Grapefruits and oranges are like each other, and they belong to the citrus family, and both of them are actually hybrids. Yes, both are hybrids. Oranges are a hybrid between pomelo and mandarine, and grapefruit is a hybrid between pomelo and sweet oranges. However, oranges are older and have been crossed 300 BC in China, while grapefruit was crossed 270 years ago.
Can Parrots Eat Grapefruit?
Absolutely, parrots can eat grapefruit, as it is totally safe for them. Grapefruit is acidic, and it’s better to serve only in moderation without depending on it as a regular meal or treat for parrots. Small pieces once or twice a week are the best for any parrot.
And in this article, we will dive into everything you need to know about serving grapefruit to a parrot, what are the benefits, what to avoid, and many more. And without further ado, let’s get into this…
Benefits Of Grapefruits To Parrots
The benefits of grapefruits are also similar to oranges. However, oranges are higher in nutritional content compared to grapefruits. Grapefruits are higher in fat content, and both do not contain cholesterol. And according to Healthline, every medium-sized grapefruit contains:
- Calories: 52
- Carbs: 13 grams
- Protein: 1 gram
- Fiber: 2 grams
- Vitamin C: 64% of the RDI
- Vitamin A: 28% of the RDI
- Potassium: 5% of the RDI
- Thiamine: 4% of the RDI
- Folate: 4% of the RDI
- Magnesium: 3% of the RDI
RDI stands for the Recommended Daily Intake, and these are recommended for humans, so the RDI of these nutrients for parrots is way lesser.
Apart from that, nutrients don’t end with that. These are only the major ones that exist in grapefruits in high amounts. Look at the USDA website to see the entire list of nutrients found in grapefruit.
Apart from that, grapefruit can help the heart stay healthy and prevent any disease, it is also very hydrating and may help to prevent kidney stones, which is a disease that can happen to parrots. Grapefruit is also full of many powerful antioxidants and can boost the immune system of any parrot.
How to Serve Grapefruit to a Parrot
This might get tricky and lead the parrot to refuse to eat grapefruit, eventually. And this is because that grapefruit are sometimes tart and bitter, and parrots are so picky about food, they might like food for a certain period, and later they just tire of it and refuse to eat it. And by the way, parrots can do the same thing with toys, they will love to play with new toys, and later they will throw them when they start feeling boring to them.
The tartness and bitterness of grapefruit can make the parrot dislike it. However, it depends on the bird’s preferences, and you, as an owner, might have developed a sense of what would your parrot like and dislike. And in fact, there is a common idea about grapefruit that it’s tart and bitter all the time, and this is not true at all, you can find a really sweet grapefruit and if you did, serving it to a parrot would easier and the bird is likely to like it.
Whatever the case, just slice a piece of grapefruit and eat it in front of your parrot to get him excited about trying it. And then serve small pieces to see how would the bird react. This is my go-to method when serving new types of food to my birds.
Another method is to serve grapefruit juice by squeezing it into the water bowl, and this is the best way when the fruit is bitter because the water will dilute its taste of it. Just don’t feel obligated to serve this fruit to your bird, because there are many alternatives that any parrot would like orange, mango, pears, and many more. The important thing is to stick to moderation when serving any type of fruits or veggies to your bird.
Can Parrots Eat Grapefruit Seeds?
Yes, seeds of grapefruit and many other fruits are totally safe for parrots to consume, and the seeds have their own benefit to offer adding them to any parrot diet, or when serving grapefruit, is a great idea. But never use it as a major ingredient in a parrot’s diet.
In fact, serving seeds with the flesh of the grapefruit can entice the bird to eat it, so when you slice the pieces, leave the seeds if you found them, and preferably make them appear to the bird.
Can Parrots Eat Grapefruit Peel?
Ironically, grapefruits peel is not as tart or bitter as the flesh can be sometimes, and yes, parrots can eat safely if it was organic and thoroughly washed to remove any dust or pesticides, just don’t serve them extensively.
Conclusion
In conclusion, yes parrots can eat all parts of grapefruits just like any other citrus fruit out there. However, the acidic nature of it can cause stomach problems for the bird. And if you insist on serving them, just dilute the juice of it with water and then serve it. Use the water bowl in the cage. This way you can prevent any stomach upsets. Another thing is to find the sweetest grapefruit you can get because tartness and bitterness can lead the parrot to dislike the grapefruit.
And yes, that’s about it. I hope you found this article informative and easy to digest. Thank you for reading…
Hello, my name is sadeq and I am obsessed about parrot And I am here to share everything about raising pet parrots and how to be good owners to your bird.
