Can Cockatiels Eat Watermelon (Plus Are Watermelon Seeds Safe?)

Watermelon is great for Cockatiels! The high water content is great for hydrating your bird and keeping them healthy! But be careful. If given too much, the high water content may turn from a benefit to a “watery” problem if not fed in moderation!

Don’t worry. As long as you keep watermelon fed in moderation, nothing will get messy! In fact, some of the benefits involved can be amazing! From Creating antibodies to keeping your birds’ beak and nails flake-free! Watermelon can do incredible things for your bird!

Here is another article about “Can Cockatiels Eat Oranges? (Are Orange Peels Safe For Your Bird?)“This article is bound to have some useful information for you!

Can Cockatiels Eat Watermelon?

Watermelon is great for Cockatiels! The benefits that watermelon can provide for birds’ go further than just great hydration. Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Potassium, Thiamin, and Phosphorus are all great for your bird, and watermelon has them all!

We will cover each vitamin and mineral individually and how they actually help your Feathery friend. From stress-reducing factors from vitamin C to preventing overgrowth of beaks and nails from vitamin A! This incredible fruit has a lot to offer!

Let’s get Into the benefits:

The Health Benefits Of Watermelon For Cockatiels

Having pellets being the only food your cockatiels eats is not going to cut it. So feeding your bird other nutritional foods is going to be necessary! Here is why watermelon should not be skipped when you are considering what to feed your bird!

Here is a list of the vitamins and minerals that Watermelon has and why they do wonders for your bird: Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Potassium, Vitamin B1, and Phosphorous.

Vitamin A

A deficiency of vitamin A leads to the overgrowth of your bird’s beak and nails! Make sure to keep these levels in check!
Not only does a deficiency of vitamin A lead to overgrowth, but also chipping and flaking of the beak and nails. If left unchecked, this could lead to their nails and beaks breaking (which isn’t pleasant)

Vitamin C

This is an important vitamin for your bird 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!

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.

Thiamin Or 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!

Phosphorus

Phosphorus Is one of the key factors for proper bone growth and bone formation! Not enough phosphorus leads to bone troubles down the line!

How Much Watermelon Should Cockatiels Eat?

A thin slice will do your bird just fine. Watermelon is 92% water, so anything more than a slice a week and or small chunks and you are coming dangerously close to having to clean up a “watery” mess.

When it comes to watermelon, less is more. However, watermelon is great in certain situations, for example. Your bird isn’t drinking water but is still eating. They may become dehydrated. Watermelon would be a great solution to keep everybody happy and healthy!

now, what to do if they do get a hold of too much.

Can Cockatiels Eat Too Much Watermelon?

Unfortunately, yes, Cockatiels can eat too much watermelon. Watermelon has too much water content to be fed on a regular basis. The great news is, watermelon isn’t a massive issue for birds unless you’re feeding your cockatiel watermelon often (even then, it’s not fatal).

Although your bird won’t have any serious issues, some side effects of having too much watermelon may happen but they are usually pretty easy to fix by adding some more fiber into their diet!

Watery Stool

If their diet gets a bit watery, get ready for some squidgy poos! Not to worry, reduce their water intake and add some fiber! They’ll be happy in no time. Remember, watermelons are a great treat but should only be given as a snack. Fruits and veg should only be 20% of a birds’ diet.

Can Cockatiels Eat Watermelon Seeds?

Cockatiels can eat watermelon seeds, although many bird owners take the seeds out as it may be a choking hazard. The only issue I have with watermelon is the rind (The green shell that keeps all the juicy goodness inside). The rind usually is coated in pesticides to keep them healthy and bug-free while growing! It is normally a good idea to rinse your watermelon when you get home.

So in short, watermelon seeds should be find if your bird is use to eating seeds and you’re happy they are going to be fine eating the seeds and remember to rinse your watermelon to get rid of any nasty pesticides!

Which leads me on to the final section!

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 Watermelon?: Watermelon is great for cockatiels! Just remember to keep it to a slice a week, and you shouldn’t have a “watery” mess to clean up!

The Health Benefits Of Watermelon For Cockatiels?: Watermelon has amazing benefits for birds, especially dehydrated birds. Watermelon is 92% water and can be incredibly beneficial for them.

Can Cockatiels Eat Too Much Watermelon?: Unfortunately, yes, cockatiels can eat too much watermelon. Watermelon has too much water content to be fed on a regular basis. The great news is, watermelon isn’t a massive issue for birds unless you’re feeding your bird watermelon often (even then, it’s not fatal).

How Much Watermelon Should Cockatiels Eat?: A thin slice will do your bird just fine, watermelon is 92% water, so anything more than a slice a week and or small chunks and you are coming dangerously close to having to clean up a “watery” mess.

Can Cockatiels Eat Watermelon Seeds?: Cockatiels can eat watermelon seeds, although many bird owners take the seeds out as it may be a choking hazard. The only issue I have with watermelon is the rind (The green shell that keeps all the juicy goodness inside). The rind usually is coated in pesticides to keep them healthy and bug-free while growing!

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.