Home » Can Parrots Eat Celery? (Sticks, Leaves + Seeds)
can parrots eat celery?

Can Parrots Eat Celery? (Sticks, Leaves + Seeds)

Last Updated on March 3, 2024 by Carrie Stephens

Parrots can eat celery stalks, leaves, and seeds. Celery provides vitamins A, C, and K and minerals like calcium, folate, phosphorus, potassium, and fiber.

A celery stick has an earthy and peppery taste that not all parrots find appetizing. That said, most parrots enjoy the crunchy and juicy texture. Fibrous foods are also helpful for beak maintenance.

Celery has few calories, so parrots that ate little else would have low energy and become emaciated.

The stringiness also poses a problem, as parrots may struggle to digest the dense fibers. Unfortunately, the stringiness of celery can block the crop, resulting in impaction.

Health Benefits of Celery for Parrots

Feeding parrots some celery (Apium graveolens) helps keep the heart, kidneys, immune system, and digestive tract functioning optimally. Celery contains the following nutrients:

Vitamin A

Vitamin A (retinol) is a fat-soluble micronutrient essential to parrots’ metabolic processes, including growth and repair, immunity, vision, and reproduction.

Some parrots, especially those fed all-seed diets, are deficient in vitamin A (hypovitaminosis A) because they miss out on vitamin A from other more nutrient-dense foods.

As described by a journal on Vin, parrots get beta-carotene from fruits and vegetables, which is converted into vitamin A. Therefore, parrots must get vitamin A from a dietary source.

The symptoms of a vitamin A deficiency include:

  • Poor feathers.
  • Tiredness and lethargy.
  • Polyuria and polydipsia.
  • Oral abscesses.
  • Night blindness.
  • Weak bones.
  • Respiratory problems.
  • Lowered immune function.
  • Conjunctivitis (pink eye).

Parrots with a vitamin A deficiency may have less colorful and vibrant plumage.

is celery good for parrots?

Vitamin B9 (Folates)

Celery contains folates essential for cellular growth and regeneration, healthy kidneys, and preventing anemia. Giving parrots celery may prevent kidney stone formation.

Vitamin C

A cup of celery contains 9.1 mg of vitamin C. While not as much as kiwi or oranges, celery still includes an appreciable amount of vitamin C relative to its calories.

Vitamin C performs vital bodily functions, including:

  • Increases blood antioxidant levels.
  • Maintains stable blood sugar levels.
  • Collagen production for healthy skin.
  • Assisting with wound recovery.
  • Keeps blood pressure at safe levels.

Note that parrots produce vitamin C (ascorbic acid) from glucose in the liver.

Vitamin K

There are 56.7μg of vitamin K in an average cup of diced or sliced celery.

Vitamin K and calcium-deficient parrots have weak, brittle bones prone to fractures and osteoporosis.

Vitamin K assists with the synthesis of prothrombin, which clots the blood, stemming the flow and preventing heavy bleeding. Anemia and vitamin K deficiencies are closely correlated.

Egg-laying females need more vitamin K for healthy eggshells, reducing the risk of hatching mortality.

Calcium

A cup of celery contains 63 mg of calcium, an essential mineral for a healthy skeleton and eggs.

Parrots can’t fully digest lactose because they don’t produce the enzyme lactase. Dairy products are unsuitable for parrots, so they must get calcium from other dietary sources.

Parrots need calcium for the following reasons:

  • Strong eggshells.
  • Preventing self-destructive behaviors.
  • Blood clotting.
  • Muscle contractions.
  • Balance and coordination.
  • Heart and nerve function.

Additional calcium is required for egg-laying parrots, or this mineral will be taken from the bones. When this happens, parrots have an elevated risk of hypocalcemia.

Potassium

A medium-sized celery stick contains 104 mg of potassium.

Potassium combines with essential electrolyte minerals like calcium and sodium to optimize fluid levels in the body. These are necessary for muscle contractions and a regular heart rate.

Phosphorous

Giving a parrot a cup of diced celery provides 37.5 mg of phosphorus. Parrots need phosphorous for strong bones, new cell creation, and energy generation.

Why Celery Is Bad for Parrots

Celery is non-toxic for parrots, but it does have a stringy consistency. Before feeding celery to a parrot, there are issues to be aware of, including the following:

Crop Impaction

Because celery is a fibrous material, it can get stuck inside the parrot’s crop. The entrapment of foreign objects causes impaction, leading to infection.

Crop impaction (crop stasis) occurs when food can’t move through the digestive tract. The parrot then gets a secondary bacterial, fungal, or yeast infection.

The symptoms of crop impaction include:

  • Extended crop for 24+ hours.
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Vomiting and regurgitation.
  • Puffed-up feathers.
  • Dehydration.
  • Lethargy and inactivity.
  • Agitation.
  • Depression.
  • Diarrhea.

A vet will administer antibiotics or antifungal medication to treat the infection. Also, intravenous (IV) fluids will be provided to rehydrate the parrot. Sometimes, surgery is required to remove blockages.

Digestive Problems

While celery is an excellent soluble and insoluble fiber source, too much can be counterproductive.

Celery is high in water, meaning overconsumption can result in watery stools. It can also cause gas to accumulate in the stomach, leaving parrots feeling bloated and uncomfortable.

Celery stalks are high in cellulose. This complex carbohydrate is contained in the cell wall of celery, but it can’t be digested or absorbed by birds.

Parrots have a short and narrow digestive tract, so this fibrous material is unnecessary. Also, if cellulose is consumed in large quantities, it can cause gastric distress.

Celery Juice

Celery juice is healthy because it removes the stringy pieces that can get stuck in the crop.

Some parrots like drinking celery juice from a shallow bowl. Due to its high water content, celery is ideal for juicing, as the water gives it a pleasant consistency.

Similarly, combining celery with other vegetables and juicing them with water is a proven way to provide a parrot with additional vitamins and minerals.

can parrots eat celery leaves?

Celery Leaves

The dark outer leaves are the tastiest part, so many parrots love devouring them. The texture is tough and fibrous, providing parrots with mental stimulation, as they’ll enjoy ripping and tearing them apart.

The lighter inner leaves are delicate with a more subtle flavor. While neither contains enough nutrients to sustain a parrot, they’re healthy when paired with the rest of the celery.

Celery leaves contain traces of toxic compounds called psoralens, which can cause an adverse reaction.

Celery Seeds

Celery seeds are as safe as the other parts of the celery. The seeds are found in the plant, not the celery. Once they become brown and dry, you can harvest them.

How To Prepare Celery for Parrots

Wash the celery in cold water and rub the fibrous sections to ensure it’s clean. Chop the celery into small chunks or slices to prevent large strings from being ingested.

If you’re concerned about crop impaction, juice the celery and offer it in a shallow bowl. If the parrot hasn’t consumed it within a few hours, replace it with fresh celery so it doesn’t turn rancid.