As a bird parent, you probably know that a variety of fresh fruits is an important part of your parrot’s diet. Being highly social creatures, parrots love sharing meals with their owners and will enjoy a lot of the same foods you do.

The trouble is, some fruits and vegetables are bad for parrots so it is important that you know which human foods are safe for your pet bird.

So, are cherries safe for parrots? Cherries are safe for parrots to eat, but only if you remove the pits first. Cherry pits often contain traces of cyanide and are highly toxic to parrots, so you should never feed them to your pet bird.

Considering that parrots are omnivores, you would think that all fruits and vegetables are safe for them to eat, but that isn’t the case.

While wild parrots rely on their instincts to learn which foods are safe and which aren’t, your pet relies solely on you. Thus, it is very important that you know what are you feeding to your parrot.

What is the nutritional value of cherries

You probably know that cherries are good for you, but they are also full of nutrients your feathered pal needs. And since most parrots enjoy eating cherries immensely, they can be a very tasty source of:

• Vitamin C: Cherries are high in vitamin C which is a very important micronutrient for your parrot’s overall health. It acts as an immune system booster, lowers blood pressure, prevents cataracts, regulates blood sugar, and supports cardiovascular health, among many other things
• Vitamin A: Is very important for the health of both the dermis and the feathers. It also plays a role in brightness and the overall healthy appearance of plumage
• Calcium: Is high on the list of minerals required by parrots and is necessary for strong bones and beaks. It also maintains a normal heart rhythm, supports the nervous system and cherries are a good source of it
• Iron: Cherries also contain iron which is needed by the body to produce hemoglobin for the blood to carry oxygen. However, balance is the key, since too little iron can cause anemia. Too much iron is also bad since it can result in iron storage disease which affects liver, lungs, and hearth
• Magnesium: Cherries are also a great source of magnesium which helps your parrot’s body to absorb calcium properly. Consequently, it ensures the health and the strength of bones, beaks, and keratin formation for skin and feathers

As with everything else in your parrot’s diet, moderation is the key when it comes to feeding cherries. Being high in sugar, cherries pack a lot of calories and can cause your parrot to gain weight. Furthermore, eating too much cherries in one sitting will probably result in diarrhea.

How to serve cherries to parrots to prevent mess

When it comes to serving cherries to your parrot, your number one concern should be to remove all pits. After the pits are out, you can place the cherries as they are in a bowl and offer them to your feathered friend.

However, keep in mind that your parrot will probably make a mess of eating them. Also, some parrots find it extremely funny to use them as missiles and throw them at their owners.

So it might be a good idea to chop the cherries into smaller pieces and then serve them to your bird.

While it can be a bit tricky to chop such a small fruit, at least you will minimize the mess and avoid being covered in cherry juice.

If you want to feed blueberries to your parrot, almost the same rules apply. Here is how to feed your parrot blueberries!

What will happen if a parrot eats a cherry pit

If you think there is a chance that your parrot ate a cherry pit, try not to panic and do your best to stay cool and collected. Sometimes it may only seem that a parrot is eating it, chances are that your parrot is just chewing on it and will spit it out once he gets to the bitter part.

However, once in a while a parrot can swallow an entire pit, which is definitely a cause for concern. In this case, how your parrot reacts depends on the amount of pit ingested and his size.

While a healthy bird has a good chance of metabolizing the cyanide, you should definitely take your parrot to the vet to be checked out as soon as possible. The vet will try to determine if his liver and kidney functions are good.

Things that can alert you that something is wrong are changes in balance, vomiting, and a change in droppings, especially the color of the urates.

Since eating cherry pits is potentially fatal, it is always better to take your parrot to the vet immediately, even if you only suspect that he ate one. When it comes to the health of your feathered pal, it is always better to be safe than sorry.

Can parrots have cherry juice

To put it simply, yes, you can give your parrot cherry juice. You can offer it as a drink or mix it with the fruits or seeds he is regularly eating.

Ideally, you should buy organic cherries and squeeze the juice out of them after removing the pits. This way, you will know exactly what goes into your pet bird.

Can parrots eat dried cherries

Yes, dried cherries are safe for parrots and they enjoy eating them.

And this can be a great way to treat your pet when fresh cherries are out of season. Keep in mind that organic dried cherries are the best, and steer clear from products that use sulfur dioxide as a preserver.

Will the parrot’s poop be red after eating cherries

Don’t be alarmed if your parrot produced red droppings after eating cherries.

This is completely normal and there is nothing to worry about. Although the color may seem shocking at first, it will go back to normal after your birdie passes all the cherries out of his system.

What about pesticides in cherries

Unfortunately, most cherries are full of pesticides that are equally bad for you and your pet bird.

But you can certainly find locally grown organic cherries, which will be safe and healthy for you and your parrot. If you can’t find organic cherries, then it is probably best if you don’t buy any at all.

Even if you soak or rinse the cherries thoroughly, there isn’t much you can do about the pesticides that have already reached the flesh.

Do you want to share human food with your parrot?

Sharing human food with a parrot is fun. Who doesn’t love sharing some bread with the bird on the shoulder? However, is this a good idea? We have created a couple of articles on that to make sure that your parrot stays healthy!

• Can parrots eat bread?
• Can you share some cheese with your parrot?
• Are tomatoes safe for parrots?

Related Questions

Can parrots eat scrambled eggs? Parrots can eat the entire egg, including white, yolk, and shell as well. While eggs are a good source of protein for your bird, you shouldn’t exaggerate. As with many foods, moderation is the key to a healthy parrot.

What can’t parrots eat? There is a lot of unsafe foods for parrots. Avocado, caffeine, chocolate, salt, onions, garlic, butter, oil, fruit pits, and apple seeds are some of the things you should avoid at all costs.

Can parrots have peanut butter? Although peanut butter contains lower levels of aflatoxin than peanuts, you shouldn’t feed it to your parrot. Peanut butter contains high levels of salt and sugar which aren’t safe for birds to ingest.