Oranges are great for cockatiels in moderation! A segment of orange can do wonders for your bird. If you remember to keep it to just a slice, you’ll be golden! The reason being, oranges have a high acidic level that can build up and turn a healthy snack into something less fun to deal with if the warning signs are missed!

Don’t worry. This article is here to tell you everything you need to know about oranges and your parrot! From the stress relief benefits of Vitamin C to the Potassium properties of keeping their metabolism in check! Oranges are defiantly not a fruit you should be neglecting!

Table of Contents

Let’s get started!

Can Cockatiels Eat Oranges?

Cockatiels not only can eat oranges but benefit from them too! From the stress-reducing properties of Vitamin C to boost the immune system from properties found in folate! Each of the vitamins and minerals coming up in the next section has amazing benefits that can do wonders for your bird!

When it comes to oranges, remember to keep them to one or two slices a week! As oranges are high in ascorbic acid, which can cause digestion problems for your bird. I will go into more detail about this later.

The 80/20 Rule For A Cockatiel Diet

Cockatiels should really stick to the 80/20 rule. Usually, 80% of your cockatiels’ daily diet will be pellets and 20% fruit and vegetables.

Fruit and Veg will provide your cockatiel with new tastes and flavors! Not only will this help you bond with your cockatiel by introducing them to new fun foods, but you will also be adding different nutrition to their diet that may not be in the pellets!

The Health Benefits Of Oranges For Cockatiels

Oranges are rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Potassium, and Folate. Each one doing amazing necessary things for your Cockatiel!

If you’re looking for a great article on something else Cockatiels can eat, try my article “Can Cockatiels Eat Cucumber (Why You Should Rinse Them First)“

Let’s get into it.

Vitamin C

  • This is an important vitamin for your cockatiels to have. Vitamin C is great at reducing stress. 
  • Having a Vitamin C deficiency can be detrimental to your little guys’ overall mental health.
  • Vitamin C is great for the immune system and creating antibodies! Which will keep your birdie healthy!

Thiamin (Vitamin B1)

  • Thiamin keeps your bird’s nervous system in check! Keeping their coordination and motor controls working the way they should be!
  • A deficiency in Vitamin B1 can be a miner as a loss of appetite to something more serious as seizures and even, in some extreme cases, loss of life.
  • Don’t worry! Many foods have enough vitamin B to keep them happy and coordinated while clambering from curtains to cages! 

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.

Folate

Folate is vital to your bird’s health, and Oranges are 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.

Can Cockatiels Eat Orange Peel?

Although birds can eat the orange peel, it is not recommended. The peel of an orange is where the majority of pesticides are going to be! Unfortunately, pesticides are hazardous to birds as they can even be fatal in some cases!

Easy enough fix! Just peel your orange before feeding your bird some of this delicious treat, and you shouldn’t have any issues with those nasty pesticides!

How Much Oranges Should A Cockatiel Eat?

Oranges are unfortunately high in ascorbic acid, leading to problems over time if fed too much. So for that reason, I would recommend only one orange segment a week! However, just because you need to keep an eye on how much orange a cockatiel should have, doesn’t mean you should avoid it!

There are many reasons why oranges should become part of your cockatiels time to time diet! Firstly, all the benefits I’ve mentioned above are a good start!

Secondly, bonding. I’m a big fan of turning snacks into bonding exercises for you and your bird! Either have your bird on your shoulder or top of their cage and feed them bits of a slice at a time to create a bond with them! (remember birds live in flocks usually and this way they can mimic certain behaviors this way)

Lastly, adding new flavors/tastes to your birds’ diet can open your bird to new favorites (which they might thank you for!). Once you know what your bird really takes a liking to, you can use them as treats for good behavior!

If you’re looking for a great article about all cockatiel food, try my article on “Can Cockatiels Eat Apples? (Are Apple Seeds Safe?)” This should have some useful info for you!

Can Cockatiels Eat Too Much Orange

Cockatiels can eat too much orange, unfortunately. However, the good news is, it won’t be fatal. A study where chickens and turkeys were fed too much vitamin C didn’t have fatal side effects.

{Study of vitamin C from the website “DSM” Click the DSM to read the article}

Although, one of the side effects may be an upset tummy! Usually, oranges contain fructose (natural sugars) which is fine for humans. However, birds don’t create enough of the enzyme necessary to break down the sugars and could lead to problems down the line, such as upset tummies (which could get messy).

Watery Stool

If their tummies do get a bit upset, get ready for some squidgy poos! Not to worry, reduce their orange intake and add some fiber! They’ll be happy in no time. Remember, oranges are a great snack when given in the right amount but should only be given as a healthy snack. Don’t forget, usually, fruits and vegetables should only be 20% of your cockatiels’ diet.

Now that we have explained the final topic let’s move on to the final section!

The Recap

If you’ve made it to the end and are now reading the recap! Thank you. In this section, I like to cover the article’s highlights and go over the necessary information!

Can Cockatiels Eat Oranges?: Cockatiels love oranges! Although, remember to keep it to one or two slices a week! The high ascorbic acid could lead to an upset tummy!

The Health Benefits Of Oranges For Cockatiels: Oranges have amazing benefits for cockatiels ranging from stress relief to boosting their immune system. Oranges definitely shouldn’t be overlooked.

What Vitamins And Minerals Do Oranges Have?: Oranges are rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Potassium, and Folate. Each one doing amazing necessary things for your cockatiels!

How Much Orange Should A Cockatiels Eat: Cockatiels should really stick to one orange segment a week as oranges have high ascorbic acid levels. Don’t worry. It will not be fatal if they have too much. However, it might give your cockatiels an upset tummy!

Can Cockatiels Eat Too Much Orange?: Yes and no. Eating too much orange will not be fatal for a cockatiel, but it may give them an upset tummy due to the high ascorbic acid content (or Vitamin C).

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 birds 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.

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