There are numerous types of lovebirds, but most of them are very colorful and beautiful, which is why they make such popular pets. There are nine species of lovebirds, and they all originated in Africa.
In the wild, these birds eat mostly fruits, seeds, veggies, grains, and grasses, and if you’re going to keep one as a pet, it’s best to stick with these things when you’re planning what to feed them.
Fortunately, most of the foods they eat are inexpensive to purchase and easy to find, making it convenient for their owners.
What Fruits Can Lovebirds Eat?
When considering the foods listed above, keep in mind that lovebirds love fruit. This being said, it’s good to know that they need a diet that is balanced and consists of fruits, veggies, seeds, grains and grasses.
Fruits and high-sugar vegetables should be given in moderation because too much sugar is bad for the lovebirds’ diet. Some of the many fruits they can eat include:
- Apples
- Bananas (remove peel first)
- Blueberries
- Cantaloupes
- Cherries
- Citrus fruits
- Cranberries
- Figs
- Grapes
- Kiwi
- Nectarines
- Papaya
- Pears
- Plums
- Raspberries
- Strawberries
- Watermelons
There are other fruits that lovebirds can eat, but it’s important to remember to remove all seeds and pits from these foods before giving them to your birds.
This is crucial because some of those seeds are toxic to birds, and the last thing you want is for your bird to die when you’re feeding them. Always check fruits with seeds or pits in them and remove them first.
Can Lovebirds Eat Bananas?
Yes, lovebirds can eat bananas, but they should not eat the peel. Peel the banana first and cut it into small pieces.
You should also do this with other fruits as well. Lovebirds do not have large mouths and may struggle with foods that are too large. You should also make sure your bird never runs out of water because they often soften food with water before eating it.
Once again, you don’t want to give your lovebird bananas on a regular basis because this is one fruit that tends to have a lot of sugar in it.
Yes, it is natural sugar, but that is still sugar according to how it is processed in the body. With fruits that have a high sugar content, make sure your lovebird only eats them occasionally and not on a daily basis.
What Else Can Lovebirds Eat?
In addition to fruits, lovebirds should have a varied diet that includes:
- Flowers such as un-dyed carnations, chives, daisies, hibiscus flowers, jasmine flowers, kumquats, orange flowers, okra flowers, pansy flowers, red clover flowers, roses, and sunflowers
- Grains such as barley, cooked brown rice, oats, unsalted pasta, quinoa, rye, wheat, and unsweetened whole-wheat cereals
- Herbs and spices such as bay leaf, basil, cloves, dill, ginger root, horseradish root, lemongrass, marjoram, mint, oregano, parsley, peppermint, rosemary, sage, thyme, St. John’s Wort, and turmeric
- Nuts such as almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, Macadamia nuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, and walnuts
- Vegetables that include broccoli, butternut squash, carrots, cauliflower, unprocessed corn, cucumbers, green beans, peas, pumpkin, radishes, spinach, sweet potatoes, yams, watercress, and zucchini
If the foods you’d like to feed your lovebirds are not on this list, that doesn’t necessarily mean you cannot feed it to them. This list is not a complete list of foods that lovebirds can eat.
That being said, never assume anything and before you decide to feed your lovebirds any food, research it first and make sure their tiny systems can handle it.
In addition, there are other foods that they can eat but only in moderation. These include seeds such as buckwheat, canary seeds, chia seeds, cumin seeds, flax seeds, hemp seeds, red or yellow millet, mustard seeds, poppy seeds, pumpkin seeds, safflower seeds, unshelled sesame seeds, black or striped sunflower seeds, and watercress seeds.
Are There Foods That Love Birds Cannot Eat?
We’ve already mentioned that with certain fruits, you must remove the pits or seeds before giving them to your lovebirds, but there are also foods that these birds should never eat, even in small amounts. These include:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Beans that are raw or dried
- Caffeinated drinks
- Coffee or tea
- Garlic
- Milk or milk products
- Mushrooms
- Onions
- Salt or sodium
- Soft drinks
- Uncooked sweet potatoes
In fact, if a food is unhealthy for you, it is likely unhealthy for your lovebirds. If you’re unsure, get online and research the food to make sure your pet is able to consume it. This is extremely important.
You’ll also notice that many of the foods on the “do not feed” list are simply unhealthy for them, while others can be downright toxic. It’s important to know the difference.
Finally, meat and chocolate are two more items that it’s important for your lovebird to avoid, as well as fried foods, sugar, and any type of artificial sweetener, flavoring, or coloring.
Conclusion
Feeding lovebirds right isn’t that difficult, and they can eat bananas as long as you remove the peel first. They can also eat most other fruits, veggies, seeds, grains, and grasses, but make sure you only give them pure foods that do not have any added ingredients.
Lovebirds need a varied diet that mimics what they eat in the wild, and this isn’t hard to discover.
If you feed your lovebirds healthy, natural foods, they will grow and thrive easily. If anything is artificial or filled with caffeine, sugar, or salt, it’s best to avoid those foods altogether.
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