Figs, hard as they can be to come by at certain places during certain times of the year, are one of the tastiest exotic fruits available to our menus.
They’re juicy and sweet with an entirely unique taste unlike any other kind of fruit—so can conures eat them?
Yes, conures can safely eat figs. Figs are tremendously beneficial to parrots in the right amounts and are really healthy. That said, they’re also incredibly nutritionally rich, so you should keep moderation in mind. Too much will quickly become detrimental to their health, rather than beneficial.
So, in any case, figs are totally safe for your conure in and of themselves.
But as with anything, all things must be done in moderation.
There are many reasons for this which I will get into.
First of all, though, let’s look at the many ways in which figs are very good for your conure.
Are figs good for conures?
Yes, figs are very good for conures in a number of important ways.
Firstly, don’t underestimate the value of an enjoyable and different treat for your conure’s mood.
Treats are a great for of enrichment, and your conure will benefit greatly just from the simple fact of a nice, new treat to enjoy.
This will have a big impact on their mood, which will in turn have an impact on their overall health.
Beyond that, though, there are many specific nutritional benefits to speak of when it comes to figs.
Fiber is one big thing which you can get from figs.
Fiber is essential to a healthy diet for a conure.
It aids digestive health and makes sure that everything your conure eats moves smoothly through its system.
This is one way in which figs are good for your conure.
Figs are also a great source of many essential vitamins.
They contain reasonably good amounts of vitamin B6 and vitamin K.
B6 is a water-soluble vitamin which is really important for the healthy functioning of the brain and the nervous system.
It’s also important for brain development in the early stages of life.
Vitamin K is important for blood clotting, which ensures that any wounds are quickly and thoroughly healed when they occur.
This can be difficult to get into your conure’s diet without supplements, so figs are great for this reason.
Finally, figs are packed with many important minerals.
They contain copper, magnesium, and potassium, among others.
Copper helps in the formation of red blood cells, and potassium is also vital for healthy blood and circulatory systems.
So, plainly, figs are in principle very good for your conure.
But it isn’t quite as simple as just giving them as much fig as they can eat.
Let’s consider the caveats of figs.
Are figs bad for conures?
No, figs are not inherently bad for conures.
There’s nothing toxic or poisonous about them and eating them will cause them no issues in the short term.
That said, it’s still important that you feed them in the right way otherwise they can become a problem in the long term.
The big issue, as I’ve touched on, is moderation.
The important thing is really that you make sure they don’t get too much fig.
They need balance and variety, and figs are going to be only one small part of a wider, more varied diet.
The very fact that figs are, as we’ve seen, so nutritionally rich, means that your conure only needs to eat quite a small amount before it has gotten all the benefit it can from figs.
Any more, and it will simply start to become over-nourished.
It will end up being full, and excessive figs could cause digestive pain and diarrhea.
So, while figs aren’t inherently bad for your conure, they are also risky for more reasons than one.
Knowing how much the right amount for them to eat is the central issue.
So, let’s look at that.
How often can my conure eat figs?
As a general rule of thumb, I would suggest thinking about their diet on a week-to-week basis.
Within that, think of figs as a special treat that they get once or twice a week at most.
On each occasion, no more than one or one and a half figs per conure is ideal.
During the rest of the week, you should swap the figs out for other treats.
By changing up the treats that you give to your conures, you firstly ensure that they get the best balance and range of nutrients.
Secondly, you simply stop them from getting bored of the same old food all the time.
Conures are smart enough that they’ll notice if you’re feeding them the same thing every time.
When they don’t have enough variety in what they eat, they’re going to become bored and frustrated.
This will negatively impact their mood and have physical effects on their health.
So, figs as part of a good variety and balance in your conure’s diet will be extremely beneficial.
Are there any parts of the fig that are not safe for the bird?
Can conures eat fig flesh?
Yes, conures can certainly eat the flesh of the fig, and this will be the best and most beneficial part for them to eat.
Though figs, as fruit goes, don’t have a huge amount of flesh on them, it’s still the most nutritious part.
It’s where the majority of the fiber, vitamins, and minerals are to be found.
Not to mention the fact that your conures will certainly prefer the flesh to the rest of the fruit.
I would advise cutting the fig in half or in quarters to help them get at the flesh.
They’ll be able to do the rest on their own.
What about the seeds?
Can conures eat fig seeds?
Yes, conures can eat fig seeds, too.
Figs are quite unusual as commercially available fruits go as they are mostly seeds on the inside.
There’s very little flesh. So, luckily, your conure can eat the copious seeds of the fig fruit, too.
They are also quite nutritious.
They’re somewhat fibrous and contain a lot of the mineral content of the overall fruit.
So, yes, your conures can have at the seeds of the fruit, too!
Can conures eat fig stems?
Figs do also feature short stems on the top—are these safe for your conure?
Well, they are safe, yes, but there’s not a huge amount of benefit to eating them.
They aren’t really nutritious, and your conure won’t particularly enjoy the taste, either.
So, in reality, while they are safe, there’s not much reason to give your conure fig stems.
If they seem interested when you give them the fig, then let them have it, otherwise, you can just leave it.
Can conures eat ripe figs?
Yes, they can certainly eat ripe figs.
Just as for us, this is the best time for the conure to eat the fig. it will be at its tastiest, its most nutritional, and its easiest to digest.
Ripe figs are the best kind of fig to feed to your conure for the best results.
But what about underripe figs?
Are they safe?
Can conures eat underripe figs?
Underripe figs are not your best bet for feeding to a conure.
They will be very tough, and the flesh won’t be particularly accessible.
You’ll probably find it hard to slice it even with a knife, so imagine how it would be for your conure’s beak.
That said, it isn’t exactly unsafe to feed them underripe figs.
They might not go for it at all, though, so you’re best just trying to get ripe ones.
What about overripe?
Can conures eat overripe figs?
Again, it’s really not the ideal choice.
Make sure you know what you intend to do with the figs when you buy them so that they don’t go overripe.
If you’re going to feed them to your conure, just make sure they’re ripe.
If they’re just a little overripe, then it won’t be a problem, but again, it’s better not to feed them figs this way.
Figs, then, in the right amount, are a fantastic addition to your conure’s diet.
They are tasty, healthy, and incredibly nutritious.
Your conure will love eating them, and you’ll notice health benefits almost right away from feeding them to your parrot.
Just remember that they are incredibly nutritionally rich, and your conure needs good balance in their diet—no one thing will be enough to satisfy their needs.