Can a Cockatiel Eat Grapes?

As a popular pet, cockatiels mainly eat pellets and seeds, but they also enjoy eating different kinds of fruit. Can cockatiels have grapes in their daily diet?

Cockatiels are from Australia, but they are a very common household bird all over the world. It is because they appear to be easy to take care of and very friendly to people of all ages. There are now so many foods made for bird pets on the market, so it is somehow a mystery to choose a diet for your cockatiels.

Actually, cockatiels are a kind of bird pet that do best and thrive on a diet of variety. In other words, they all like to eat different kinds of foods mixed with birdseed, pelleted food, fruit, vegetables, and occasional treats.

Further reading: What do cockatiels love to eat?

While people can enjoy salad with fresh and juicy grapes which are a delicious and nutritious snack for humans, can we feed cockatiels with grapes?

Can a cockatiel eat grapes?

The answer is yes. Cockatiels can eat a variety of vegetables and fruits including grapes. Grapes can provide a lot of nutrients and antioxidants that help cockatiels become more healthy and strong. Just bear in mind to give your birds a small amount of this fruit each time because grapes have quite high sugar content. And try to cut grapes into smaller pieces, which make it easier for the birds to eat. Also, try not to overfeed them, do not give your cockatiel more than two grapes each week.

It is safe to feed cockatiels with both seeded and seedless grapes in moderation. This kind of fruit even provides your bird with a lot of minerals and vitamins. We can call the name of Vitamin B6, Vitamin K, and calcium. These nutrients are beneficial to cockatiels’ health and keep them away from many types of viruses and bacteria. With such a great deal of compounds, grapes can help your birds to protect against health problems like cancer and strengthen the normal functions of their heart and bones. Then, there are just 5 calories per grape, so this fruit is a great solution to naturally align with cockatiels lower calorie requirements.

How to prepare grapes for cockatiels?

When preparing grapes for cockatiels, make sure you will follow the below essential points: 

• Choose the grapes which  are still fresh and organic. 
• It is necessary to wash them with warm water. 
• Cut clean grapes up into small pieces, in half or in quarters depending on the size of grapes. At that time, it is easier for your bird to eat.

Cockatiels can eat the grape skin as well, so you do not need to remove the skin. However, you could do that if you are not sure if there are dangerous chemicals remaining. The potential pesticides remaining on the grapes’ skin are dangerous and certainly you do not want your bird to be exposed to them.

For the first time to feed the birds with grapes, you should arrange a separate dish to place the grape pieces. This will help you know exactly if they like to eat them or not. If yes, you will know how much your bird can eat each time. In case your birds have some adverse reactions, like loose or runny stools to the foods or take a fancy to them, you will know it is time to reduce the food quantity or to stop feeding them.

How to feed cockatiels grapes most properly?

Bird experts usually recommend that vegetables and fruits should always be added into birds’ daily diet. Specifically, these kinds of food should account for around 20-25% of their daily diet. Their main food of dry seeds and pellets seems to lack many important nutrients like vitamins A, B, D, E, where vegetables and fruits can work well.

However, seeds and pellets should still made up most of cockatiels’ daily diet. Also, you should always fill their food bowl daily and clean their food container regularly by removing empty seed hulls. While cockatiels can and love to eat grapes, there are some things you need to know before feeding the birds with grapes.

You can diversify your bird’s diet by giving them dark, leafy greens 3-4 times a week and fruits like grapes just one or two times a week. That means grapes should never displace the regular seeds and pallets. They are just viewed as a treat, not a meal. Grapes are full of sugar known as fructose which causes an upset stomach for your birds.

A better way is to mix some fruits and vegetables together. This helps both diversify and balance nutrition in your bird’s daily diet. You can choose green leafy vegetables and occasional tropical fruit which can go perfectly together. The vegetables provide nutrients and fiber which are beneficial to the bird’s digestion. On the other hand, the fruits are great sources of minerals and energy.

Final thoughts

Cockatiels can certainly eat grapes. However, this fruit should be only given to this bird as an occasional treat and in moderation. Also, it is important to prepare fresh and organic grapes The fruits are also washed carefully and cut into small pieces that your bird can consume. Finally, to make sure you are doing right for your bird, always ask a vet if you want to give your cockatiels new foods.