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feeding parrots citrus fruits

Can Parrots Eat Citrus Fruit? (Citric Acid + Safety Concerns)

Last Updated on February 10, 2024 by Carrie Stephens

Citrus fruits are safe and healthy for parrots. Oranges, grapefruits, lemons, and limes are good sources of vitamins A and C, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese, potassium, antioxidants, and fiber.

Parrots like citrus fruit because of its interesting sweet and sour taste. Some fruits are sweet, while others are sour-tasting. Their distinctive flavor is due to the combination of natural sugars and citric acid.

Citrus fruits are from the Rutaceae family. They’re native to tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Island Southeast Asia, and northeastern Australia, where many psittacine birds can be observed eating them.

Amount of Citrus Fruit for Parrots

Citrus fruit should only comprise a small percentage of a parrot’s diet.

  • Oranges, clementines, and tangerines: One slice every 2 days.
  • Lemon and lime: One slice every 7 days.
  • Grapefruit: One slice every 4-5 days.

When feeding citrus fruit to a parrot, you can:

  • Put some in a shallow dish for the parrot to pick out.
  • Hang 1-2 pieces on the cage with string.
  • Juice them into the water to make a hydrating drink.

Parrots enjoy tearing into citrus fruits, making them an excellent source of enrichment. Unfortunately, they’re messy to eat, so you’ll need to clean the cage regularly.

Adverse Effects of Citric Acid

Excessive citric acid from fruit negatively affects the body in the following ways:

  • Inflammatory responses (joint pain and swelling.)
  • Stomach pain.
  • Skin irritation.
  • Mouth ulcers.
  • Allergic reactions.

Some experts believe that citrus fruit exacerbates degenerative joint conditions. If you have a senior parrot with arthritis, this should be taken under advisement.

can parrots eat limes?

Lemons

Parrots can eat lemon, but not all like the acidity and tart taste.

Advantages

Due to the acidity level, lemon can help with yeast infections. Lemon also promotes good gut bacteria, enabling the body to fight off bacterial microbes and other pathogens.

They’re a good source of flavonoids, which help reduce free radicals and oxidative stress.

Lemon contains more vitamin C (ascorbic acid) than most fruits. This is needed for:

  • Boosting the immune system.
  • Iron absorption.
  • Stabilizing blood sugar levels.
  • Bone health.
  • Lowering serum cholesterol levels.

Instead of throwing the remnants away, consider mimicking the effects of lemon essential oils. Dilute them in water and spray them in the parrot’s room to freshen things up.

Disadvantages

Be careful with how much lemon you feed a parrot, as too much can cause mouth ulcers and stomach upsets. Of course, you can offer lemon juice in water to reduce the potency.

The high acidity isn’t ideal, but consuming some lemon won’t harm parrots.

After harvesting, fruit producers spray lemons with a thin layer of wax to protect them and keep the fruit looking fresh. To avoid this issue, we recommend getting organic citrus fruit.

Nutritional Information

One slice of lemon (8 g) has the following nutrients:

Nutritional ContentAmount Per Serving
Fiber0.224 g
Calcium2.08 mg
Iron0.048 mg
Magnesium0.64 mg
Phosphorus1.28 mg
Potassium11 mg
Zinc0.005 mg
Vitamin C4.24 mg
Vitamin A0.08 µg
Vitamin B-60.006 mg
Folate0.88 µg

Grapefruit

All parts of the grapefruit are safe for parrots.

Not only is grapefruit healthy and delicious, but it provides parrots with mental stimulation. Most parrots enjoy tearing through the thick peel to reach the fruit within.

You can also offer a parrot freshly squeezed grapefruit juice if you dilute it.

Advantages

Grapefruit is a superfood and a good source of the following:

  • Vitamins A, B6, and C contribute to immune health.
  • Calcium for strong, healthy bones and eggshells.
  • Magnesium enables the body to absorb calcium.
  • Potassium maintains blood pressure.
  • Fiber keeps the digestive system working optimally.
  • Antioxidants protect against free radical damage.
can parrots have grapefruit?

Disadvantages

Like all citrus fruits, too much can be problematic. Grapefruit acid causes stomach upset and mouth ulcers. Grapefruit is also treated with pesticides, so clean the skin before offering any.

While grapefruit contains natural sugars, too much can result in oral bacteria. When bacteria spread through the digestive tract, a parrot may experience gastrointestinal problems.

Nutritional Information

One slice of grapefruit (25 g) contains the following nutrients:

Nutritional ContentAmount Per Serving
Fiber0.4 g
Calcium5.5 mg
Iron0.02 mg
Magnesium2.25 mg
Phosphorus4.5 mg
Potassium33.8 mg
Zinc0.018 mg
Vitamin C7.8 mg
Vitamin A14.5 µg
Vitamin B-60.013 mg
Folate3.25 µg

Limes

Limes are safe, but not all parrots enjoy the sour taste. A parrot may be disinterested when tastier and sweeter fruits, like papaya and strawberries, are available.

You can give a parrot a slice of lime or dilute a small amount of juice and offer it as a drink.

Advantages

Limes contain high levels of vitamin C, which helps fight infection and speeds up the healing process after illness or injury. Limes contain antioxidants, which lower the risk of age-related diseases.

Disadvantages

Some parrots are sensitive to acidity. This can make them more susceptible to skin problems like phytophotodermatitis, protein contact dermatitis, and allergic contact dermatitis.

The peel can be problematic because it may be covered in pesticides. Some parrots enjoy pecking and biting through the lime’s peel, but you must wash them first.

Nutritional Information

A slice of lime (8 g) contains the following nutrients:

Nutritional ContentAmount Per Serving
Fiber0.224 g
Calcium2.64 mg
Iron0.048 mg
Magnesium0.48 mg
Phosphorus1.44 mg
Potassium8.16 mg
Zinc0.009 mg
Vitamin C2.33 mg
Vitamin A0.16 µg
Vitamin B-60.003 mg
Folate0.64 µg

Oranges

Parrots can eat all parts of the orange, including the flesh, seeds, and peel.

Advantages

According to Nutrition Research, oranges are a good source of fiber, which can decrease a parrot’s blood cholesterol levels. Oranges also contains:

  • Flavonoids have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiviral properties.
  • Hesperidin is linked to superior heart health, bone health, and immune function.
  • Vitamin A (carotenoids) are essential for eye and respiratory tract health.
  • Vitamin C fights off viruses and improves collagen production for better skin health.
  • Soluble fiber helps reduce cholesterol levels.

Orange juice is a healthy option, but it should be diluted in water to reduce the calories. Although more convenient, store-bought orange juices contain sugars and additives.

is citrus fruit good for parrots?

Disadvantages

While oranges aren’t unhealthy for parrots, they contain natural sugars. Too much sugar can contribute to obesity and weight-related health conditions like arthritis.

If you feed a parrot too much orange, it could experience gastrointestinal distress.

Nutritional Information

A slice of orange weighing 15 grams contains the following nutrients:

Nutritional ContentAmount Per Serving
Fiber0.36 g
Calcium6 mg
Iron0.015 mg
Magnesium1.5 mg
Phosphorus2.1 mg
Potassium27.2 mg
Zinc0.011 mg
Vitamin C7.98 mg
Vitamin A1.65 µg
Folate4.5 µg

Clementines

Clementines have thinner skin and are smaller and sweeter than oranges.

Advantages

Small parrots may prefer them to oranges because they’re tastier and easier to hold.

Clementines contain nutrients like:

  • Vitamin C.
  • Thiamine.
  • Folate.
  • Antioxidants.

According to Science Daily, thiamine assists with nerve function.

Disadvantages

Clementines contain higher amounts of natural sugars than other citrus fruits.

They’re also seedless, so parrots miss out on the fun of picking out the seeds.

Nutritional Information

One clementine slice (8 g) has the following nutrients:

Nutritional ContentAmount Per Serving
Fiber0.144 g
Calcium2.96 mg
Iron0.012 mg
Magnesium0.96 mg
Phosphorus1.6 mg
Potassium13.3 mg
Zinc0.006 mg
Vitamin C2.14 mg
Vitamin A2.72 µg
Folate1.28 µg

Tangerines

Tangerines are similar to oranges and clementines but smaller, sweeter, and slightly tarter. They have soft, pebbly skin that parrots can easily peel.

Advantages

Tangerines contain as many nutrients as oranges and clementines, including:

  • Vitamins A, B6, B9, and C.
  • Potassium, calcium, magnesium, and iron.
  • Flavonoid antioxidants (beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein, and zeaxanthin.)

Small parrots find tangerines easier and more fun to eat.

Disadvantages

As with all citrus fruits, there are certain risks:

  • Natural sugars.
  • Acidity.
  • Pesticides on the skin.

The over-consumption of tangerines can cause gastrointestinal discomfort.

Nutritional Information

A slice of tangerine (12 g) contains the following nutrients:

Nutritional ContentAmount Per Serving
Fiber0.198 g
Calcium4.07 mg
Iron0.017 mg
Magnesium1.32 mg
Phosphorus2.2 mg
Potassium18.3 mg
Zinc0.008 mg
Vitamin C2.94 mg
Vitamin A3.74 µg
Folate1.76 µg

Providing a parrot with new fruits contributes to superior health and well-being.