Can Cockatiels Eat Grapes? Risks To Be Aware Of!
Grapes are delicious fruits that we all love, but are they safe for our cockatiels?
We’ll be answering that question throughout this super quick article, as well as if the seeds and stems are safe, if raisins are ok too, and the main risks to be aware of when feeding grapes to cockatiels.
In the end, we’ll discuss the nutritional value of grapes for cockatiels.
So, let’s get started.
Can Cockatiels Eat Grapes? Yes Or No?
The short answer is Yes!
Cockatiels can eat grapes, including the red and purple types.
It’s fair to assume that grapes are toxic to cockatiels since they’re toxic to dogs, but it’s simply not true. Cockatiels can eat grapes safely in moderation with no issues. Even 100% natural grape juice with no added sugar is safe in small amounts.
So don’t hesitate to share a bit from your fruit bowl!
Are Grape Seeds & Stems Safe For Cockatiels?
While most grapes available in stores are seedless, some still have pits.
Don’t worry, grape seeds are 100% safe for cockatiels, so you don’t need to worry about removing them before serving.
However, grapes come attached to vines/stems, are they safe for cockatiels too?
Turns out, grape stems are also cockatiel friendly!
In other words, hardly anything has to be done before serving grapes to your cockatiel.
Other than washing them, you can serve grapes to cockatiels with seeds, without seeds, and with or without the stems.
What About Raisins & Sultanas? Can Cockatiels Eat Them Too?
Raisins, sultanas, and currents are basically dried grapes, so can cockatiels eat them?
Not only are these variations of dried grapes safe for cockatiels, but they offer good nutritional value, such as fibre, iron, potassium, and vitamin C. However, BeautyOfBirds suggests not to feed too many raisins as they have more sugary contents than grapes themselves!
Nutritional Value Of Grapes For Cockatiels (Per 151g)
To give you a good idea of what your cockatiel is getting when eating grapes, I’m presenting you with the nutritional content per 151 grams.
Below is the nutritional content of red or green grapes per 151 grams:
- 104 kilocalories
- 1.09 grams of protein
- 27.33 g of carbohydrates (of which 23.37 grams is sugar)
- 1.4 g of fibre
- 288 mg of potassium
- 4.8 mg vitamin C
- 15 mg of calcium
- 0.54 mg of iron
- 30 mg of phosphorus
- 3 mg of sodium
I’m not a nutritionist, so I pulled this reliable info straight from MedicalNewsToday.
You can check out the linked article to learn more about grapes.
Risks Of Grapes For Cockatiels (Important!!)
Just like most fruits, store-bought grapes are normally coated with chemical preservatives, like pesticides. Pesticides & other preservatives are dangerous to cockatiels, which is why you must wash your grapes before serving.
Dried grapes, like sultanas and raisins, often come with preservatives as well.
But since they’re dried fruits, they use sulphur dioxide instead of pesticides, which is toxic to birds.
If possible, try to find grapes without the added chemical preservatives.
Another Risk Is The High Sugar Content Of Grapes
Grapes are super high in sugar, so they shouldn’t be a main part of your cockatiel’s diet.
Too much sugar from grapes, as well as the high water content, can cause issues like watery droppings and even illness. While grapes are a good source of vitamin C, you should limit your cockatiels intake due to the high sugar content.
This is the case with most other fruits too.
How Grapes Fit Into a Cockatiel’s Diet
Overall, fruits like grapes should make up only a small portion of your cockatiel’s diet.
According to my vet-approved cockatiel diet plan, fruits, in general, make up just 5% of the overall diet plan. A majority of a cockatiel’s diet should be comprised of high-quality pellets, seed mix, and fresh vegetables.
I suggest only feeding a small amount of grapes once every week to be safe.
By following this, your cockatiel will enjoy the benefits of the grapes without the risk of overeating them.
Other Good Fruits Your Cockatiel Can Eat
Besides grapes, you can serve the following fruits to your cockatiels to make up that essential 5% of their diet:
- Apples
- Bananas
- Blackberries
- Watermelon
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Cucumber
When trying to make up that 5% of the diet, it’s good to serve a variety of fruits.
This ensures your cockatiel gets as much nutrition as possible from their small serving of fruit.
Related: Cockatiel Food List – The Ultimate Feeding Guide
Fruits Cockatiels Can NOT Eat
While cockatiels can eat most available fruits, the following fruits should be eliminated from their menu:
- Avocado (yes, they’re fruits, look it up)
- Apple seeds
- Cherry pits
As you can see, there aren’t too many fruits that are toxic to birds.
Most are completely safe, including grapes.
To see all the toxic foods for cockatiels, read this post.
Conclusion
“So, can cockatiels eat grapes or not?”
Based on reliable sources & what we’ve covered in this article, it’s safe to say that grapes are on your cockatiel’s menu. As long as the grapes are properly washed from preservatives and you don’t feed too many of them, grapes are 100% safe for cockatiels.
Variations of dried grapes (sultanas, currants, & raisins) are also good for cockatiels in moderation.
And don’t be afraid to keep the stems and seeds on the grape…
Both the grape seeds and stems are safe for cockatiels.
Hope this answers everything.
Take care, fellow cockatiel carer!
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