Also known as quarrions, cockatiels are like small parrots that are native to Australia. They widely renowned for making great companions to humans and thus great household pets. They thrive in attention, and will never let you feel alone. However, choosing what to feed these feathered creatures can often get tricky. Although a major portion of their diet consists of pellets, they can eat some of the fruits and vegetables as well. But which fruit or vegetable can you feed them? What about bananas?
So, can cockatiels eat bananas? Cockatiels love eating fruits, and banana is no exception. Banana is rich in many nutrients and makes a healthy snack for the birds. You don’t even need to prepare these fruits in order to feed them to your pet. They can easily eat the peeled banana as it is. Not just the fruit, but its peel is also well-liked by the cockatiels, which can nibble on it all day long.
Do cockatiels like eating bananas?
Cockatiels are fond of different kinds of staple fruits, including bananas. If you place a dish full of banana slices in front of them, they’d never turn away from it.
However, cockatiels are lovers of variety. Thus, the best way to feed them bananas, or any fruit in general, is to mix it up with a few other fruits and serve them a fruit salad. It will make their snack much more exciting for them.
Are bananas healthy for cockatiels?
Let’s take a look at the nutritional information chart of a banana:
Serving size: approx. 100 grams
| Nutrients | Quantity |
| Vitamin A | 64 IU |
| Vitamin C | 8.7 g |
| Vitamin E | 0.10 g |
| Niacin | 0.666 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.333 mg |
| Pyridoxine | 0.368 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.032 mg |
| Sodium | 1 mg |
| Potassium | 358 mg |
| Calcium | 5 mg |
| Iron | 0.13 mg |
| Copper | 0.078 mg |
| Magnesium | 27 mg |
| Phosphorous | 22 mg |
| Manganese | 0.260 mg |
| Zinc | 0.15 mg |
| Carbohydrates | 22.84 g |
| Protein | 1.09 g |
| Dietary fibers | 2.61 g |
| Energy | 89 kcal |
As we mentioned before, banana is a richly nutritious fruit, and the chart proves just as much. It contains a bunch of nutrients that cockatiels require to maintain a healthy lifestyle, such as Vitamins A, B6 (Pyridoxine), and C, dietary fibers, and minerals like magnesium and iron.
Thus, bananas are completely healthy for cockatiels. Since a cockatiel’s diet ideally consists of about 80% seeds and pellets, nutritious snacks such as banana can make up the rest of the 20%.
Fresh bananas: ideal for cockatiels
Freshly-bought bananas are ideal for feeding cockatiels. Fresh bananas are the easiest to eat for these little creatures. You can either serve them these by cutting them into slices or hold the peeled fruit near their beak. They will nibble their way through it without any difficulty.
Fresh bananas also have a high-calorie count, and all the vitamins and minerals in it are still intact, unlike dried bananas. Thus, if you want to feed your feathered friend these fruits, you can best serve them fresh.
Can cockatiels eat dried bananas?
The last section begs the question: can cockatiels eat freeze-dried bananas? Yes, they certainly can. Cockatiels will enjoy dried bananas just as they do the fresh ones. However, the purpose of adding nutrients in their diet is not really achieved in feeding them dried bananas.
Moreover, banana is available throughout the year, unlike other seasonal fruits such as mangoes, grapefruits, etc. Therefore, there’s no point in feeding them dried bananas that lack nutrients instead of buying fresh ones.
However, if you have some freeze-dried banana left and want to use it to feed your cockatiels, you can try mixing them up with their seeds and pellets. It will give both the taste as well as nutrition.
Are banana seeds safe for cockatiels?
The tiny black things that you find in the center of the fruit are the seeds of banana. Most of us eat bananas without bothering about their seeds at all. But what about cockatiels? Are these tiny little seeds safe for them to eat?
Yes, the banana seeds are completely safe for cockatiels to eat, just as they are to us. These seeds don’t cause their organs any harm and leave their body as stools. Thus, you don’t have to go through the trouble of removing these seeds while feeding your cockatiel a banana.
Can cockatiels eat banana peel?
Yes, cockatiels can eat banana peels. Cockatiels love to nibble on them, and occasionally take a few bites of it as well. It poses no threat to their health. However, to rid the peel of any possibility of chemicals, you can wash them thoroughly before placing them in the cockatiel’s cage.
Can cockatiels eat banana leaves?
Although banana leaves do not pose a threat to your cockatiel’s health, we don’t recommend you to feed these to them. It is because while not harmful, they contain no nutritional value either.
Your feathered pet can nibble on the leaves, and might even take a bite or two. Thus, you should avoid letting them near these leaves.
Are snacks made from bananas okay for cockatiels to eat?
Banana bread
Bread is not ideally recommended for feeding cockatiels. However, feeding them bread occasionally shouldn’t be a problem. Carefully crumble the bread beforehand to avoid a choking hazard.
Banana chips
Just like banana bread, the chips are also not to be a part of their daily but should be fed occasionally as a treat. The chips should also be well-crumbled before offering them. However, always go for plain banana chips while feeding them. Avoid using store-bought chips that contain preservatives.
Other fruits you can feed your cockatiel
Bananas are not the only fruits you can feed your cockatiel. Here is a list of fruits you can safely feed your feathered pet:
- Grapes
- Oranges
- Mangoes
- Melons
- Peaches
- Apples
- Cantaloupes
- Apricots
- Plums
- Nectarines
- Papayas
What should you avoid feeding your cockatiel?
Birds are fragile beings. Even a small portion of a food or drink can prove lethal to them. Therefore, you should be extra careful about what you feed them.
Given below are a few things you should avoid feeding your cockatiel:
Salt
Salt disturbs the balance of electrolyte and fluids in birds, leading to dehydration or kidney failure. In many cases, too much salt ends up killing a bird.
Caffeine
Even a single drop of a caffeine-rich drink can be lethal to birds. It can cause arrhythmia and hyperactivity in birds, and often leads to cardiac arrest.
Chocolates
In addition to caffeine, chocolates also contain the theobromine, which leads to hyperactivity, diarrhea, tremors, and seizures in both animals and birds. Due to their smaller bodies, birds suffer its effects more severely.
Avocado
Avocado contains persin, a substance that can damage the cardiac functions of a bird, leading to its death.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I feed my cockatiel bread? Bread doesn’t provide any essential nutrients to cockatiels. Therefore, it is best to treat them bread occasionally (once in a week).
Can cockatiels eat flaxseed? Yes, cockatiels can eat flaxseed. Flax seeds are nutritious for their health.
Is grit an essential part of a cockatiel’s diet? No, grit is not essential for a cockatiel. If you feed your cockatiel a proper and nutritious diet, you won’t need to give them grit.
How often do I need to feed my cockatiel? Cockatiels usually eat twice a day: morning and evening. In total, they consume about 30-40 grams of seeds or pellets.
Do cockatiels need cuttlebone? Yes, cockatiels need a cuttlebone for calcium. You should always leave a cuttlebone in their cage.
Conclusion
To conclude, let’s revert to our original question: can cockatiels eat bananas? Yes, cockatiels can eat bananas. Bananas are both delicious and nutritious treats for your feathered pet. You can easily feed them these fruits without much preparation. Cockatiels also like to nibble on the peel of bananas.