Unquestionably, lemons are one of the most popular acid citrus fruits. In spite of the fact that they don’t exactly make for an appealing snack by themselves, they are still brimming with supplements that assume a gigantic job in keeping up our prosperity. However, is it the same case for parrots? Does adding them to our feathery pals’ diets has any benefits?
The appropriate response is yes. Parrots actually enjoy eating lemons but it should be like a once in a blue moon treat. Lemons have a serious advantageous impact on our feathered pal’s wellbeing yet moderation is the key. When taking excessively, it’s been proven that acid citrus fruits can do more harm than good, especially lemons.
When life gives you lemons, you can make more than just lemonade. Serve it as a treat to your parrot, use it as seasoning for his food, prepare some tasty fresh lemon juice, the possibilities are limitless! Yet, what kind of health benefits would this citrus fruit have on your feathery pal?
Benefits Of Lemons For Parrots:
Lemons are chock-full of vitamins and antioxidants which makes them some of the healthiest fruits on the planet. Although they are sour, bitter, and highly acidic, the health benefits they have on parrots are literally uncountable.
Lemons are packed with high amounts of vitamin C which is highly needed when it comes down to improving your parrot’s immune system. They also reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and strokes among birds
They help support the bacteria for healthy gut flora and their high acidity works great against alkaline infections such as yeast.
Are Lemons Too Sour For Parrots?
Sour taste is influenced by pH and acids present in foods. The pH is a way of measuring the acidity or alkalinity of a substance. For most humans and animals, the average pH is 7. When eating substances that have low pH levels, the acid-base homeostasis in your body has to make up the pH difference before the acid burns through your esophagus. It works the same way for parrots too. Even though the natural buffer system allows your parrots to eat sour food just like humans, problems can occur. Having a high acidity level in his blood, your bird can have digestive disorders and other health concerns.
Do You Have to Peel a Lemon Before Giving It To Your Parrot?
It is not necessary to take the skin off. Just like any other fruit, lemons must be washed thoroughly to remove chemicals before feeding them. Cut them into manageable pieces appropriate to the size of your parrot. Make sure the lemons are organic and well washed to avoid any signs of intoxication that can be traced back to pesticides.
Parrots are more than capable of making their way to the inner of the citrus fruit straight through the peels. They can also choose whether to eat the peels or not. So, if you want to avoid a huge mess while peeling the lemons, just serve the slice with its peel.
Should Parrots Eat Lemon Peels?
Acid citrus fruits such as lemons contain great amounts of Limonene. 97% of Limonene oil is stored in the peels. This chemical offers several health benefits. Researchers have proven that Limonene has Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits and even anti-cancer effects. It may boost your parrot’s heart health as well.
However, the answer to this question can be tricky. The peels of these citrus fruits are often heavily sprayed with pesticides, waxed and even painted. Doesn’t sound that healthy now right? If you’re not willing to remove the peels before serving the fruits to your parrot, at least, make sure the fruits are 100% organic. That way, you won’t have to worry about harming your parrot’s health. Don’t forget to wash the peels well to get rid of dirt.
Can Parrots Eat Lemon Drizzle Cake?
When it comes down to healthy nutrition, the best dessert might be a piece of fresh fruit. However, just like their owners, parrots crave a piece of cake every now and then. The Lemon Drizzle Cake is a dessert that is loaded with both flavor and health benefits. It contains lower fat than any traditional cake, loaded with limonene from the lemon peels, fiber and phytochemicals from the whole-wheat flour. It is unquestionably a healthy source of nourishment.
Being high in citric acid, the lemon drizzle cake hinders kidney stones. It also plays a great role in maintaining pH levels in order to avoid heart diseases, fatigue, and weight gain. It is also loaded with vitamin C which is good for anemia and rough, dry and scaly skin.
The benefits this dessert can have on your feathery pal are plenty. Yet, it must be served with some restraints. Being both acidic and high in sugar, it can have a negative impact on your parrot’s health. Just keep it as a treat from time to time.
Can Parrots Drink Lemon Juice?
Parrots can drink lemon juice however, not the lemon juice we drink. Our lemon juice is quite acidic and sour with a pH of about 2.
Before giving your parrot lemon juice, make sure it is well diluted.
Moderation is also the key here; just spray some juice on your parrot’s salad or food occasionally.
Do not use store-bought juice as it is full of preservatives. Certain preservatives have been proven to cause hypersensitivity, allergy, asthma, hyperactivity, neurological damage and even cancer among parrots.
Keep the products as natural and fresh as possible, and when it comes down to acidic drinks, make sure to dilute them well.
Can Parrots Drink Homemade Lemonade?
You might think that these two drinks are the same however, they are definitely not. When it comes down to choosing between lemon juice and homemade lemonade for your parrot, always go for the lemonade. It is much safer for your feathery pal because it is not as sour as the lemon juice. It has many potential health benefits while maintaining a stable pH level. The added sugar can provide your parrot with more energy. Just make sure that the lemons are organic.
Are Lemons Toxic For Parrots?
For a fact, citrus fruits are extremely acidic; lemons are probably the most acidic of them all. When taken moderately, lemons won’t harm your parrot. Actually, parrots can’t eat too much citrus in general, but that doesn’t mean you can give your parrot too much lemon and expect him to know when to stop. Just take off a little piece of lemons for your feathery pal and offer it as a treat. Never give it to a baby bird though, only give lemons and other citrus fruits once they are fully weaned juveniles.
A final thought:
Lemons are both healthy and safe for parrots. You can serve them in so many different ways; small slices, a drizzle cake, or preferably a well diluted homemade lemonade. However, bear in mind that they are highly acidic and must be given with some restraints. Keep them as a treat every once in a while. Only serve organic lemons from sources that you can also trust to avoid any signs of intoxications due to pesticides or any other unhealthy processes.