Imagine this scene: A tropical paradise.
Waves crashing off the shore.
White sand and turquoise water.
Can you imagine this scene?
Such a tropical scene is not too dissimilar from the connotations associated with the words coconut and parrot.
Our many breeds of our feathery friends come from this sub-tropical climate, whereas coconuts have always been found in this environment.
It easily raises the question as to whether or not such foods can be consumed by our pet parrots.
That’s exactly what I’m going to discuss for you today.
I’m going to offer you a full and comprehensive guide as to whether or not Parrots can eat coconuts, and coconut-related foods, to answer all of your burning questions on the matter.
The answer? Yes! Fortunately, parrots can eat coconut. Not only can it make for a tasty and nutritious snack, but it’s one that is highly enjoyable for our feathery friends. Coconuts have a unique blend of magnesium, iron and other healthy vitamins that are good for not just parrots, but for us humans likewise. Today I’m going to uncover some of the reasons why, and some of the myths surrounding parrots & coconuts.
In this article, I’m going to discover the following topics:
Can my parrots eat coconut oil?
Can my parrots eat coconut flakes?
Can my parrots eat coconut meat?
Can my parrots drink coconut milk?
Let’s not waste another minute, and dive right in!
Can my parrots eat coconut oil?
Now, if you have never tried coconut oil in the past, I think you’re missing out.
But that’s just my opinion.
Here I’m going to explain why it’s so great, and what parrots can benefit from it.
Firstly, let me just briefly explain how it’s made.
When coconuts are taken to be used for oil, they are split using an axe, from there, the meat is scooped out, amassed and taken to a drier.
After a couple of days, it will be taken to a mill, where the extraction process begins.
It is then determined in what way the oil will be extracted.
That may be via wet process, dry process or solvent extraction, (For more information on each of these methods, you can search up clips to view it, but back to the point about why it’s important for parrots.)
The extraction process that takes place in these coconuts is important because it keeps the “Fatty acids” within the coconut.
The importance of these MCFAs (medium-chain fatty acids) cannot be understated.
They are extremely good for the overall health of parrots, many parrot owners have claimed reports of almost immediate improvement in the appearance and mobility of their pet straight after the use of coconut oil in their diet.
It’s also worth mentioning that coconut oil is extremely useful in protecting against “bird cold”.
The anti-bacterial properties keep them healthy, by protecting their immune system, and other bodily functions, to ensure they are fit and healthy.
Now at this stage, I hope you’re eager to try and implement a little bit of coconut oil into the diet of your parrot.
So let me explain the best way to go about this.
You may have been misled by online forums and other parrot owners that you should mix the coconut oil into their water.
Whilst this approach does make sense, a better method is to mix it in with their food.
An appropriate rule of thumb is one teaspoon per every pound of body weight.
This should be enough oil to see all of the aforementioned benefits.
Of course, it’s important to make sure that the oil you use is organic & high-quality.
So you can get the maximum benefits for your parrot.
Can parrots eat coconut flakes?
Now I assume that a lot of you reading this are like me, and either only found out recently, or still don’t know… what coconut flakes actually are.
So I’m going to explain some of the benefits of coconut flakes, explain why they’re healthy for your parrot, and then briefly explain some useful remedies to make your own coconut flakes for your parrot.
High in fiber
The fact that coconut chips are so high in fiber can explain why they make for such a healthy snack for our parrots.
The reason this is so beneficial is that it means your pet can avoid the energy dip that comes with foods that are high in sugar.
This will stabilise your parrot’s energy, and mood and keep them fuller for longer.
High in MCFAs
Earlier I spoke about the benefits of coconut oil with regard to fatty acids.
It’s true that this is a good type of fat, meaning that the fat contents are much more likely to be used up for energy, rather than being stored as fat.
For your parrot, this simply means that they will have more energy, which has its own list of obvious benefits. Including improved mood, better engagement and interaction with its owner (you), and less signs of irritable behaviour, such as aggression, or feather plucking.
Not to mention the fact that coconut flakes are extremely portable and make for a quick and convenient snack for your feathery friend.
If you like to travel with your pet parrot, coconut flakes make for an easy, portable and tasty snack when on the go!
Easy Coconut Flake Recipe
- Combine water & coconut oil
If you’re making coconut chips for people, rather than just your pet parrot, feel free to add a liquid sweetener.
An appropriate ratio would be equal amounts of all of these three ingredients.
- Add a flavour
Again, if you plan on making these chips for people, you could use any of your favourite toppings or spices.
However, for your parrot, this step isn’t quite necessary.
Your pet may appreciate a little bit of spice however if you feel that you would like to add a little bit of flavour, ginger can be an excellent touch, with huge health benefits for parrots, (you can check out our other article on ginger and parrots for more information!)
- Bake the flakes
The last (and easiest) step, is to bake your coconut flakes in the oven.
Spread the mixture on a baking sheet, and stir every four minutes until the flakes are golden, brown and crunchy.
Can parrots eat coconut meat?
In case any of you are wondering, coconut meat has got absolutely nothing to do with actual meat.
Coconut meat is simply the white flesh that can be found inside a coconut.
There is some debate nowadays, as to whether or not coconut flesh actually has some health benefits, or whether coconut oil and coconut milk are the only value that can be found.
Below, you can find some benefits of coconut meat, and an explanation as to how they can benefit your parrot.
Digestive health
Just above, I briefly described how the high fiber content that can be found in coconuts is extremely healthy for our pets.
This will bulk up the stool of your parrot and maintain bowel regularity. Keeping the digestive system healthy. Also, the MCTs in coconut meat have been shown to strengthen gut bacteria, which protects against inflammation.
Heart health
Coconut meat may boost what is known as HDL (good cholesterol), whilst at the same time, maintaining low levels of LDL (low cholesterol).
Both of these factors may contribute to greater heart health for your parrot, and reduce its risk of heart disease.
Improved Immunity
Coconuts are full of manganese and anti-oxidants, which are useful in boosting the immune system and reducing inflammation of our parrots.
The MCTs that are present in coconuts may also have antiviral and antifungal properties.
Brain functioning
The MCTs I have just spoken about may act as an alternative energy source to glucose.
This, in turn, aids the memory and functioning of your parrots.
Such changes and effects are unlikely to be evident to us, but we can be sure that our feathery friends can feel the difference.
In conclusion then, in light of all the evidence I have described, coconuts have phenomenal health benefits for parrots and for us humans too.
Various forms of coconut including coconut oil, flakes and even the meat itself all have their own unique benefits to our feathery little friends.
Not to mention the fact that they can be a quick, easy and convenient method of helping your parrot receive the nutritious and balanced diet that it needs.
Thank you guys for reading, and I hope to see you all again soon.