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It’s no wonder that veterinarians warn: don’t give your pet a food if you have doubts about whether it’s okay or not, as there’s a high risk of poisoning or gastrointestinal upset. Find out if parrots can eat cassava and don’t make the same mistake again!
Cassava is a very common food on the Brazilian table, especially in Minas Gerais and Northeastern cuisine. Therefore, the question arises: can parrots eat cassava or is it bad for them?
Natural parrot feeding and cassava
Before wondering whether parrots can eat cassava, the owner should ask themselves what the bird’s diet is like when it is in its natural habitat. Parrots and most other psittacines are omnivores.
They eat “everything,” from fruits to buds, leaves, flowers, tree bark, grains, and seeds. They can also eat small insects and larvae. However, there are no reports of these birds eating buried plant roots.
This means that the parrot, in nature, will not seek out cassava to eat. However, some species of cassava are not toxic to the bird, meaning the parrot can eat cassava.
Which cassava to give and how to serve it?
Your owner may have heard of cassava, bitter cassava or cassava. If not prepared correctly, this plant species is toxic to both humans and animals, which involves intensive processing to remove hydrocyanic acid, its toxic compound.
Therefore, this type of cassava should not be fed to any animal. However, table cassava, manioc or simply cassava can be consumed without any problems, as long as it is cooked. This way, cyanide, which is another toxic compound, is eliminated in the boiling water.
So, the parrot can eat cooked cassava without any problems. However, the owner must be careful about the amount of this food that he/she will give. Like all roots, cassava is rich in carbohydrates that, if consumed in excess, can cause overweight and obesity.
What can parrots eat?
Besides cassava, what does the parrot eat ? As mentioned, the bird is omnivorous and eats a wide variety of foods. There are some variations within the different species of parrots, but in general, they eat very similar foods.
Therefore, it doesn’t make much difference if you ask what to feed a true parrot , from Bahia or from the mangrove, as their diets are practically the same, varying only in the type of plant they find in their habitat.
Fruits that parrots can eat
Starting with fruits, the parrot can eat almost all of them. It is best if the owner serves them without seeds and pits, with the exception of papaya and passion fruit, whose seeds are not harmful and are even appreciated by the parrot .
The ideal is to serve small portions of different fruits, such as a fruit salad, in the morning and afternoon. Try to diversify this menu a lot so that the bird can try different flavors and get the different nutrients it needs for its body to function properly.
Vegetables that parrots can eat
The list of what parrots can eat is also extensive in the case of vegetables, since they can eat most of them. However, the list of prohibited vegetables should be known by the owner in order to avoid accidents and poisoning.
Therefore, in addition to the cassava varieties mentioned, avoid eating other raw tubers. For example, potatoes (English or sweet), yams, taro, yams and other roots should only be offered cooked. Also avoid tomatoes, as they are very acidic.
Vegetables that parrots can eat
Greens can also be offered to parrots without restrictions. Include leaves in the bird ‘s diet daily and in large quantities . Choose darker greens, as they are rich in vitamin A, an essential nutrient for the health of the bird’s respiratory tract.
The only exception to this list is lettuce. This leaf contains a substance called lactucin, which is responsible for causing great relaxation in the bird, which can lead to sedation and lethargy. In addition, it causes intestinal problems, such as pasty feces and diarrhea.
Food: the basis of a parrot’s diet
Even with all the variety of foods mentioned above, the parrot still needs other essential nutrients for its proper development and to maintain its health.
Therefore, veterinarians who specialize in birds recommend that the animal have feed as the basis of its diet, as it is complete, balanced and contains all of these nutrients.
Remember not to confuse parrot food with seed mix! This food is similar to that for dogs and cats, and comes in uniform grains. Seed mixes are those that come with several seeds mixed together. It is not recommended because the bird can choose what it likes most, especially the dreaded sunflower .