Can Parrots Eat Cucumbers? Vet Approved Nutrition Facts

Vet approved

Reviewed & Fact-Checked By

Dr. Ashley Darby

Veterinarian, BVSc

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

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This article has been reviewed for factual accuracy by a qualified veterinarian, using information available at the time of publishing. Parrot owners are urged to consult with their veterinarian when making dietary decisions for their pet. This article is designed to provide general information but it does not take into account your pet’s health status or circumstances.

While parrots refer to hundreds of different species of birds, in general the mainstay of a parrot’s diet should be species-appropriate commercial pellets. You can (and should!) supplement your bird’s diet with vegetables, fruits, and grains. However, not all produce is safe for parrots. It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the safe options to ensure you’re not feeding your bird unhealthy or potentially toxic foods.

Cucumbers are a tasty and healthy treat that many parrots enjoy, thanks to their crunch and juiciness. However, just because they’re safe doesn’t mean they should be offered daily. Read on to learn more about the benefits and risks of cucumbers for parrots.

Benefits of Offering Cucumbers to Parrots

Cucumbers have a lot of health benefits to offer parrots. Let’s take a closer look at the nutritional information.

Nutritional Value of 100 Grams of Cucumber

Source: USDA

As you can see, cucumbers are low calorie, low fat, and a good water source to ensure your pet is hydrated. A dehydrated parrot may be weak, tired, and uninterested in their surroundings. They may eat less or refuse to eat altogether.

Additionally, cucumbers are also a source of vitamins C and K and potassium. What do these vitamins and minerals offer your parrot?

Vitamin C is an important antioxidant that can scavenge free radicals. It is also an important element in metabolism and immune function. It is rare to see parrots with a vitamin C deficiency. Potassium is an important mineral for energy production, muscle function and maintaining blood pressure.

Risks of Offering Cucumbers to Parrots

While cucumbers have some clear benefits, they aren’t the most nutritious veggie. That’s not to say that they’re unhealthy for your bird, but that there are other vitamin and mineral-rich foods your parrot would garner more health benefits from.

Additionally, the high water content of a cucumber can wreak havoc on your pet’s digestive system. Too many cukes will ultimately affect digestion and droppings with more water in them.

How to Prepare Cucumbers for Parrots

As with most foods, you can prepare a cucumber for your pet parrot in several ways.

Chopping the cucumber is probably the easiest and most common way to offer it to your bird. You can either chop it into chunks or slice it.

You can peel the vegetable if your parrot doesn’t care for the skin; however, there is a lot of nutrition in the skin. The seeds are fine to stay inside the cucumber as well, not to mention some parrots love foraging for the seeds, providing them with a fun enrichment activity to pass the time.

What Other Veggies Can Parrots Have?

Variety may be the spice of life for humans, but the same applies to our feathered friends. Your parrot can’t very well thrive on a diet consisting only of pellets and cucumbers, so here are some other veggies and herbs you can add to your parrot’s daily chop to spice things up:

Final Thoughts

Cucumbers are a healthy snack you can feed your parrot occasionally. Most seem to enjoy the crunchy juiciness of the veggie, but not all will like it. If yours does enjoy cucumbers, add them to their chop every few days for variety. Mix in some of the veggies from the list above for variety.

See also: 

• Can Parrots Eat Asparagus? Vet-Reviewed Nutrition Guide
• Can Parrots Eat Zucchini? Vet-Approved Nutrition Facts

Featured Image Credit: yubimova Tatiana, Shutterstock