Bananas are one of my favorite fruits.
What’s not to love about a food that comes in its own carrying case?
How convenient!
However, I am very particular about how ripe they are.
Any time I have a bunch that gets too ripe for me I’m looking for creative ways to make sure they don’t go to waste.
That made me curious, can paakeets eat bananas?
The answer is yes, parakeets can eat bananas. Parakeets eat a variety of fruits and bananas are just one that they can safely enjoy. Parakeets who eat bananas get an extra dose of potassium and other important vitamins. Bananas are a good option to include in your parakeet’s balanced diet.
Of course, you need to make sure bananas are not the only thing your parakeet eats.
Fruits in general should make up about 20 to 25% of your parakeet’s diet.
What Are The Health Benefits Of Bananas?
Your parakeet will surely love a sweet, ripe banana.
The good news is bananas are a healthy choice, so you can love feeding them too!
Bananas are known for their high potassium content, which your parakeet will certainly benefit from.
Bananas are also a good source of B6, magnesium, fiber, and even water.
Additionally, the sugar in a ripe banana is a good, quick source of energy for a parakeet.
You just have to make sure they don’t eat too much sugar so they don’t gain weight.
Are Bananas Safe for Parakeets?
Yes, bananas are safe for parakeets.
In fact, the entire banana is edible when you’re a parakeet!
Humans don’t eat the banana peel but like many animals, parakeets can eat the peel as well.
Bananas are also one of the fruits that is less likely to be contaminated by pesticides.
The thick skin of the peel along with growing on trees instead of close to the ground means fewer toxins should make their way into the actual fruit.
We know parakeets and other birds are sensitive to pesticides so it is also a good idea to go organic with bananas, as with all foods you are feeding your parakeet.
Just keep in mind that organic fruits can still be grown with a number of approved pesticides.
However, opting for organic bananas is a good safety precaution.
What If My Parakeet Likes The Banana Peel?
Some parakeets will like to eat the banana peel.
Even more surprising, some parakeets may prefer to eat the banana peel over the actual fruit!
Offer your parakeet medallion slices of banana that include the peel then watch how they eat it.
You will soon be able to tell what parts they prefer by observing which parts they eat first or most.
If your parakeet prefers to eat banana peels, don’t be concerned.
You can opt for buying organic bananas.
In this case, however, you should still use a fruit wash to scrub the skin.
You can buy fruit wash but it is very easy to make a safe one yourself by mixing one part vinegar with three parts water.
As we mentioned, even organic fruits can be grown with approved pest control measures.
That’s why we suggest washing the peel thoroughly even if you are buying organic.
How Do I Prepare Bananas For My Parakeet?
Even if you plopped a peeled banana on a plate and did nothing more your parakeet would figure out how to enjoy it!
However, we know we can do better than that.
If your parakeet likes to nibble on both the peel and the fruit then slicing bananas into medallions is a good option.
You can also chop up bananas into smaller chunks and leave the peel for your compost heap.
How Often Should Parakeets Eat Bananas?
As we’ve mentioned, bananas are fairly high in sugar.
This means you’ll want to feed bananas thoughtfully to make sure your parakeet is not overindulging.
You also will want to be careful to keep your parakeet eating a varied diet so they are getting lots of nutrients from various sources.
If they start to love any one food too much they might start ignoring the rest!
That’s why we recommend feeding bananas as a treat three to five days a week.
It is also a good idea to mix bananas with other fruits.
Can I Cook My Parakeet’s Bananas?
Humans love to include bananas in a variety of desserts.
Banana bread, banana pudding, bananas foster – these are all treats you might enjoy yourself!
However, there is no need to cook your parakeet’s bananas.
The best thing for a parakeet is raw, fresh fruit.
All the baked desserts including bananas also have a lot of added sugar and refined ingredients.
While your parakeet might eat some of those desserts if you offered them, it’s not a good idea to feed them the empty calories and added sugar.
As far as your parakeet is concerned the banana itself is treat enough!
Can Parakeets Eat Dried Banana Chips?
Sadly, this is another treat you should probably skip feeding to your parakeet.
For one, many dried fruits have added sugar.
Your parakeet does not need this sugar for energy and it could lead to unwanted weight gain.
Another problem is that many dried banana chips and dried fruits contain sulfur, a preservative added as part of the drying process.
There are many possible side effects when parakeets ingest sulfur, including hyperactivity or aggressiveness and feather shedding or picking.
If you’d like to share a piece of a banana chip with a parakeet you should first make sure it has no added sugar and no sulfur-based preservatives.
In short, you should feel good about including fresh bananas in your parakeet’s diet.
They have many important vitamins and minerals that keep your parakeet healthy.
While you should make sure you are feeding a balanced diet, your parakeet can safely enjoy the benefits of a tasty, ripe banana.
Now there’s no need to let a banana go bad.
You can always share it with your feathered friend!