Can Parrots Eat Sweet Potato? Vet-Reviewed Nutritional Facts

Conscientious parrot parents are always curious about how to improve and diversify their feathered friend’s diet. Fortunately, there is an abundance of safe, healthy, and colorful veggies you can throw in to supplement those all-important leafy greens, and sweet potato is one of them.

Many parrots love this orange root vegetable, and it’s very good for them to boot, though it should be fed in moderation only. In this post, we’ll share all you need to know about feeding sweet potatoes to your parrot. For the purposes of this article, we will be referring to bigger parrot species such as Red and Green Macaws (Ara chloropterus), as parrots can refer to numerous species with very different nutritional requirements.

Health Benefits of Sweet Potatoes for Parrots

Sweet potatoes contain a very important nutrient for parrots: vitamin A. Vitamin A contributes to various areas of health including immune system support, healthy eyes, skin, and feathers, and a strong respiratory system.

Parrots that don’t get enough vitamin A are susceptible to respiratory conditions, reproductive issues, kidney problems, dry and flaky skin, lackluster and brittle feathers, deformed beaks and toenails, and eye and/or nasal discharge.

For these reasons, it’s essential to include enough vitamin A sources in your parrot’s diet. In addition to sweet potatoes, other sources of vitamin A include:

Note: It’s a good idea to opt for darker-colored veggies as these contain higher levels of beta-carotene, which is metabolized into active vitamin A.

Can Smaller Parrot Species Eat Sweet Potatoes?

When we think of parrots, we tend to think of big birds like Macaws, Amazons, and African greys, but there are smaller varieties, too.

There isn’t much literature about individual smaller species and sweet potatoes specifically. However, the consensus is that smaller parrots can eat sweet potatoes, but only in very small amounts adapted to the bird’s size. Since different parrot species have different needs when it comes to nutrition, we’d urge you to check with a vet before introducing new foods.

How Often Can Parrots Eat Sweet Potato?

Sweet potatoes can be fed daily if your parrot likes them, but they should only be offered in small amounts because they’re “medium-energy” vegetables, along with carrots, pumpkins, beetroots, tomatoes, snow peas, and squash. Eating too many high and medium-energy vegetables can cause birds to gain weight and sometimes lead to other health conditions.

Examples of “low-energy” vegetables include spinach, broccoli, bok choy, alfalfa, cabbage, and carrot greens. At least four low-energy vegetables can be offered per day, and it’s important to vary these.

How to Prepare Sweet Potatoes for Parrots

According to most sources, you can offer sweet potatoes in raw form, though it’s fine to offer them steamed, too. If you cook them, be careful not to cook them for too long as this breaks down the vitamin A. You can chop up a few pieces of sweet potato and create a salad with various other vegetables.

It’s essential to vary the types of vegetables you feed your parrot for the best nutrition, so you might want to offer a few bite-sized pieces of sweet potato every other day, rotated with other medium-energy vegetables like carrots, pumpkin, and squash.

Other Types of Potatoes

Can Parrots Eat Potatoes?

Yes, but only if they’re thoroughly cooked without seasonings and are offered in very small amounts. Raw potatoes contain solanine—especially in the stem, sprouts, skin, and leaves— which could make your bird sick.

What’s more, even if you cook potatoes, there are certainly healthier options to offer your parrot instead—like sweet potatoes. Despite the name similarity, sweet potatoes do not come from the same family as potatoes (the nightshade family), and they do not contain solanine.

Can Parrots Eat Sweet Potato Fries?

If they’ve been fried in oils or seasoned with salt—as is often the case—parrots should not eat sweet potato fries. When it comes to your parrot, it’s best to opt for fresh vegetables that are raw or have been cooked without added seasonings or unhealthy oils.

Final Thoughts

Sweet potatoes are fine for parrots to eat and are a good source of vitamin A, but that doesn’t mean your parrot should get into the habit of eating them all the time. As with other medium-energy vegetables, sweet potatoes should be fed in small amounts. The veggies you offer should also be rotated regularly.

---

Featured Image Credit: Leohoho, Pixabay