Feeding a parrot eggs may sound a bit strange and odd since parrots are also birds that procreate through laying eggs.
However, it is not that unusual for birds to eat eggs from other species.
Besides, chickens do eat their own eggs.
But is it the same with your tamed parrot?
This is a question you may be asking yourself if you have domesticated parrots.
Thankfully, we are here to provide you with a comprehensive answer, so that at the end of this article, you will know what to do with your bird when it comes to feeding it eggs.
In general, and health-wise speaking, it is good for parrots to eat eggs. Eggs are completely organic food and are great for your parrot, but while they lack sugar and carbohydrates, moderation is important when feeding your bird with eggs. Parrots can be given eggs as raw without cooking or you can scramble or boil them. This also includes the eggshells.
Eggs are highly nutritious and are beneficial to parrots and other animals.
Also, the act of serving eggs to your parrot can activate their natural instincts.
Why are eggs good for parrots?
In general, birds including parrots like eating eggs due to the nutrients available that are essential for survival.
Eggs are a powerful food that nourishes the brain of the parrot.
Parrots, as well as other wild birds, require intelligence to survive in the jungle.
Egg yolks are packed with choline which is important brain food as it makes quick thinking easier by fastening the transmission of signals in the brain.
So if you are training your parrot to speak or perform other tasks, eggs are the way to go.
Eggs also help the liver to function correctly as well as proper circulation of the essential nutrients in the body of your parrot.
The main nutrient found in an egg is protein, with a chicken egg containing at least 12 percent protein.
Protein is important for your parrot because it helps circulate amino acids that are essential for the functions of the brain.
Proteins are known for creating neurotransmitters that deliver messages to the brain quickly.
This enables your parrot to think quickly and grasp things that you try to teach him.
Eggs are also packed with a lot of amino acids, which are not naturally present in the body of your parrot.
So the parrot has to consume the eggs in order to supply the body with these amino acids.
Can parrots eat eggshells?
Yes, eggshells are a good source of calcium, which is an important mineral in body functioning.
Calcium helps with the growth and development of the parrot.
Calcium is also essential to the overall health of the parrot, and that is one of the reasons why it is advisable to give it to your parrot.
Your female parrot will also need calcium if she wants to lay eggs.
The calcium helps produce eggs with stronger shells, and since there are few foods that supply this mineral, eggs are the easiest way to get it.
However, eggshells can be dangerous if they choke your parrot so be careful.
Can parrots eat boiled eggs?
The answer to this question is a resounding yes.
You can feed your parrot soft or hard-boiled eggs.
However, it is recommended to serve hard-boiled eggs to parrot that is not used to eating eggs.
The boiling of the egg removes the hard protein that is usually hard to breakdown by the parrot’s intestines.
Furthermore, it relaxes the eggs so the parrot can easily incorporate the egg as its regular diet.
Can parrots eat fried eggs?
Parrots can eat fried eggs, though it is not recommended.
This is because some of the proteins in the egg may collect on one side and the fire cannot be able to suitably break them down.
Can you feed scrambled eggs to parrots?
You can feed your parrot scrambled eggs, just be sure not to add any seasoning, and also not to use oil in cooking them.
Scrambled eggs are easier for the parrot to digest since they are now soft.
How to feed your parrot eggs
First, the eggs can be served raw, which makes it pretty easy.
Just place the egg where the parrot normally feeds, and it will take over from there.
But things can be different for parrots that were reared in a controlled setting because they are not used to feeding on raw eggs, so their stomachs may not be able to digest it properly for the first time.
The best way to go is by gradually introducing eggs in your parrot’s diet, cooked or raw.
However, if you got the parrot from the wilderness, it will not have problems eating raw eggs as it was already feeding on them in the jungle.
The parrot can eat an entire egg: the yolk, the white, and the shell.
You can find cleaned and packed eggshells on the market.
If you want to feed your parrots with eggshells, make sure they are cleaned and tested to ensure there are no contaminants.
All in all, you should feed your parrot with health considerations in mind, and the healthiest way to serve your parrot eggs is to hard-boil them first and then cut them into small pieces, along with the shells.
Last but not least, make sure the egg you feed your bird has cooled, preferably to room temperature, to avoid burning the parrot.
Clean the cage of any uneaten egg after a few hours to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria.
How often should you feed eggs to your parrot?
In the bush, birds eat eggs until they are full and as many times as the eggs are available.
However, for your pet parrot, eggs should be served in moderation.
This is because the combination of processed food and eggs may not be appropriate for the bird.
Moreover, too many amino acids and proteins from the eggs can cause some behavioral changes to your bird.
If this is the first time the parrot eats an egg, perhaps once a week will be ideal.
And as it gradually gets used to it, you can increase the serving to now twice a week.
But if you are feeding your parrot other raw foods, once a week is enough.
It is advisable to start feeding you bird cooked eggs first before giving it raw ones.
For the shells, it is recommended that you mince them first, and once the parrot issued to it, you can start giving it whole eggshell.
What are the dangers of eggs to parrots?
Naturally, eggs are packed with loads of nutrients that can energize your parrot as well as boost their brain functioning.
So the first thing you will notice once you start feeding eggs to your parrot is that it will become more active, alert, and sociable.
But that is a good thing.
The bad thing is that feeding your parrot too much egg, particularly raw eggs, can trigger the wilderness in it.
Then it will start being overprotective of their food, and also start treating things in their surroundings as prey.
For these reasons, you should feed eggs to your parrot in moderation to avoid it turning into a wild bird that cannot be handled, or even worse, for them to turn into a predator.
But if you maintain the eggs at the required feeding minimum, you will not encounter any issues.
But it is another story if you want to train it to speak or perform other tricks.
If this is the case, you may have to feed the eggs to the parrot actively to trigger its brain.
Feeding your parrot too many eggshells do not have established side effects.
In fact, your bird will benefit more from plenty of calcium.
Does an egg contain too much cholesterol?
Several years ago, it was thought that eggs contain extremely high cholesterol.
However, The United States Department of Agriculture found that eggs are not high in cholesterol.
They discovered that an egg is 14% lower in cholesterol than it was originally thought, and it also contains more Vitamin D than was initially thought with a 64% increase.
Your parrot will need plenty of vitamin D especially if it is not allowed to go outside.
So feeding eggs to parrots does not lead to weight gain.
What should you do when your parrot vomits right after eating an egg?
The first thing you should do is give it water.
Then remove any food around so that it does not continue eating.
See if the bird is lethargic.
Generally, there is nothing wrong with vomiting after eating, but if your parrot is lethargic, consult your avian vet immediately.
It is extremely beneficial for your parrot to consume eggs because of the loads of nutrients that are useful for them in terms of growth and development as well as brain functioning.
However, you need to keep in mind that there might by certain drawbacks that come with feeding your parrot too much egg.
To ensure its benefits without any side effects, feed it with healthy preparation in mind.