Yes, Cockatiels can eat cilantro which is also known as Chinese Parsley or Coriander in other parts of the world. In fact, Cilantro is one of the safest herbs that you can give to your Cockatiels.
It is proven that Cilantro is a highly nutritious herb and you can offer your pets including Cockatiels the same for a snack.
It is also worth noting that you might be worried about giving Cilantro to your Cockatiels and we totally understand your concern.
For that reason, we have added useful tips down below which will help you in feeding your cockatiels.
Is Cilantro safe for Cockatiels?
Yes, Cilantro is totally safe for Cockatiels as well as other birds and it is a nutritious herb for them.
In fact, this is the most obvious concern pet owners have and we can assure that you that it is safe to feed your Cockatiels cilantro.
Talking about the nutrition that comes with a Cilantro, we have found the values of calories, fats, carbs and protein in a cup of Cilantro.
So if you take a cup (16 grams) of raw cilantro, you will be feeding your Cockatiels the following:
- 3.68 calories
- 0.083 grams of fat
- 0.587 grams of carbs
- 0.341 grams of protein
Apart from that, we have also found out that Cilantro contains the following vitamins:
- Provitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin K
Other than that, Cilantro also contains the following elements inside it making it a perfect snack for your Cockatiels:
- Folate
- Potassium
- Manganese
- Choline
- Beta-carotene
- Beta-cryptoxanthin
- Lutein
- Zeaxanthin
But we should also mention that it is advisable to give Cilantro to Cockatiels just as a snack and not make it a big part of their diet.
Is there any risk in feeding Cilantro to Cockatiels?
There is no risk in feeding Cilantro to your Cockatiels in smaller portions but make sure that you don’t feed them Cilantro in bigger portions.
Cilantro, similar to other herbs, can only be given in a particular amount and that amount should not be overdone.
As a general rule, you should only let your Cockatiels take a couple of bites of Cilantro and that will be enough for the day.
You can also add some seasoning to your Cilantro while feeding Cockatiels.
Do Cockatiels like to eat Cilantro?
Yes, Cockatiels love eating Cilantro and they love to eat other herbs and spices as well.
But that does not mean you give them Cilantro because they love it because these are herbs and they need to be given in a particular quantity only.
How much Cilantro can you feed your Cockatiels?
Cilantro should only constitute about 10% of your Cockatiels diet and you need to make sure to not increase that amount anymore.
We have mentioned that Cilantro is very rich in nutritious values but it is also true that herbs can be given to pets only in a particular amount.
You should consider Cilantro only as a snack and let your Cockatiels take a few bites out of the Cilantro and that would be enough.
Also, it is not recommended to feed your Cockatiels Cilantro every day even as 10% of their diet.
Giving Cilantro once in a while to your Cockatiels is good enough and that would give them a quick top-up in Vitamins and Minerals.
Related Post : Can Cockatiels Eat Arugula
The best thing you can feed your Cockatiels is pellets and we recommend constituting 60% of Cockatiels’ diet with pellets.
Apart from pellets, veggies are also recommended for Cockatiels and that would take up 30% of their diet.
This means that the remaining 10% of Cockatiels diet would have Cilantro and you can add fruits, nuts, and seeds to that portion as well.
What foods are toxic to Cockatiels?
Avocado is a toxic food for birds such as Cockatiels because it contains a fatty acid-like substance that kills fungus in the plants and it is not good for your pet bird’s stomach.
Caffeine is also not good for Cockatiels because it can increase heart rate and even cause cardiac arrest in birds.
Chocolate is also a toxic food for birds such as Cockatiels because it also contains caffeine as well as theobromine which can lead to increased heart rate in birds and even cause death.
Salt is also toxic for Cockatiels and even a bit of salt should not be given to them because it can cause electrolyte disbalance in them.
What plants are toxic to Cockatiels?
The plants that are toxic to Cockatiels are as follows:
- Avocado
- Black Locust
- Clematis
- Eggplant
- Foxglove
- Hemlock
- Lobelia
- Lupine
What are the other safe herbs that Cockatiels can eat?
Cilantro is one of the safest herbs that can be given to cockatiels but you can give them other herbs as well such as the following:
- Basil
- Cayenne
- Chamomile
- Chicory
- Celery Leaves
- Dandelion
- Dill
- Ginger Root
- Fennel
- Lemon Balm
- Marjoram
- Mint
- Oregano
- Parsley
- Rosemary
- Thyme
- Dry cinnamon
Conclusion
We have mentioned that Cilantro can be a good herb to be given to your Cockatiels but ensure that Cilantro takes not more than 10% of your Cockatiel’s diet even though it is rich in nutritious values.
Also, we have mentioned the other herbs that can be given to Cockatiels but they are also herbs and spices so they can also take only less than 10% of any Cockatiel’s diet.
So the key here is to give your Cockatiel a balanced diet and not give any particular component such as veggies, pellets, herbs, fruits, or nuts too much in one serving.
The best thing is to give Cilantro as a quick snack to your Cockatiels and let them take a couple of bites of the herb which is totally safe.
Make sure also that you do not give things such as salt, chocolate, caffeine or avocado to your Cockatiels because it is very toxic for them.
