“Watermelon sugar high!”
If the song hasn’t been stuck in your head since the first time you heard it you are one of the lucky ones!
Every time it comes on I start craving that perfect summer fruit.
It also got me wondering about whether parakeets can eat watermelon?
So I decided to investigate before sharing.
The answer is yes, parakeets can eat watermelon. Watermelon is not only safe for parakeets to eat, it provides many important nutrients and is a good source of water. However, as with many sweet fruits, you’ll want to be careful about how much watermelon you feed them.
You shouldn’t make watermelon the main course of your parakeet’s diet; too much sugar will lead to weight gain.
With a little bit of careful planning you can include watermelon as part of a balanced diet.
Some other questions you have might include:
- What nutrients will parakeets get from watermelon?
- Can my parakeet eat watermelon seeds?
- Will my parakeet like the watermelon rind?
- How should I prepare watermelon for my parakeet?
Read on for answers to these questions and more.
What Are Some Benefits Of Watermelons?
Watermelons provide a number of important benefits to your parakeet when enjoyed responsibly.
In terms of nutrition, watermelons are a good source of
Fiber
Fiber helps your parakeet digest their food
Vitamin C
Vitamin C gives a good boost to the immune system
Vitamin A
Vitamin A for healthy feathers
Potassium
Potassium is good for the heart and blood pressure
Magnesium
Magnesium is also good for developing healthy feathers as well as heart and muscle health
Iron
Iron is an important part of hemoglobin which carries oxygen in the blood
Watermelons are also a great way to make sure your parakeets are getting enough water.
It’s right there in the name, after all!
Watermelons deliver on their promise of hydration.
Are Watermelon Seeds Safe for Parakeets?
The good news is watermelon seeds are not toxic to parakeets, unlike apple seeds.
You don’t need to worry if you notice your parakeet has gobbled up a seed or two.
However, watermelon seeds are much bigger than most of the other seeds you would find in their seed mix.
The larger watermelon seeds can be hard for parakeets to eat and sometimes pose a choking risk.
Many parakeet owners remove the seeds or buy seedless watermelons because of this.
Another option is to soak the seeds overnight to soften them and make them easier to peck at.
If you have the option to offer your parakeet watermelon without seeds they probably won’t miss a thing!
Should I Let My Parakeet Eat The Watermelon Rind?
Watermelon rind, including the outer skin and the tougher, white flesh of the watermelon, are also not toxic for parakeets.
However, this part of the watermelon is much less sweet and your parakeet may not be as interested in eating it.
You should also consider how your watermelon was grown.
The tough outer skin of the watermelon will be a repository for any toxic pesticides that growers used before harvesting the fruit.
You always have the option of buying organic watermelon.
However, remember that there are many organic pesticides approved for use and that you may not want your parakeet ingesting those either.
Washing the rind with fruit wash that you buy or make is an option if you are determined to offer your parakeet the watermelon rind.
Fruit wash is simple to make at home by combining one part vinegar with three parts water.
Then you could cut up pieces of the rind for your parakeet but it might not be worth the effort, particularly considering how much watermelon fruit there is to use up!
How Should I Prepare Watermelon For My Parakeet?
Parakeets and watermelons are a bit mismatched in size.
If you’re looking for someone to help you make sure your watermelon doesn’t go to waste you might need some outside help.
One cube of watermelon is probably all your parakeet needs to feel like they have gotten a sizable treat.
You can include watermelon with any other fruits, seeds, and pellets you are feeding your parakeet.
Offering a variety of foods at once can help keep them used to eating lots of different foods.
You don’t want your parakeet to become obsessed with just one fruit!
Remember that it’s a good idea to have fruit make up about 20% to 25% of your parakeet’s diet.
You should also take care to remove any uneaten watermelon after about two hours.
This will help keep any bacteria from growing in leftover food.
Will A Parakeet Drink Watermelon Juice?
Yes, if you’d like to watch your parakeet slurp up some summertime watermelon agua fresca they will enjoy this too!
However, unlike drinks you might prepare for yourself, when you’re blending watermelon into a drink for a parakeet you should skip adding any other sugar.
Parakeets will be more than happy to drink unaltered watermelon juice.
It’s as simple as chopping up the fruit and blending it up.
You might also want to strain the juice for any seeds that sneaked in.
Try some yourself, too!
We won’t tell your parakeet you beat them to it.
What If My Parakeet Doesn’t Like Watermelon?
It is always possible that when you put out a new fruit your parakeet just might not like it.
While we expect most parakeets to be very happy to snack on some sweet, juicy watermelon, if they choose to eat the other fruits on their plate don’t worry.
Some parakeets can be picky!
You have lots of other delicious options like grapes, strawberries, melon, and other fruits you can read about on our site here.
Ultimately, when watermelon is in season you can easily make it a part of your parakeet’s diet.
Remember to keep the portion size under control to limit how much sugar they are eating and keep their diet varied.
Watermelon is a great source of water and many important nutrients for your parakeet.
If they enjoy eating it, you can enjoy feeding it to them!