Okra is a popular vegetable in the south and is often served as part of a meal. But can parrots eat okra?
The answer is yes, but there are some things you need to know before feeding okra to your parrot.
In this blog post, we will discuss what okra is, the nutritional value of okra for parrots, and how to introduce okra to your bird.
Can parrots eat okra? The answer to this question is yes, parrots can eat Okra. so if you have the opportunity to try some okra, go for it! It’s a unique fruit with an interesting flavor and texture. Be sure to eat it in moderation, as too much can cause stomach problems. And if you can’t find okra where you live, don’t worry – there are plenty of other unusual fruits out there for you to explore.
Is Okra Healthy for parrots?
Okra is often called “lady’s fingers,” and comes in both red and green. I’ve only seen it being sold as green in my experience though- never the other way around!
It’s packed with vitamins A & C for example which can help keep your skin healthy – notably important during winter months when we’re all trying to avoid those pesky dry spots on our faces and as well as our parrots)!
Parrots are often fed a diet of commercial feeds in order to ensure they receive all the nutrition their bodies need. It’s important, though not entirely unnecessary if you were looking at adding some healthy fruits and vegetables into your pet’s menu as well!
One type suggested by many vets would be okra because it does contain low levels of solanine which can cause problems with birds’ systems – but an experienced owner will know how much is too little or more than what should fit comfortably on his/her plate without causing health issues later down the road.
The okra fruit has very low levels and a small amount here will not hurt them. However, some other plants in the same family contain solanine which can be harmful if consumed too much or over time because it attacks your nervous system- leading to complications such as hallucinations and confusion among others.
In almost all cases though there is no need for concern when eating these types of products due to their presence being minimal.
One cup (100 grams) of raw okra contains :
- Vitamin C: 26% of the DV
- Fat: 0 grams
- Vitamin K: 26% of the DV
- Carbs: 7 grams
- Fiber: 3 grams
- Protein: 2 grams
- Vitamin A: 14% of the DV
- Magnesium: 14% of the Daily Value (DV)
- Vitamin B6: 14% of the DV
- Calories: 33
- Folate: 15% of the DV
Can parrots eat okra Seeds, Leaves, and Pods?
Parrots are natural eaters of fruit. They also enjoy eating seeds, so I have no issues giving them pods and stems from this plant as well!
There is some research that suggests high levels of solanine may be present in stalks/leaves but it’s usually more concentrated within flowers or fruits where you’ll find about 20-30% total cannabinoid content for most plants – meaning if your bird strictly eats these parts then he would probably get sick often since his body can’t handle such an amount every day without developing signs related to toxicity.
How To Feed Okra To parrots
Parrots are not picky eaters and will consume just about anything you give them.
As for okra, it’s highly unlikely that they’ll refuse whole pieces of the vegetable so long as their food mainly consists from vegetables in general!
You should dice or cut up any parts feeding these through your pet’s cage bars easily accessible ports without hesitation since this is what makes parrot diets balanced with essential nutrients needed by both bodily functions simultaneously while still keeping things tasty too – providing all necessary vitamins A & B-6.
When feeding the parrots, it’s best to pre-mix their food with vegetables like okra Feeding both ways are great for encouraging healthy eating habits in birds.
However, if you want a higher quality of intake then using premixes will provide better results because nutrients from these added ingredients get absorbed into pellet formula more efficiently than simply sprinkling on top as an extra side dish or even mixing into bird seed itself (although this might be difficult).
More Foods That parrots Can Eat
The following is a list of common meals that people who keep parrots:
- Grain Products – 50% of the diet
- Dairy and Meat – 5% of the diet
- Vegetables and Fruits – 45% of the diet
- Seed and Nuts – &1% of the diet
Fruits
- Cherries (no pits)
- Pears (remove seeds)
- Lemons
- Pomegranate
- Clementine oranges
- Cranberries
- Mandarin oranges
- Kiwis
- Oranges
- Bananas (remove peel)
- Honeydew (no rinds)
- Kumquats
- raspberries
- Cactus fruit
- Grapefruit
- Cherimoya
- Blueberries
- Nectarines (remove pit and area around the pit)
- Cantaloupe (no rinds)
- Apples (remove seeds and stem)
- Passion fruit
- Mangoes
- Apricots (remove pit and area around the pit)
- Coconuts
- Pineapple
- Grapes (i.e. black, green, red, etc.)
- Blackberries
- Raisins
- Plums (remove pit and area around the pit)
- Guava
- Dates
- Peaches (remove pit and area around the pit)
- Loquat
- Currants
- strawberries
- Figs
Recommended Vegetables
- Peppers (i.e. chili, green, jalapeno, poblano, red, serrano, yellow, etc.)
- Baby corn
- Chicory
- Leeks
- Cucumbers
- Banana peppers
- Cauliflower
- Parsley
- Chayote
- Bean sprouts
- Carrots (including tops)
- Beets
- Kale
- Broccoli flower
- Lettuce
- Cabbage
- Chili peppers
- Comfrey
- Eggplant (ripe and cooked)
- Bamboo shoots
- Cherry pepper
- Endive
- Asparagus (cooked)
- Alfalfa sprouts (you can sprout them yourself)
- Ginger root
- Collard greens
- Kohlrabi
- Broccoli
- Peas (i.e. green, snow, sugar snap, etc.)
- Beans (cooked) (i.e. adzuki, butter, garbanzo, green, haricot, kidney, mung, navy, pinto, pole, soy, wax, etc.)
- Arugula
- Jalapeno peppers
- Cilantro
- Celery
- Bell peppers
- Cayenne
- Chard
- Mustard greens
- Okra
- Lentils (cooked)
- Corn
Recommended Nuts
- Pecans
- Almonds
- Pine Nuts
- hazelnuts
- Filberts
- Macadamia (high in fat)
- Peanuts
- Brazil nuts (whole only for x-large parrots)
- Cashews
- Walnuts
Recommended Grain
- Pretzels (low- or no-salt
- Pearl barley
- Melba Toast
- Noodles and pasta (i.e. macaroni, ravioli, spaghetti, etc.)
- Oatmeal
- Quinoa