As a first-time cockatiel owner, it may be challenging to know what to feed and not to feed your cockatiel. For example, you may be eating an orange and wonder if my cockatiel can eat this?

Can cockatiels eat oranges? Yes, they can. Oranges are safe for cockatiels and can benefit them due to their high nutritional profile. Oranges contain a lot of vitamins A and C, antioxidants, citric acid, and fiber. However, you should offer oranges in moderation because too many may cause dietary issues in the cockatiel.

Cockatiels can consume all parts of an orange, including the peel, flesh, and seeds. Continue reading to learn more about the benefits and risks of oranges for your cockatiel.

Can Cockatiels Eat Oranges?

Yes, cockatiels can eat oranges. Oranges are perfectly safe and healthy for cockatiels. They are high in vitamins and minerals, benefiting the cockatiel’s health. When it comes to oranges, a cockatiel can consume all parts. They do not contain any potentially damaging poisons or enzymes.

In addition, the cockatiel’s palate can tolerate the acidity of oranges, and they have enzymes that aid in the digestion of orange pulp and peel. That is why cockatiels have no trouble eating fruits such as oranges, including peels.

However, remember the 20% rule, which dictates that fruits and vegetables should only make up 20% of the cockatiel’s diet. Too many oranges mean too much sugar and citric acid, which can make the cockatiel very ill. Also, overfeeding your cockatiel with oranges can expose it to nutritional inadequacies.

Ensure the cockatiel has a varied diet consisting of a well-formulated pellet diet, fruits, and vegetables. Another thing to consider is that your cockatiel may have an allergy that causes it to react negatively to specific fruits. As a result, when giving your cockatiel oranges for the first time, start with a small amount.

Oranges Nutritional Table

According to the  U.S Department of Agriculture, one orange contains the following nutrients:

Nutritional Content	Amount Per    Serving
Calories	72.4 calories
Protein	1.45 g
Fat	0.185 g
Carbohydrates	18.1 g
Fiber	3.7 g
Sugars	14.4 g
Calcium	61.6 g
Iron	0.154 g
Magnesium	15.4 mg
Phosphorus	21.6 mg
Potassium	279 mg
Zinc	0.108mg
Vitamin C	81.9 g
Vitamin A	16.9 µg
Folate	46.2 µg

What Are The Benefits Of Feeding Oranges To Cockatiels?

Let’s look at how oranges nutrients benefit your cockatiel:

Fiber

Oranges have fiber which helps with; digestion, assists in the absorption of nutrients, eases bowel movements, and prevents issues like diarrhea and constipation. According to research, fiber from citrus fruits lowers blood cholesterol.

Flavonoids and antioxidants

Antioxidants aid in cell protection and tissue and cell development. They also fight free radicals. With enough antioxidants, an aging cockatiel is not susceptible to age-related ailments.

Antioxidants also help with boosting immunity against viruses. Oranges contain two antioxidants—flavonoids, which comprise anthocyanins and hesperidin.

Hesperidin lowers blood pressure, while anthocyanins improve your cockatiel’s vision, cell strength, immune system, and mental agility. Other benefits of flavonoids include; increased blood flow and prevention against heart disease.

Vitamin C

Oranges have a lot of vitamin C, which aids in producing collagen and keeps the skin healthy. It boosts immunity and red blood cell production.

Vitamin C also aids in stress reduction, stabilizes blood sugar levels, and helps the body to absorb iron. Furthermore, vitamin C helps the cockatiel’s body to infections and can aid in healing an injured cockatiel.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A and carotenoids are also present in oranges, and they help with improving the cockatiel’s vision.

Citric acid

Citric acid helps improve skin and feather color and helps with digestion. It also prevents kidney stones and aids in calcium synthesis.

Thiamin

Thiamin helps with maintaining the neurological system of the cockatiel.

Potassium

Potassium aids the body’s metabolism and helps to maintain a healthy water-to-blood ratio. It is also beneficial for muscle contraction and neurological functions. High potassium diets can prevent strokes, osteoporosis, and kidney stones.

Folate

Folate promotes hemoglobin formation. It also helps form white blood cell formation and strengthens the cockatiel’s immune system. Folate is also in charge of turning carbs into energy.

What Parts of An Orange Can Cockatiels Eat?

Let us break down the various parts of orange cockatiels can eat.

Can Cockatiels Consume Orange Peels?

Yes, cockatiels can consume orange peels. Orange peels are safe to eat and contain a lot of vitamin C. However, some cockatiels may not like orange peels and prefer the flesh.

Also, the peel is challenging, making it difficult for the cockatiel to digest it. In addition, orange peels can sometimes be a choking hazard. So removing the orange peel is advisable, also because it can sometimes contain pesticides that can harm your cockatiel.

Can Cockatiels Consume Orange Seeds?

Yes, cockatiels can eat orange seeds. As the cockatiel devours the flesh, it will inevitably consume one or two seeds. However, if you have baby cockatiels, ensure you remove all the seeds because they can clog their throats.

Can Cockatiels Drink Orange Juice?

According to research, orange juice contains more citric acid than any other portion of the orange. It is also high in calories and sugar. So, before offering it to the cockatiel, ensure you dilute it with water.

Ensure you only provide the cockatiel with natural orange juice rather than processed orange juice containing additives and higher concentrations of sugars.

Can Cockatiels Eat Dried Oranges?

Yes, they can. However, ensure the dried oranges do not have any sulfur dioxide.

How Often Can Cockatiels Eat Oranges?

Oranges are sweet fruits, and your cockatiel may prefer them to its regular diet. So, ensure you feed the orange to the cockatiel occasionally. Why? Oranges have high sugar levels, making your cockatiel suffer from obesity and other sugar-related diseases.

Many avian veterinarians suggest feeding oranges at least once or twice a week. If your cockatiel prefers oranges to other fruits, feed it thrice a week but reduce the other fruits.

How Many Oranges Should I Feed To My Cockatiel?

If you only feed them oranges once a week, you can offer them two segments. If you provide them with oranges twice a week, offer them one orange piece.

If you go above two segments, the cockatiel might get full and not eat its pellet diet. This can lead to digestive issues such as diarrhea.

How To Feed Oranges to Your cockatiel

Here is how to feed oranges to your cockatiel.

• Peel the orange.
• Slice it into smaller pieces.
• Offer the orange pieces in your hand but clean it first or place it in the food bowl.
• If you are offering orange juice, squeeze it and dilute it with water. Then, provide a small amount to the cockatiel.

The Risks of Feeding orange to Your cockatiels

Orange has no harmful content that can affect your cockatiel. However, there are a few things you should keep in mind when feeding oranges to your cockatiel, such as:

Pesticides 

Try to look for oranges that are not pesticide-treated. Better yet, you can grow your oranges. Cockatiels have delicate digestive systems which cannot digest chemicals in pesticides.

Bacteria 

Be mindful of where you store your peeled orange to avoid mold formation. Also, remove any leftover oranges from your cockatiel’s food bowl to prevent pests from getting into the cage. Bacteria and insects can cause your cockatiel to get ill.

Overweight issues

Too much orange can cause the cockatiel to become obese. Obesity leads to diseases such as diabetes. So ensure you feed the orange to your cockatiels as an occasional treat.

FAQs

Here are other related questions.

Conclusion

So, can cockatiels eat oranges? Yes, cockatiels can eat oranges. As we have seen, oranges are safe for cockatiels. It also contains a lot of nutrients that are beneficial for the cockatiel. However, ensure your cockatiel eats the orange in moderation to prevent obesity.

Also, try to provide the cockatiel with organic orange rather than pesticide-treated orange. Remove orange leftovers from the cockatiel’s cage to prevent bacteria and insects—all the best to your pet cockatiel.