Can Parrots eat Bitter Gourd?

The answer to the questions is Yes. Parrots can eat Bitter gourd. Bitter gourd is an excellent vegetable for parrots! It’s a healthy vegetable, and there are many nutritional benefits. So if you don’t know about it, don’t worry!  This article will tell you why they love to eat gourd and how you can supplement them in their diet, and address some of the concerns that people have about the vegetable.

As suggested by the name, it’s a bitter vegetable. So people with no experience with parrots tend to think that it’s bad or even poisonous for the parrots. However, that’s not the case.

You can eat bitter gourd raw or cooked, and it’s excellent when prepared with recipes, and you can even do the same for parrots. Most parrot owners, however, feed them raw, and it’s totally safe. It can be whole or cut into pieces and even mixed with other vegetables for a balanced diet.

 Is bitter gourd safe for parrots?

There is one thing that people often debate about when it comes to feeding bitter gourd to parrots. The seeds do cause problems in the stomach in humans. That’s why people often hesitate to feed the parrots with whole bitter gourd. Some even remove the seeds before feeding them.

There’s a high possibility that the seeds can cause more harm to them. So if you want to take extra precautions, you can do the same and not feed the seeds.

Parrot sick after eating bitter gourd

Let’s say you didn’t know about bitter gourd and fed the parrot on many occasions. So how do you know it affects their health? Well, you can watch out for some of these symptoms so that you can immediately take them to an avian vet. Watch out for;

  • Abnormal feces
  • Puffy appearance
  • Sneezing
  • Irregular breathing
  • Goopy eyes

It’s also worth mentioning that parrots are vulnerable, and they die quickly if they fall sick. So immediate medical attention is crucial for them to survive if they fall ill. Although bitter gourd may not be the cause, knowing some of these symptoms helps you keep a check on your pet.  

Bitter gourd is healthy for parrots!

Bitter gourd is excellent for parrots. It’s filled with lots of Vitamin C, so it helps boost their immune system ad won’t have health issues.  Plus, it has antioxidants in the form of Gallic acid, Catechin, Chlorogenic acid and Epicatechin.

Bitter gourd has more calcium than vegetables like spinach and broccoli. It also has other minerals like potassium, iron and magnesium, including anti-inflammatory compounds, which is fantastic for the parrots.

Related : Can Parrots Eat Mealworms? 

So the bottom line is, don’t hesitate to feed them with bitter gourd because it’s an excellent source of vitamins and minerals!

Other vegetables that parrots eat

If you own a parrot, feeding them won’t be a problem. It will eat almost any vegetable you can think of. So every time you prepare a meal for yourself, the vegetables you eat can be the Parrots recipe! But what other vegetables can you feed them besides a bitter gourd? To give you an idea about their diet, here’s a list of them.

  • Broccoli
  • Spinach
  • Beets
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Bamboo Shoots
  • Bell Peppers
  • Peas
  • Cauliflower
  • Green Beans
  • Lettuce
  • Hot Peppers
  • Carrots
  • Brussel Sprouts
  • Celery
  • Parsnips
  • Bok Choy
  • Fava Beans

The list goes on! But what you should also know is what not to feed the parrots. So here’s a list of some of the vegetables you should avoid feeding your parrot.

  • Eggplant
  • Mushrooms,
  • Cherry/apricot pits.
  • Raw rhubarb
  • Garlic avocado
  • Onion

These vegetables can cause harm and could be fatal. So make sure that you avoid them so that they don’t fall sick.

Frequently Asked Questions:

My parrot fell sick after eating bitter gourd.

If you notice your parrot showing signs of abnormal behavior after eating bitter gourd, immediately get in touch with an avian vet. You can take it to the clinic and have the vet examine the parrot. It could be due to other reasons besides bitter gourd too.

Are bitter gourd seeds suitable for parrots?

Although it’s not conclusive, there are instances where consuming the bitter gourd seeds can make your parrot fall sick. But it’s not something to worry about because the cases are few. Also, the cause of sickness could be due to some other vegetable that you fed during the day. But in any case, make sure that you take it to the vet.

Raw or cooked bitter gourd for parrots?

Most parrot owners feed raw bitter gourd. But you can also cook them before feeding them. So it doesn’t matter as long as it’s bitter gourd!

In Summary

There you have it. The answer to your question ‘can parrots eat bitter gourd?’. It’s definitely a nutritious vegetable packed with lots of vitamins and minerals. The most promising thing about the vegetable is the high calcium and Vitamin C content which is excellent for the birds. You can feed them raw or cooked, and they enjoy eating as well! So bitter gourds are healthy food for your parrots!