I was talking to my friend the other day who has just got a parakeet recently.
My friend is a bit of a health fanatic and she loves exercise.
She always carrys an apple around with her and keeps saying “An apple a day keeps the doctor away!”
Whether that is true or not I don’t know.
She did ask me, however, for my advice as to whether she could feed some apple to her parakeet.
I wasn’t sure of the exact truth so I told her I would do some research, look into it properly and let her know.
So, can parakeets eat apples?
The answer to this question is yes, parakeets can eat apples. Apples should be cut up into small pieces so the parakeet can eat them. Parakeets won’t generally eat the core so that can be removed and discarded.
It looks like the answer is they can eat apples.
I wanted to look into this in a bit more detail though so here goes.
Are apples safe for parakeets to eat or are they toxic?
Apples, in general, are safe for parakeets to eat, but apple seeds are thought to be toxic to parakeets.,
It’s ok to chop up an apple into small bitesize pieces as long as the seeds are removed so that no harm comes to the parakeet.
It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Why do people think that apple seeds are toxic?
Apple seeds contain Amygdalin, which is a combination of Cyanide and Sugar. Amygdalin is a naturally occurring chemical substance found in the seeds of many fruits such as apples, avocados, cherries, peaches and many more.
Eating amygdalin can release cyanide into the body which can cause cyanide poisoning and in large amounts, death.
The truth is, apple seeds in small amounts do not contain enough Cyanide to do any harm.
Have you heard of any parakeets dying from eating too many apple seeds?
According to a study by the University of Leeds, the amount of Amygdalin contained in 1 gram of apple seeds is about 1-4mg depending on the variety of apple.
The amount of cyanide derived from the seeds is a lot lower.
Do apples contain any health benefits for parakeets?
Apples provide many health benefits, I have listed some of the benefits below.
Antioxidants
Apples are a healthy snack option that contains high levels of antioxidants.
These antioxidants can help protect parakeets against disease and infection.
Fiber
Apples are also high in fiber.
The apple skin is usually where you’ll find the highest amount of fiber in the apple.
The apple with the highest amount of fiber is the Granny Smith.
A lack of fiber in parakeets can be linked to feather plucking, aggression, and constipation.
Lowering Risk Of Diabetes & Cancer
Several studies have shown that there may be a link between apples and lowering the risk of diabetes and cancer.
Contains Nutrients
Apples also contain many nutrients.
The main ones are Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Potassium and Magnesium.
How should I prepare apples before giving them to my parakeet?
If you have an apple and you want to give it to your parakeet, then you need to make sure the pieces are small enough for a parakeet to hold and eat.
One way to do this would be to cut the apple up. Get a sharp knife and cut the apple in half.
Remove the core and the seeds, then slice the apple into small pieces.
Be sure to make them so they are small enough for a parakeet to eat.
Can parakeets eat the apple core?
Parakeets generally won’t eat the apple core, so it would be best to remove the core and the seeds (which are thought to be toxic) and just feed the parakeet apple pieces.
Can parakeets eat the skin of an apple?
If you are wondering if parakeets can eat the skin of an apple, well the answer is yes they can.
The skin is a great source of fiber.
It wouldn’t be recommended however that your parakeet eats too much of it as too much fiber could cause gastrointestinal problems and potentially make them sick.
Also, the skin of an apple does still contain small amounts of toxins that could make a parakeet ill if they eat too much, so for these reasons it’s best to only feed your parakeet a small amount of the skin.
How much apple can I give to my parakeet?
The amount of apple a parakeet eats, really depends on how big the apple is and how big the parakeet is.
A safe amount would probably be about ½ an apple a day.
If you think your parakeet is getting larger or sluggish, maybe cut back on the amount you are giving them.
In conclusion, then, parakeets can eat apples, just remember to remove the seeds as they can be toxic.
Also, remember to only feed them apples in small chunks and in moderation.