I was out for drinks the other night with some friends when I saw a mango daiquiri on the menu.
I had never heard of a mango daiquiri or indeed any mango cocktail before.
We got talking about mango and whether or not we feed it to our parrots.
Everyone said they did most of the time and it went down really well, but I was the only one with cockatiels, and I had never tried it before.
So, when I got home, I decided to look into it.
So, can cockatiel eat mango?
Yes, mango is great for cockatiels and they love it! Mango is a rich and juicy fruit packed with all sorts of great benefits that will do wonders for your cockatiel. It should always be seen as a snack, though, an occasional treat and not a replacement for their regular, ordinary food.
So, the short answer is that cockatiels can and will eat mango.
It’s great for them, packed with all sorts of healthy nutrients, and makes a tasty, healthy snack.
As with any nutrient rich food, the important thing is moderation.
Overfeeding will quickly become a problem.
Let’s look further into this.
Is mango good for cockatiels?
Yes, in lots of ways!
First of all, your cockatiel will just love the taste.
Mango is a rich, textured and flavorful fruit which your cockatiel will really appreciate.
This makes it easier to get some of the nutrients mango contains into your cockatiel’s diet.
Beyond that, mango is a fantastic source of fiber.
Fiber is the cornerstone of your cockatiel’s diet, and will keep its overall digestion moving smoothly.
This is one of the best things about fresh mangos, and indeed many fruits.
Beyond that, mangos are also a great source of vitamin C.
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, which prevents the formation of free radicals that damage your cockatiel’s cells.
They’re also a great source of vitamin A. cockatiels can often suffer from vitamin A deficiencies, which can lead to all sorts of health problems, so mangos are a welcome solution to this problem.
They’re also a great source of numerous minerals, like potassium, magnesium and calcium.
Minerals serve a variety of functions in the body, but overall promote a healthy heart, bones and muscles.
So, mangos are not short of nutritional benefits.
However, the very fact that they are so nutrient rich is why you need to be very careful of moderation.
Is mango bad for cockatiels?
Inherently, no, mango is not bad for cockatiels.
There’s nothing dangerous or toxic contained within mangos that you need to worry about.
They pose no immediate danger.
That said, moderation is really important.
Any fresh fruit should only make up a small part of your cockatiel’s diet, and mangos are no exception.
Cockatiels are small, and mangos are very rich in nutrients.
This means that they only need to eat a small amount before they get all the benefits they need.
Overfeeding them on mangos will cause digestive pain and discomfort, and can even mean they don’t get the nutrients they need elsewhere because they are too full.
Once or twice a week, in small amounts, as part of a balanced diet, is plenty of mango for your cockatiel.
Swap it out with other treats in the rest of the week.
Can cockatiels eat mango skin?
Yes, they can eat the skin of a mango and they will enjoy the texture a lot.
The flesh is, of course, what they will really be after, but the fact is the skin is good, too.
You don’t need to skin a mango before giving it to your cockatiel, but they would probably have an easier time if you chopped it up first.
You can leave the skin on, though.
What about the pits?
Can cockatiels eat mango pits?
The pits are, without doubt, too big for a cockatiel to eat, and too tough for them to break up.
So, while the pit doesn’t pose any particular danger to your cockatiel, it isn’t of any benefit, either.
You are probably best off just removing it before hand.
That said, you can let them peck at the pit if they seem interested.
Some cockatiels may be more interested in it than others, and after all, it is essentially just a big seed.
Conclusion
In strict moderation and as part of a natural, balanced diet, mango is a great addition to your cockatiel’s food.
They are tasty and juicy, and filled with all sorts of health nutrients that will benefit your cockatiel.
As long as you keep strict moderation in mind, and don’t overfeed them, mango will make a great snack that your cockatiel will love and never get bored of.
You can also read:
- Can Cockatiels Eat Crackers? (Answered!)
- Can Cockatiels Eat Cashews? (Revealed!)
- Can Cockatiels Eat Garlic? (Is It Safe?)
- Can Cockatiels Eat Walnuts? (Answered!)
- Can Cockatiels Eat Sunflower Seeds? (Do They Like Them?)