Brussels sprouts, you either love them or hate them in my opinion and I’m in the latter. However, you can’t deny that they are a superfood filled with vital nutrition that can only improve the quality of your life. Although just because I don’t like them would be selfish to think my parrot doesn’t enjoy these little green balls of goodness.
So can parrots eat Brussels sprouts? Yes brussels sprouts are safe for parrots to eat they are a tasty snack filled with plenty of benefits your parrot will thank you for like fiber, vitamin C, and vitamin K. There are also numerous other smaller vitamins and minerals hidden inside Brussels sprouts.
In this article, I’m going to outline the benefits of Brussels sprouts, whether parrots can eat them raw, and many other things so read on.
Brussels Sprout Benefits For Parrots
We know Brussels sprouts are good for our Parrots, but just how good are they? Let’s take a closer look at the nutritional content.
| Calories | 28 |
| Protein | 2g |
| Carbs | 6g |
| Fiber | 2g |
Fiber
Brussels sprouts contain high amounts of fiber with there being 2 grams in just half a cup of cooked sprouts. Dietary fiber will help your parrot with bowel movements and lower the chance they get constipated, it does this by increasing the size of the stool while also softening it for ease of passage.
It’s also beneficial for gut health by helping feed the beneficial bacteria in your bird’s gut.
A high fiber intake has also been linked with blood sugar regulation and a lower risk of heart disease.
Vitamin K
Parrots need vitamin K to produce prothrombin within the body, a protein and clotting factor to help parrots with bone metabolism and blood clotting.
It’s also used for regulating blood calcium levels.
Foods high in vitamin K are usually leafy green vegetables like cabbage, lettuce, spinach, and kale. All of which are safe to feed your parrot and provide that much-needed dose of vitamin K.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C in a parrot diet is crucial for things like boosting the immune system and preventing respiratory illnesses, it keeps plaque from the blood vessels and keeps cholesterol from oxidizing.
However, parrots use up a lot of vitamin C and do not store it so it’s important to feed your feathered friend an adequate amount of it.
Like many vitamins vitamin C is not enough on its own, to work sufficiently your parrot needs a wide variety of vitamins and minerals in his diet to feel the full effect. Luckily brussels sprouts is one of these foods with a great nutritional profile.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A, also known as retinol is present in Brussels sprouts. It helps your parrot to defend against illnesses and infections by boosting their immune system.
One of vitamin A’s main benefits is the role it plays in eyesight and eye health.
Full Of Antioxidants
Antioxidants are things that reduce the oxidative stress in your cells, luckily they are abundant in Brussels sprouts.
There’s an antioxidant called kaempferol in Brussels sprouts which has been studied extensively and has been shown to produce many health-promoting properties.
Help Maintain Blood Sugar Levels
Brussels sprouts have been known to help keep blood sugar levels steady. This is most likely because of the fiber in them, due to fiber moving slowly through the body therefore slowing the absorption of sugar in the blood.
May Prevent Cancer
Due to the antioxidants listed in the paragraph above, Brussels sprouts can reduce the risk of your parrot getting cancer.
A 2008 study found that Brussels sprouts could protect against carcinogens, which are known to cause cancer and prevent oxidative damage to cells.
How You Should Feed Brussels Sprouts To Your Parrot
Parrots can eat Brussels sprouts raw or cooked both are completely safe to serve and won’t harm your parrot. Cooking them will remove some nutrition but there will still be plenty if your parrot prefers them to be cooked.
There are multiple ways you can feed them to your bird like steaming them, putting them on skewers for your parrot to nibble away at, or even mixing them into chop among other great foods your parrot loves.
No matter if you cook them or not, I suggest cutting them up into quarters Brussels sprouts are quite big and may be a choking hazard if your parrot’s eyes are too big for your stomach and take bites he can’t handle.
Are There Any Risks To Feeding Your Parrot Brussels Sprouts?
There are no toxins in Brussels sprouts so you don’t need to worry about them posing any life-threatening danger to your parrot, however like many things moderation is key. You don’t want the only vegetable your parrot eats to be Brussels sprouts. Make sure he’s getting a wide variety of other fruits and vegetables in his diet to get those crucial vitamins and minerals Brussels sprouts don’t provide.
What Other Foods Can Your Parrot Eat?
You know Brussels sprouts are safe for your Parrot to eat but if you’re like me then you’re always looking for new foods to improve your Parrot diet to create some variety and include vital things that aren’t already in your bird’s diet.
So what other foods can your Parrot eat?
- Fruit & Vegetables
Foods like asparagus, broccoli, carrots, peppers, bananas, blueberries, and pineapples are all fine and encouraged for your Parrot to eat.
- Nuts
Things like almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, pistachios, and walnuts can be fed to your parrot. Just be wary of the fat content in some of them so they may need to be treated as a snack for your Parrot. We don’t want them getting fat!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Birds Like Brussels Sprouts?
Birds love Brussels sprouts, they are a yummy, crunchy snack that they will enjoy. Not only do they like them but Brussels sprouts bring so many health benefits that make them worthwhile to feed your bird.
Can Cockatiels Eat Raw Brussels Sprouts?
Yes, cockatiels can eat raw Brussels sprouts, while raw they actually offer a higher vitamin C content than if you were to cook them for your cockatiel.
Brussels Sprouts For Parrots – Final Thoughts
Personally, I hate Brussels sprouts even when I know the vast health benefits they can bring me. I hope your parrot isn’t as picky as me because the list of benefits they will bring to your feathered friend is endless. Remember they can be eaten raw or cooked – with raw providing that added touch of nutrition although it’s not a massive difference so if your parrot prefers them steamed then that’s fine also.
