Can Parakeets Eat Strawberries? Important Precautions before Feeding

Can parakeets eat strawberries, and if they can, is it beneficial for them to do so? Asking yourself questions like this when you’re a pet owner is very important. After all, our pets rely on us to give them the food that’s healthy for them. Feeding them the wrong food can have disastrous consequences down the road.

Today, we’re going to take an in-depth look at whether or not parakeets can eat strawberries, and more importantly, whether these juicy red fruits are actually good for them.

If you’re in a hurry, the short answer is this: Parakeets can definitely eat strawberries as long as you feed it to them in moderation. Strawberries can be a healthy treat because they’re rich in important nutrients such as manganese, potassium, folate, and anti-oxidants.

Are strawberries good for parakeets?

To find out whether or not strawberries are good for our feathery friends it’s a good idea to take a look at what these juicy red fruits contain. 100 grams of strawberries contains the following nutrients:

• 32 calories
• 91% water
• 0.7 grams of protein
• 7.7 grams of carbs
• 4.9 grams of sugar
• 2 grams of fiber
• 0.3 grams of fat

As we can see, these fruits are low in fat and calories. This is good because parakeets do not need much of these in their diet. However, they do contain quite a bit of sugar. It is for that reason that parakeets should not eat strawberries too often. Moderation is key! In addition, they contain a decent amount of fiber which can aid their digestion.

In addition, strawberries also contain several important vitamins and minerals that are beneficial to your bird.

Nutrient	Benefit
Vitamin C	Not too important; parakeets can make it themselves in their liver
Potassium	Promotes a healthy nervous system and a strong heart in parakeets
Manganese	Maintaining the proper function and regulation of many biochemical and cellular reactions
Folate	Promotes healthy cell division and is used to convert carbs to energy
Antioxidants	Antioxidants are important to prevent oxidative stress in your pet bird.

So, on the whole, strawberries contain quite a few beneficial nutrients, and feeding your parakeet a piece of strawberry every now and then can be good for them, as long as it’s done in moderation.

Are Strawberries toxic to parakeets? (Precautions before feeding)

Strawberries are certainly not toxic to your parakeet. However, even good things can be bad in excess. There are some precautions that you must take before feeding strawberries to your budgie.

First off, make absolutely sure that you wash the fruit. Strawberries, like most other produce nowadays, are unfortunately often contaminated with pesticides and insecticides. The best way to remove these from the fruit is by soaking them in a mixture of baking soda and water before rinsing them.

Secondly, you have to make sure that you do not accidentally overfeed your parakeet. Sure, strawberries can be a beneficial snack for your beloved bird but that’s only in small quantities. Feeding them too much of anything, including strawberries, is not good for them and can lead to weight gain, nutritional imbalances, and other issues.

Further, if your parakeet is unfamiliar with strawberries, ensure that you introduce it into their diet gradually. That way, you can see how they react to this new addition to their diet and monitor any adverse reactions. It also gives their digestive system some time to get used to the new food. Almost all parakeets will tolerate strawberries just fine, but if you notice any negative reaction stop feeding immediately and consult a veterinarian.

Finally, make sure that you only feed your parakeet plain strawberries. Do not feed them chocolate-covered strawberries, whipped cream, or powdered sugar.

How to feed strawberries to your parakeet

Feeding strawberries to your parakeet is surprisingly simple. Just follow these steps and you’ll be good to go!

1. Cut off the stems. Parakeets can eat the stems but most don’t like them very much.
2. Wash the strawberries thoroughly.
3. Feed your bird a small amount to start. Cut a berry into pieces and give them a small part.
4. Gradually increase the amount you give them but make sure not to overfeed.
5. If your particular bird does not eat the fruit, remove it from their cage to prevent rotting.

How many strawberries can Parakeets safely eat?

Parakeets are small birds that do not need a whole lot of food. Because they are so small it’s very easy to overfeed them if you’re not careful. Only around 5 to 10% of their diet should consist of fruits, and not all of that should consist of strawberries. They need a wide range of many different fruits in order to stay in optimal shape.

Generally speaking, it’s recommended to feed your parakeet no more than a single strawberry every week.

Can parakeets eat strawberry seeds and leaves?

Yes, strawberry seeds and leaves are safe for parakeets to eat. Unlike the seeds of some other fruits, they do not contain cyanide and are not harmful to ingest. In fact, the seeds are a great source of fiber for your bird and many budgies absolutely love eating them so make sure that you do not remove them.

The leaves are also okay for them to have, but not all parakeets like the taste of them.

Do parakeets like to eat strawberries?

Most parakeets are big fans of strawberries. They’re quite a sweet fruit and just like humans, parakeets are attracted to sweet foods. Just take a look at this video below to get an idea of how much your bird will like this fruit.

However, it has to be said that every budgie is different. Some birds like nothing more than one of these juicy fruits while others don’t care for it at all.

If you notice that your parakeet is not interested in strawberries, do not worry. Strawberries can be a healthy treat for them to have but they’re by no means essential. There are many other fruits that you can treat your birdie with.

Other fruits & veggies that parakeets like

Whether your particular bird does not like strawberries or you’re just looking for some new food ideas, here are some parakeet-approved fruits and veggies that most parakeets go crazy for:

• Grapes
• Blueberries
• Raspberries
• Watermelon
• Apples (remove the seeds)
• Bananas
• Pineapples
• Broccoli
• Carrots
• Tomatoes
• Oranges