Can Cockatiels Eat Peas? All There’s To Know

Peas are very nutritious food and are good for humans in general. But is it also worth feeding a cockatiel? Like humans, cockatiels also have specific food options, and not anything can be digested or is healthy for them. And as a bird owner, it’s your responsibility to look after your pet’s diet.

So, can cockatiels eat peas? Yes, in short. Cockatiels will eat peas, and it is very healthy for them too. They are rich in vitamins and minerals. Moreover, they can be eaten in many ways and are easy to prepare. Peas will help them develop muscle and help their immunity.

In this article, we will discuss the health benefits of peas and the potential drawbacks you might face at length. We will discuss how to prepare peas properly, quantity, and so on. So, wasting no time, let’s discuss everything about a pea diet for your beloved bird.

Can Cockatiels Eat Peas?

If you’re wondering, do cockatiels like peas? The answer is yes. They will eat fresh, frozen, dried, canned, and boiled peas. It is very safe and healthy for them.

However, whether your specific bird will eat peas or not is hard to tell. Just like us, they have likings and dislikings. If your cockatiel likes peas, you can feed them without any problem. Again, if they don’t like peas, don’t force them.

They might want to eat unripe peas, but green peas are more nutritious. Cockatiels will also eat raw peas, and raw peas rarely harm them. So if you are wondering can cockatiels eat raw peas or not, yes, they can.

Nevertheless, it’s wise to get them checked by a vet to make sure they have no allergies or anything wrong. Don’t introduce new foods to their diet at once. Do it slowly.

The Health Benefits of Peas

Peas offer necessary nutrients, and if you can add peas to your bird’s diet, it will be helpful for its development and muscle growth. It will also fulfill their protein requirements.

Peas have vitamins, minerals, proteins, and fibers. Their benefits are:

Vitamins

Peas are filled with different kinds of vitamins. They have vitamin A which helps with good vision, healthy kidneys, supports a healthy immune system, stronger bones, healthy growth, and so forth. Additionally, they help prevent diseases.

Vitamin B6 plays a key role in the proper metabolism of amino acids. Without that, your birds will fall sick. They also give your birds increased energy. Vitamin C helps boost eyesight and the colors of feathers and prevents infection and disease.

Proteins

Peas have a very high content of protein. There are about 5 grams of protein per 100 grams of green peas. Protein is important as it provides muscle strength and helps cockatiels in their growth. They also play a role in the prevention of diseases.

Minerals

Peas are rich in minerals like Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, and Iron. All of these will help your bird in bone health, growth, reproduction, metabolism, etc. Iron helps form hemoglobin etc. Zinc helps in insulin production and many more.

Fibres & Antioxidants

There is also a high content of fiber in peas. They help in digestion and help increase hemoglobin levels.

Peas are loaded with different antioxidants that help reduce diseases, reduce the chances of cancer,  support a healthy immune system, etc. They contain polyphenol antioxidants such as saponins and flavonoids, which are all good for your bird.

How Do You Prepare Peas?

As we said before, peas can be eaten in many ways and forms. It can be eaten raw, boiled, baked, canned, frozen, etc. So, can cockatiels eat raw peas? Yes, you can chop it into smaller pieces to make it easy for them to eat. So, how can cockatiels eat peas? Some of the ways are given below

Boiling

Another way you can prepare is by boiling. Although, it’s not preferred to boil them as they will lose lots of nutrients. But if you do boil them, make sure it’s not over-boiled and sloppy.

Baking & Soaking

Baked peas will be better in terms of taste and nutrients. You can even soak your peas in water for 5-8 hours and then give them to your bird. This way, you won’t lose as many nutrients as boiling.

Canned & Frozen

Presently, you can find canned and frozen peas available in supermarkets and in groceries. So if you’re wondering, can cockatiels eat frozen peas? The answer is yes. Get the peas to room temperature and you can serve them.

However, avoid salted peas as salt is harmful to birds. Other than that, normally frozen peas are better because they don’t lose any nutrients as they are frozen right away.

The Amount Of Peas You Should Give Your Cockatiel

Excess of anything is bad. That applies to peas also. Make sure not to overfeed peas to your bird as that will cause a lot of problems for them. They will be thirstier, urinate more, etc.

Ideally speaking, your bird should get no more than 25% vegetables from its meals. So a spoon of peas is enough for a day. If you give them the same food to eat every day, they might soon lose their appetite.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here, we will try to address some of the most frequently asked relevant questions. We hope we can give you some further clarity.

Conclusion

So, can cockatiels eat peas? Yes, but don’t overdo it. Moreover, introduce variety in their diets rather than just green peas. Try to feed them different kinds of delicious fruits and vegetables; they also love carrots, broccoli, etc. But it’s always wise to be double sure of what you’re feeding your pet.

We hope your beloved bird will enjoy eating peas. If you are a new owner, then it’s okay to ask questions and figure stuff out. Make sure to follow our instructions and your bird will be fine. Lastly, don’t hesitate to talk to your vet before adding anything new to your bird’s diet.