet should include pellets, veggies, fruit, seeds, and nuts. However, loving owners always want to give something tasty to their birds as a treat. After all, they are so cute you want to spoil them. One of the most popular foods I get asked about is dried fruits. People often have them in their kitchens, and they are generally considered healthy. SO, can you offer your parrot a dried fruit that you eat yourself?
Yes, but in moderation. Dried fruits contain plenty of sugars, leading to obesity and related health issues. Overall, giving dried fruit as an occasional treat is safe and easy. Parrots love this product and will for more every time.
Overall, dried fruits are an efficient treat as they can already be served as it is. The constant nuisance of certain fruits, a.k.a. pits, are already removed. It’s a tremendous help with cherries for example. Thus, you don’t have to worry about poisoning your pet. Let’s check what dried fruits are safe and what is better for your parrot from the nutritional point of view.
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What Types of Dried Fruit Are Safe for Parrots?
The general rule is the following: if the fruit is safe for parrots in its fresh state, it’s also safe for them in its dried state. The logic is simple and effective. The only thing I want to highlight is to check your dried fruit for pits. Many manufacturers remove them, but the local farmers’ markets can have home produce still with pits. Nothing to worry about! Just remove the pits and treat your pet.
One of the biggest no-no’s for parrots is rhubarb. It’s dangerous fresh as well. The oxalic acid in rhubarb is toxic to your parrot. I don’t have an article on this vegetable yet, but I should make it soon cause of the severe dangers for parrots. I hope you’ll keep it in mind. However, I don’t think it’s a popular dried fruit in our kitchens anyways.
Among the beloved fruit types are
- apples
- strawberries
- pineapples
- papaya
- grapes
- berries
- dragonfruit
- cherries
- dates
- bananas
The list can go on and on. Each parrot has unique tastes and preferences. So, you should experiment with dried fruit to determine what types suit your pet the best.
Always remember the high content of sugar in dried fruit. Your parrot may have a sweet tooth, but that doesn’t mean you have to indulge in all the ties. Do not replace fresh fruit with dried entirely.
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What Are the Benefits of Dried Fruit for Parrots?
Overall, dried fruit contains the same set of elements as fruit but is a drastically lower amount. Thus, not the best product for vitamin enrichment. You see, when fruits are dried, they lose a significant amount of moisture and beneficial nutrients alongside it.
And now add that sugar content remains the same, and a fair chunk of nutrients is gone. So yes, the resulted products are not so beneficial. That is why dried fruit is only a treat and cannot replace fresh alternatives.
Among the most noticeable benefits of this delicacy is mood elevation! Your parrot will be happy and energetic after such a dessert. I see that among all my parrots.
Should You Buy Separate Dried Fruit for Parrot from Pet Shops?
If you buy high-quality dried fruits with no additives and preservatives whatsoever, you can buy them in any store you like. Naturally dried fruit can be found in regular supermarkets as well.
However, if you want to be sure the manufacturer hasn’t lied, you can always visit a pet shop and buy dried fruit there to be sure. However, they will be more expensive.
I’d say that there is no such need practically as you will still be giving them in the minimum amounts and mostly eating them yourself. Just don’t buy the package with no information on them! That’s sus.
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Can Parrots Eat Freeze-Dried Fruit?
And what’s the difference between dried and freeze-dried fruit at all?
These two processes are pretty similar but still have their differences in methodology and time.
You’ll be surprised, but dried fruits are actually baked in an oven at first for up to twelve hours. So, yes, I was initially surprised as well!
Freeze-dried fruit, on the contrary, is dried using low temperatures. Among the most popular methods are putting them in a freezer, vacuum chamber, or using dry ice. This process takes much longer and can stretch for weeks and months.
Both methods are entirely safe for parrots. They do not use additives (in theory) and are not poisonous.
With dried fruit, the issue is not about how it was dried but the type of source. As I’ve mentioned, you cannot eat the dried versions of foods dangerous for your parrot fresh. Plus, the pits!
Overall, dried fruit is an occasional acceptable treat if you want to focus on the taste. This is a parrot dessert – delectable but not really beneficial. I prefer to give my parrots dried fruit no more than a couple of times a week and in tiny amounts!
Keep your pet’s diet healthy.
