Guava (Psidium guayava) is a delicious and flavorful tropical fruit from the Myrtaceae family. Adding guava to a parrot’s diet allows it to benefit from the fruit’s nutrient-rich flesh, skin, and seeds.
Parrots can safely eat guava 1-2 times per week. Guava contains antioxidants, vitamins B3, B6, and C, and minerals like calcium, potassium, manganese, magnesium, and iron. Guava is also a good source of dietary fiber, adding bulk to the stool and assisting with digestive transit.
Most vitamins and minerals are found near the skin, but it has a bitter flavor that not all parrots enjoy sampling. The seeds of the guava, which are also an acquired taste, are crunchy and nutritious.
Can Parrots Eat Guava?
Parrots know guavas well because they grow where many wild species are native. Parrots are fruit eaters, so they’ll feast on guavas in their natural habitat, gaining the energy to fly and explore.
Parrots can eat all parts of the guava fruit, including the skin and seeds. Captive birds will benefit from the mental stimulation from tearing into the skin, keeping their minds active.
Parrots like guava’s sweet and juicy flavor but may dislike the skin and seeds due to their bitter taste.
When it comes to preparation, you can feed guava to pet parrots in these ways:
- Slice it into wedges.
- Halve the guava and scoop out the flesh.
- Blend it with water to make a refreshing guava juice drink.
A parrot will have a preferred way to eat guava, which will quickly become apparent.
Guava Nutritional Information
The U.S Department of Agriculture outlines the nutrients found in an average 55-gram guava:
| Nutrient | Amount |
| Fiber | 2.97 g |
| Calcium | 9.9 mg |
| Iron | 0.143 mg |
| Magnesium | 12.1 mg |
| Phosphorus | 22 mg |
| Potassium | 229 mg |
| Zinc | 0.127 mg |
| Copper | 0.127 mg |
| Vitamin C | 126 mg |
| Vitamin B3 (niacin) | 0.596 mg |
| Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) | 0.061 mg |
| Vitamin E | 0.402 mg |
Is Guava Healthy for Parrots?
Guava contains the following nutrients:
Vitamin B
Vitamin B3 is involved in the conversion of fat, carbs, and protein into usable energy. It’s also essential for robust brain, nerve, and immune function.
Vitamin B6 releases energy from food, preventing tiredness and fatigue. It’s also required for blood flow and preventing high blood pressure (hypertension)
Vitamin C
Guava is among the best sources of vitamin C (ascorbic acid), containing 4 times more than oranges. Vitamin C is essential for immune health, ensuring it functions optimally. It also:
- Enables parrots’ bodies to absorb iron.
- Maintains consistent blood sugar levels.
- Aids muscle and bone development.
- Stabilizes blood cholesterol levels.
- Wards against memory-related conditions.
Vitamin C fights off infections while enabling parrots to heal from skin cuts, abrasions, and flesh wounds.
However, parrots’ bodies can synthesize vitamin C from glucose in the liver, so it doesn’t need to come from a dietary source in the way it does with humans. Vitamin C deficiencies in parrots are rare.
Dietary Fiber
Guava contains dietary fiber, which keeps the digestive system functioning optimally.
Fiber reduces the symptoms of diarrhea and prevents constipation because it absorbs water and bulks out stools, making them easier and more comfortable to pass.
The Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences stated that extract from the guava plant’s leaf, root, and stem is used as antidiarrheal therapy in traditional medicines.
Fiber also slows down the transit of food through the gut, leaving birds feeling less hungry.
Foods high in fiber contain acetate, a molecule that controls appetite. Acetate is naturally released when the gut digests fiber, sending signals to the brain that it’s time to stop eating.
If a parrot is prone to weight gain and obesity, feed them more high-fiber foods like guava.
Potassium
Potassium is essential for bone and muscle formation. It combines with sodium to regulate the following:
- Muscle contractions.
- Nerve signals.
- Fluid balance.
Potassium helps prevent anemia and assists with the blood clotting process.
Manganese
Manganese is a trace mineral, which means parrots only need small amounts. It’s essential for forming strong bones and eggshells, so breeding parrots benefit significantly from manganese.
Magnesium
One guava contains 12.1 mg of magnesium. It’s essential for:
- Healthy nerves and muscles.
- Strong bones.
- Temperature regulation.
Magnesium minimizes the risk of rickets, calcium deficiencies, and seizures.
Calcium
A calcium deficiency (hypocalcemia) is a common nutritional disorder in parrots. Seeds, nuts, and pellets don’t contain the calcium parrots need, so this mineral must be obtained from other dietary sources.
Guava contains calcium for strong bones, feathers, and eggshells. Dietary calcium from fruits like guava can help reduce the incidence or prevent the following health problems:
- Seizures.
- Muscle pain and contractions.
- Stress.
- Heart disorders.
- Weak eggshells.
Parrots shouldn’t consume dairy products like milk, cream, and cheese because they lack lactase, making it difficult to process lactose. Dairy consumption can lead to diarrhea and runny poop.
Feeding birds foods like guava, broccoli, watercress, and cuttlebone is essential.
Iron
Iron is needed to create hemoglobin, which carries oxygenated blood around the body, ensuring it reaches a bird’s organs. Parrots that lack enough iron are at risk of anemia.
However, too much iron can lead to iron storage disease (ISD). This life-threatening condition occurs when excess iron accumulates in the liver, damaging hepatic lysosomes and releasing ionic iron.
Antioxidants
According to the Sunway Academic Journal, guava is high in antioxidants. Specifically, guava’s rich in gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, ferulic acid, ascorbic acid, quercetin, caffeic acid, and quercetin.
Antioxidants reduce the damage caused by releasing free radicals from bodily processes and environmental pollutants, minimizing oxidative stress.
This benefits the body because it reduces inflammation, supports brain function and eye health, and protects against degenerative diseases and the effects of aging.
Many antioxidants are found in and near the skin, so peeling the fruit is unwise. Instead, wash the guava under the cold tap to remove dirt, debris, and traces of pesticide.
Can Parrots Eat Guava Seeds?
Guava seeds contain vitamin A, which keeps the eyes and immune system healthy. Also, guava seeds are a rich source of potassium, keeping fluid and blood pressure levels normalized.
Guava seeds act as laxatives, assisting with healthy, regular bowel movements.
Can Parrots Eat Guava Skin?
Many nutrients are found in the guava’s skin, which has more phenol and ascorbic acid than peeled guava. Similarly, most of the fruit’s vitamin C is found near the surface.
The rough and abrasive skin is useful for wearing down a parrot’s ever-growing beak.
As stated, the skin tastes bitter. Some parrots enjoy the flavor, but many don’t.
Can Parrots Drink Guava Juice?
Never buy store-bought guava juice because it contains extra sugar, additives, and preservatives.
Homemade guava juice is nutritious and hydrating. It makes a delicious treat, especially if a parrot isn’t drinking sufficient water. When juicing guava, blend it with water so it doesn’t contain too many calories.
Feeding a parrot guava 1-2 times a week means it’ll benefit from health-enhancing vitamins and minerals.
Guava’s a tropical fruit, so many parrots like the taste and enjoy the mental stimulation of tearing the fruit apart. Guava should be fed to parrots alongside other nutritious fruits and vegetables.
