Fruits and Vegetables in Bird Diet

Conventional wisdom holds that fruits and vegetables are good for birds and, to a degree, that is true. However, too much of a good thing can be bad.

Fresh fruits and vegetables have a high moisture content. In some cases, as much as 80 - 90% of the food might be water. This makes for a very bulky food.

In addition, although fruits and veggies do contain some nutrients, many are low in protein and calories. This combination of a bulky food that is low in certain nutrients can cause problems if fruits and vegetables account for a large part of the bird's diet.

A bird's gastro-intestinal tract is designed to handle compact, concentrated foods such as - meats, fish, cereals, cheese, nuts and seeds.

Some vegetables, like peas, beans, lentils and potatoes, fit this description, but many others do not. Filling your bird's system with bulky foods that are primarily water does not provide the necessary nutrients every bird needs in order to thrive.

Even though your bird may delight in biting into a succulent piece of fresh fruit, be sure that fruit and vegetables don't become too large a part of your pet's diet.