How do you know they've had too much pomegranate?

Watch out for watery stool! If this happens, just ease up on watery food for a bit and add some fiber to their diet. Should sort out their messy problem!

Can African Greys Eat Pomegranate? The Brainy Bird

Q: How much pomegranate should you give your African grey?

If you have decided to introduce pomegranate into your birds’ diet, great! Now, how much pomegranate should you be feeding them? Rule of thumb, roughly 10% of your birds’ diet should be fruits.

Are you looking for a way to treat your African Grey? Well, look no further, as this is the article for you! Whether you’re looking to get your first African Grey, or you’ve had your little feathery friend for years, it’s never too late to introduce them to something new!

In this article, not only will you find out if your Grey can eat a pomegranate, but you will also learn about its health benefits and what folate can do for your youngling! Read this article and see why you should treat your feathery friend!

Can African Greys Eat Pomegranate?

Short answer…Yes! Not only is your birdie going to love the succulent red treat, but they are also going to benefit from it too! Be prepared for a messy clean-up once the fun is done though.

What Should An African Greys Diet Be?

It is usually recommended that you feed your grey roughly 40% of their body weight in food a day. On average, African greys weigh 500grams so the rule of thumb would be about 150grams of food per day, but this is a rough estimate as all birds are different and have different needs.

Here is a shortlist of the essentials for a birds diet:

Pellets
Mixed Fruits
Foraging Toys
Daily Fresh Water

Pellets

As for what your grey should be eating, doing some research as well as trial and error will be needed as birds can be frustratingly picky. As a base your grey will need anywhere between 1/2 to 1/4 a cup of pellets to fulfill most of what they need to be happy birdies.

(Seeds should not be their main diet as they lack the nutrition needed for a healthy happy birdie)

Now that we covered what the minimum is for a greys’ diet, let’s add in everything else that’s going to help your bird be all they can be.

Mixed Fruits

Pellets are a great start for your birds’ diet as they cover most of your birds’ nutrition, although they will need more! Here’s where mixed fruit and vegetables come in. Greys need a wide variety of foods to be “complete”.

To name a couple of fruits and vegetables that can do wonders for your birdie: Asparagus, Mango, and Cucumber. These are great choices for your little one to benefit from!

“Remember to remove these from their feeding area daily as they spoil quickly“

Here is a great youtube video that you can learn a lot from! “What Smokey eats & more“

Foraging Toys

This is a must when it comes to bird stimulation as well as creating and maintaining good mental health! Foraging toys mimic how a bird would find food in the wild, not only would it keep them happy and active, it provides exercise for their beaks which needs to be well looked after! Continue to the bottom of the article for our best-foraging toys!

The Health Benefits Of Pomegranate

Here are multiple reasons why pomegranate should be used as a treat from time to time. Remember, fruits should only make up 20% of your birds’ diet. African grey parrots do not need many fats to survive. Pomegranate is incredibly low in fats (roughly 1%) while being high in fiber and natural sugars (although too much sugar can be a bad thing, read on to find out why). However, what really is beneficial is the folate, especially in growing birds.

Pomegranate has many health benefits, such as vitamin C to help reduce stress, and proteins to help with the construction of tissues. Here are some of the nutrients and vitamins found in pomegranate: Fiber, Protein, Vitamin K, Vitamin C, Folate, and Potassium. All of which are great for your bird! Pomegranate is a terrific treat that you would be silly to ignore!

Let’s look deeper into the nutrients found in pomegranates, and what they can do for your grey!

Protein

Your Grey needs all sorts to keep healthy. Protein is going to make sure their muscle tissues are kept healthy and strong during their life.
While growing and malting, parrots need to produce nitrogen. Proteins help their body to produce the necessary nitrogen for healthy growth!
Protein is going to aid your parrot’s enzymes and keep your little one’s health in check.

Another article containing protein- Eggs

Vitamin C

This is an important vitamin for your parrot to have. Vitamin C is great at reducing stress. Having a Vitamin C deficiency can be detrimental to your grey’s overall mental health.
Vitamin C is great for the immune system and creating antibodies!

Here are a couple of articles that include Vitamin C!- Pineapple, Asparagus, Mango, and Cucumber.

Folate

Folate is vital to your bird’s health, and pomegranate is a great source for it! Just like humans, we need a stable intake of the correct nutrients for healthy growth!

Folate is needed to make red and white blood cells in the bone marrow. This helps protect against illnesses and carries nutrients around the body.
Folate is responsible for converting carbohydrates into energy and keeping your grey chatty and playful!
Not only is it important during infancy but during pregnancy too! Folate is a fantastic vitamin that is responsible for the rapid growth they experience during adolescence.

Potassium

Potassium is great for aiding the speed of their metabolism, as well as helping strengthen bones.
This mineral is great for reducing blood pressure while at the same time helping to retain water!
High Potassium diets help prevent strokes as well as keeping diseases like osteoporosis and kidney stones at bay.

Interested in a couple of articles that involve potassium? Here we go- Asparagus, Mango, and Cucumber.

Can African Greys Eat Too Much Pomegranate?

Unfortunately, just like most things in life. Too much pomegranate can be harmful, it’s not fatal though, so don’t worry! Just remember fruits are meant to make up 10% of your greys diet. A slice from time to time is all they need; trust me they will have endless messy fun.

Here are some side effects from too much pomegranate:

Diabetes

Yes! Birds can get diabetes too. Too much sugar, just like with humans, can lead to diabetes, and other diseases and heart disorders. Sugar can be a great treat or a harmful toxin depending on quantity. Before you throw out all sugar, remember moderation. Keep to a slice every so often, and you will keep your friend happy, healthy, and active.

Upset stomachs

Granted, this may only happen the first few times your Grey eats pomegranate or while they are still developing. Due to the high sugar content, some side effects may include an upset tummy, but it should pass soon! Try to introduce it in smaller quantities at first.

How Much Pomegranate An African Grey Should Have

Suppose you have decided to introduce pomegranate into your birds’ diet, great! Now, how much pomegranate should you be feeding them? Rule of thumb, roughly 10% of your birds’ diet should be fruits. Cut a pomegranate in half and let your African grey have that for a tasty treat! Remember, moderation keeps it a treat!

Different Ways To Enjoy Pomegranate!

Sometimes how it looks, trumps how it tastes for a parrot. Here are a few ways you can string up, chop up, and pulp pomegranate to Introduce your feathery friend to the wonderful world of pomegranate. Personally, I think the Granada pomegranate deseeder on amazon is terrific! Dishwasher safe, durable, and cheap.

Some birds are stubborn and do not like trying new things so here are a few creative ways I’ve found that work with a stubborn bird.

Hanging

Parrots are native to mangroves, woodlands, and forests of west and central Africa. Instinctively they tend to go for hanging fruit. Poke a hole through the pomegranate and pull a string through. String the pomegranate from the roof or tie it to the side of the cage.

Smaller portions

Some birds find bigger food portions daunting; some fruits need to be cut into smaller sizes. I have found that cutting some fruits into fifty pence sizes makes it easier to handle for the little ones.

Blend it!

Some of my friends blend pomegranate, and their parrots love it! Empty the contents and throw it into a blender.

Freeze it

Hot summer days can be tough. Empty a pomegranate into an ice lolly mould and put them into the freezer, and voila! You have yourself a cold, healthy treat.

Pomegranate Info

If you would like to know more about pomegranate in general, “Here is a link” to “The US Department of health” About Pomegranate.

Recap

Can parrots eat pomegranate? Yes! We have learned that not only do they enjoy it, but it is also incredibly beneficial for their health. Although it has great health benefits, it has a high natural sugar content, so it’s important to remember that moderation is key.

Highlights of this article include:

Pomegranates are a great source of folate, potassium, protein, fibre, vitamin C and K.
Pomegranate is an amazing fruit for young parrots, as it stimulates and gives them the building blocks they need for rapid growth.
Pomegranate has vitamin C, which is a great stress reliever.

Any Questions you have relating to this article or just for me in general, leave a comment down below in the comments section.

Disclaimer: I am not an expert. Some parrots may react differently to different fruits. Please make sure you always slowly introduce a new food into their diet and keep an eye out for any adverse reactions. If your pet does start displaying symptoms of an adverse reaction, please contact your vet for advice.

Amazon Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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