Cockatiels can eat a banana, yes. Cockatiels would love to snack fruits you can find in stores all year round, including bananas. This fruit is highly nutritious and will be a healthy snack if fed in moderation. As long as you give it in bite-size pieces and small amounts, it should be a great snack.
Cockatiels delight in a variety of snacks, and this includes fruits like bananas. However, it doesn’t mean that you can feed it in large servings just because your pet bird loves it.
Before feeding bananas, you may want to understand a little bit more about it.
Let’s take a look!
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Is banana OK for cockatiels?
Bananas are OK for cockatiels, and it’s because of the many nutrients it offers.
Like all other fruits, bananas have a unique combination of nutrients. These nutrients will surely benefit your pet the same as it helps us.
According to HealthLine, a medium-sized banana weighing 100 grams has the following:
- 89 calories
- 75% of water
- 1.1 grams of protein
- 22.8 grams of carbs
- 12.2 grams of sugar
- 2.6 grams of fiber
- 0.3 grams of fat
Aside from these components, bananas also have loads of vitamins and minerals:
- Potassium
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin C
As fruits, bananas are rich in nutrients but are also rich in sugar. For this reason, you should feed it only in small amounts, as snacks or treats.
Although it’s a fruit and has many nutrients, too much intake can also lead to too much sugar. Doing so can lead to compromising your pet’s health.
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Can cockatiels eat banana skin?
Cockatiels can eat the skin or peel of bananas. If you offer bananas with the skin, you’ll find it interesting how they peel it off and even nibble a few bites out of it.
Although it looks worrisome, nibbling on banana skin shouldn’t cause any issues. Still, you wouldn’t want it to eat bananas and the skin in large amounts.
As long as you give only a small amount, you can be confident your pet won’t be overeating fruit treats.
Can cockatiels eat banana chips?
Another product made out of bananas is banana chips. These chips aren’t precisely toxic. Still, these usually come processed and with added sugar.
For this reason, it would be best to stick to natural banana bites if you wish to give your pet some.
Indeed, a piece or two of banana chips won’t harm your cockatiel. However, don’t give any more than that, especially if you plan to do it regularly.
Since these chips are crunchy, your cockatiel may find some pieces difficult to break.
If you’re serving such a treat, it would be best to crush it into smaller pieces. It will help your pet eat with ease.
How many bananas can cockatiels eat?
Although it’s highly nutritious, your pet shouldn’t eat too many bananas.
Like other birds, cockatiels need a balanced diet, and bananas alone won’t be enough.
Bananas, along with other fruit treats, should only take 10% of their daily consumption. Such food treats also include seeds and other food like peanut butter and bread slices.
The most significant percentage should be pellets, making up a total of 60% of their daily diet.
The second one is 30%, consisting of various vegetables such as carrots, cabbages, etc.
As a general rule of thumb, always keep a balance when it comes to feeding. For this reason, you should never feed too many banana bites for a day.
Further, it would be best if you didn’t feed bananas as the only fruit. Consider getting a variety of options like apples, pineapples, blueberries, and watermelons.
Having a list of other fruits gives your bird balanced nutrition.
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Risks of feeding your cockatiel bananas
Bananas are safe fruit options you can offer your cockatiel. Still, although nutritious and healthy, you should be aware that there are risks in feeding such.
To avoid unwanted incidents, be mindful of the following risks you should avoid.
Too much feeding
Although highly nutritious, bananas should only form 10% of a cockatiel’s diet. It shouldn’t be any more than that.
Bananas contain sugar, and too much intake can also make your pet suffer from taking in way too much sugar.
For this reason, always limit banana treats to a couple of small bite-size pieces.
Also, don’t give bananas as the only fruit. Give your cockatiel a variety of fruits aside from such. It will also give your pet a variety of nutrients.
Too many peels
Cockatiels may nibble on peels, but it doesn’t mean you will allow it to chew on too many peels.
It would be best to cut bananas into smaller pieces without peeling. Let it nibble on small amounts, but don’t give it more than that.
While banana peels are safe, it’s not something your pet needs to eat always.
Processed bananas
Processed bananas may contain chemicals and added sugar. Thus, processed ones like banana chips shouldn’t be a regular snack for your cockatiel.
As long as you offer it a piece or two from time to time, it should be fine.
What fruits can cockatiels not eat?
Fruits like bananas play a significant role as treats and snacks. You can offer almost any fruit you can access.
Aside from bananas, there are other fruits and vegetables that you can give. If it’s your first time handling a pet bird, here is a list of fruits you can offer:
- Kiwi
- Papaya
- Cucumber
- Grapes
- Apple (remove seeds)
- Cherries
- Oranges
- Mangoes
It would be best to offer fruits in bite-size pieces. Another thing is to keep the fruit snacks in moderation.
Aside from the fact that it should only be a treat, most fruits also contain sugar. Thus, too much consumption can be harmful to birds.
Summary
Bananas offer not only a delicious snack but also a healthy one for your cockatiel. Since these birds love fruit treats, your pet will surely love some banana bites if you offer it.
Still, as much as a banana is healthy, it’s not ideal for giving your cockatiel such in large amounts because of its sugar. As a general rule of thumb, share it in small quantities, and don’t give it regularly.
Along with pellets and veggies, you can give banana bites to ensure your pet gets all the nutrients it needs.
Resources
HealthLine’s nutrition facts on bananas
Image Credits:
- Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash
- https://p1.pxfuel.com/preview/872/75/675/cockatiel-bird-parrot-australia-nature-yellow.jpg
