Vitamin-Rich Foods for Pet Birds

Foods that Will Boost Your Bird's Vitamin Intake

By
Alyson Kalhagen
Alyson Kalhagen
Alyson Kalhagen is an avian expert and writer with more than 10 years of combined professional experience as a veterinary technician and manager of a chain of successful pet stores. Her specialty is in avian behavior and socialization. Alyson owns several birds and has been featured in Bird Talk Magazine.
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Updated on 09/16/19
Beautiful parrot eat watermelon
lirtlon / Getty Images

It's important to pay close attention to the foods that you're feeding your pet bird because a bird's health is highly dependent on the quality of his or her diet. Choosing fresh, nutrient-rich foods is a great way to offer your pet fun and variety while doing something positive for your bird's health at the same time. Check out the delicious fresh foods listed below for some ideas that will boost the vitamin content in your bird's diet and pay off in terms of good health for your feathered friend. Chances are that incorporating some of these healthful choices into your own diet could be beneficial for your health as well!

  • 01 of 05

    Leafy Greens

    Spinach and sparrow, Ljubljana
    Rhonda Gutenberg / Getty Images

    Fresh foods that are safe for birds such as leafy greens like spinach, kale, and romaine lettuce are rich in nutrients and provide great variety to a captive bird's diet. In the wild, parrots normally dine on leafy vegetation as well as fruits, nuts, and other staples. Spinach, for example, is full of beneficial omega 3 fatty acids, which help a bird have healthy skin and feathers. Vegetables like these are an important part of balanced nutrition for pet birds than owners sometimes overlook.

  • 02 of 05

    Melons

    Bird eating watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) on ground
    Roland Symons / Getty Images

    Melons have been known for years to offer anti-aging qualities to people, and they have many other traits that can benefit your pet bird as well. Melons, including cantaloupe, watermelon, honeydew melon, and even pumpkin are rich in fiber, which is good for your bird's digestive tract. They are also rich in vitamin C, helping your pet to build and maintain a healthy immune system. Try cutting up pieces of seedless melon and offering it to your bird as a treat. You can also incorporate melons into fun bird treat recipes that you can make at home.

  • 03 of 05

    Berries

    Wet blueberries

    Anna Quaglia / EyeEm / Getty Images

    Berries and other dark colored fruits are great sources of antioxidants, which provide support to healthy feathers in pet birds. Blueberries in particular are a delicious way for you to give your bird a great dose of essential vitamins -- crammed with Vitamin C and Vitamin K, they provide additional support to a bird's immune and regulatory systems. It's fine to offer blueberries to your pet a few times a week, just be careful not to let your pet indulge in too many of these tasty blue treats: they are high in natural sugar content which can spark health problems for some birds.

  • 04 of 05

    Beans and Sprouts

    Red Beans
    Red Beans Diana Rattray

    Beans and sprouts are healthy additions to any pet bird's diet. Providing a punch of protein, beans are fun for birds to eat and delicious to boot. Try this Birdie Bean Salad recipe if you have trouble getting your parrot to accept beans as a new part of their diet. You can also try mixing beans with fruit or other more familiar foods to entice your bird to give them a try. If your bird just doesn't seem to like beans, then sprouts are another readily available, highly nutritious option. To make your own sprouts at home, simply place a few seeds from your bird's regular seed mix into the fold of a wet paper towel and place on a windowsill. Within a day or two, you'll have fresh, healthy sprouts to offer your pet bird.

    Continue to 5 of 5 below.
  • 05 of 05

    Carrots

    Orange Carrots in a Basket
    Carrots at Market Lonely Planet Images/Getty Images

    Fresh, raw carrots are a great treat for pet birds for many reasons. First of all, they are packed with vitamins that help support good eyesight, which is essential for parrots and other birds. Secondly, raw carrots are one of the best fresh foods available to help your bird exercise his or her strong jaw muscles. As with any fresh fruit or veggie, be sure to thoroughly wash carrots before giving them to your bird to prevent illness. Choose organic carrots for your pet if you want to avoid the risk of exposure to chemicals and pesticides altogether.

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