Can Parrots Eat Cinnamon? Vet-Reviewed Health Concerns
By Misty Layne
Updated on
If you’re a parrot parent (or considering bringing one of these birds into your home), you should be aware of what they can and cannot eat. While the majority of a parrot’s diet will consist of pellets specifically designed for them, you’ll need to supplement those pellets with veggies, fruits, grains, and the such. But some food items you might want to give your parrot won’t be safe for them to consume.
One thing people are often curious about is whether parrots can eat cinnamon. So, can they? There’s no science-backed definitive answer to the question, but cinnamon wouldn’t usually be a part of a parrot’s natural diet. Plus, only one kind of cinnamon is considered safe for these birds; the wrong type of cinnamon could prove fatal.
Why You Probably Shouldn’t Feed Cinnamon To Your Parrot
Cinnamon can offer humans health benefits when used in food, but the same isn’t necessarily true for parrots. Though cinnamon is believed to have anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, there’s no guarantee these would offer your parrot any benefit. Plus, giving your parrot the wrong type of cinnamon by accident is a huge risk.
You might not know, but there are different types of cinnamon, including Ceylon and cassia. Cassia is the type of cinnamon you probably use most often when baking, as it’s the most commonly available type in the U.S. The problem is that cassia is dangerous to give to your parrot. This cinnamon has a lot of coumarin, which is a blood thinner. Too much coumarin can be toxic to your parrot and can cause damage to the liver or even be fatal.
The only type of cinnamon generally deemed safe for parrots is Ceylon. Your parrot would probably view a cinnamon stick as a chew toy, rather than food. In fact, Ceylon is sometimes used in chews. Some parrot owners add the powdered form of Ceylon cinnamon to their parrots diet for its reported health benefits and as a tasty treat.
Most parrots are granivores (seed eaters) or frugivores (fruit eaters), but many can easily switch between both. A few species are nectivores (nectar feeders). Therefore, cinnamon is unlikely to be part of a parrot’s natural diet in the wild. If you want to add some cinnamon to your parrot’s diet in the form of powder or chews, it’s highly advisable to talk to your bird’s veterinarian before you do. They can let you know if Ceylon will be suitable for your pet.
What Should A Parrot Eat?
So, what should you be feeding your parrot? While a parrot’s diet will vary somewhat between species, all parrots need to be fed a variety of foods. However, most of that diet should consist of specially formulated pellets designed for your bird’s species. These pellets will give them the majority of the nutrients they need to stay healthy.
But parrots can’t live on pellets alone; they’ll get bored of them quickly and they are not nutritionally complete. These birds also need some fruits and veggies thrown into the mix, along with some nuts and protein, and the occasional treat.
What sorts of vegetables should be a part of your parrot’s diet? Some good vegetable additions to most parrot’s diets include broccoli, green beans, corn, and squash. Keep in mind that not all vegetables are created nutritiously equal; something like lettuce will contain mostly water, rather than minerals and vitamins.
As for fruits, these should only make up a small part of your bird’s diet due to their sugary nature (and a bird’s tendency to overdo it with fruit). Some fruits your parrot may love include blueberries, pineapple, mango, and grapes. Like vegetables, not all fruits are equal in nutrition; those of a deeper color will likely have more essential vitamins and minerals.
Healthy grains and proteins can also comprise a small part of a parrot’s diet. Healthy grains include quinoa, oats, and cooked brown rice, while proteins include tiny amounts of nuts or legumes, such as beans.
What about seeds? While it’s safe for your pet parrot to have a few seeds here and there, seeds contain a lot of fat and aren’t very nutritious. Plus, some birds will begin wanting only seeds to eat if this food is given too often, which can cause nutritional deficiencies.
Conclusion
Cinnamon is a spice that’s probably best avoided in parrots. There’s only one kind of cinnamon that is considered safe for parrots to consume, and it isn’t the most common cinnamon available; that makes the risk of accidentally giving your pet the wrong sort of cinnamon more likely, and the wrong kind of cinnamon could prove fatal.
However, if you would still like to give your parrot Ceylon cinnamon on occasion, check with your bird’s vet first. They know your bird and will be able to tell you whether incorporating this spice into their diet would be suitable for them.
Featured Image Credit: 5389939, Pixabay
