As a proud cockatiel owner, you might want your feathered friend to try some new foods to give him a more comprehensive range of nutrients. Of course, you know that your cockatiel needs to eat a nutritious diet that supports good physical and psychological health. But, what about feeding your cockatiel something like peanuts? Can cockatiels eat peanuts?
Yes, cockatiels can eat peanuts. They are rich in protein, which is good for your bird. However, peanuts should only form a small part of their diet, so feed them only in small amounts. Also, it would help if you gave them peanuts that haven’t been salted or flavored in any way since the salt and other seasonings can hurt cockatiels.
Peanuts can be a great and delicious snack for cockatiels. However, it will only remain so if you are aware of and realize the associated risks.
If you enjoy eating peanuts and want to know what to share with your cockatiel, you should know a few things!
Keep reading to find out.
Do Cockatiels Like Peanuts?
Most cockatiels come to prefer the food they consume the most. However, if you are ready to serve peanuts to your cockatiel, it may or may not enjoy them.
Peanuts are enjoyed and consumed by most birds, including cockatiels, due to their texture.
A subtle reminder, however. Even if you believe your cockatiel enjoys peanuts, you cannot give it as many as you wish.
Constantly, moderation is essential for maintaining your cockatiel’s optimal health.
Feeding your cockatiel an excessive amount of peanuts might be harmful, so be aware of this fact for its safety.
Benefits Of Feeding Peanuts To Your Cockatiel
Peanuts are great food for cockatiels to eat. It can be a great source of protein and provides many other nutrients that are essential for your cockatiel to grow and thrive. Proteins are needed for healthy feather growth.
Besides proteins, peanuts also contain many vitamins and minerals such as:
- Copper
- Magnesium
- Vitamin E
- Biotin
- Folate
- Niacin
- Thiamine
All these vitamins and minerals help prevent bird diseases like muscular and skeletal dystrophy. However, because peanuts are high in fat, they should be given sparingly to your cockatiel.
Moreover, raw nuts contain large concentrations of Oxalates and Phytates. These components may contribute to your cockatiel’s possible nutrient deficits. Additionally, it can reduce mineral absorption.
Therefore, it is recommended to soak peanuts before giving them. Thus, the availability of important nutrients is increased.
In addition, soaking stimulates enzymes that enhance nutrient absorption.
How Much Peanuts Should You Give To Your Cockatiel?
You should only provide a small number of peanuts to your cockatiel. Remember that birds are much smaller than humans, thus they do not require so many.
The recommended amount is somewhere between 1 to 2 peanuts a week. We do not advise more than this because it can add too much fat to the diet of your cockatiel.
Obviously, this is predicated on the fact that you are feeding your cockatiel plain peanuts. Even less should be fed if salted peanuts are used (or preferably none at all).
We suggest crushing the peanuts to make them more appealing for your cockatiel. They are typically unable to consume whole peanuts, and this can also cause a choking risk.
Are There Any Risks To Giving Peanuts To Cockatiels?
Although peanuts are highly nutritious snacks for your cockatiel, it still has some risks with them. You should be aware of such threats to avoid unwanted incidents from happening.
Avoid giving peanuts with shells
A substance called aflatoxin is found in peanuts shells. This substance is extremely dangerous to birds, including your cockatiel, as it can induce liver damage.
Therefore, when giving peanuts, always do it with the shells already removed.
Avoid giving salted peanuts
Some peanuts are seasoned with salt and spices to enhance their flavor. While humans can tolerate salt, the same cannot be said for our cockatiels.
Your bird’s electrolytes and fluids may become unbalanced if it consumes salt. Additionally, it can cause dehydration, kidney failure, and even death.
Therefore, it is better to avoid salted peanuts and go for unsalted varieties instead. Also, avoid peanuts with additional flavors and sauces.
Prevents molds from growing on peanuts
Keep the peanuts in a dry and cold location to prevent mold growth.
As a general guideline, do not feed your cockatiel with peanuts that you would not consume yourself.
Since we do not consume moldy food, it would be wise to avoid feeding it to your cockatiel.
Moreover, storing peanuts in a humid place might lead to the growth of fungus, which is equally hazardous to these birds.
Therefore, ensure that your peanuts are constantly stored in a secure location and avoid giving them with their shells intact.
Soak and roast them before feeding
As said before, raw peanuts contain both phytates and oxalates. These substances can cause health issues such as nutritional deficiencies and poor mineral absorption.
Moreover, roasting peanuts can assist in removing any hazardous substances from the dish. It can also assist in activating the nutrients that peanuts contain.
To avoid issues, the only step you must take is to refrain from flavoring nuts.
Leave it there for 3 to 4 hours if you choose to soak it. Then, dry it at temperatures not exceeding 150 degrees.
Avoid feeding peanuts in large sizes
As said earlier, the peanuts should be crushed before giving them so your cockatiel can easily swallow them. It is excellent to do so, especially if your cockatiel has recently completed weaning.
You may also want to read: Can Cockatiels Eat Aloe Vera?
Conclusion
Cockatiels can eat peanuts and they are not harmful if they are served in small amounts. However, they are rich in fat and should not be consumed in big quantities. They include numerous vitamins and minerals, but they don’t contain all the nutrients that your cockatiel requires.
We recommend no more than one or two peanuts every week for your cockatiel. Always, choose unsalted, additive-free peanuts. High levels of salt can be harmful to cockatiels, and due to their small body weight, the amount of salt added to peanuts is excessive.
You can roast your peanuts for your cockatiel, so increasing their nutritional value. However, this is unnecessary.
Many people will find it a bit much to roast a peanut every week for their cockatiel. But if you have more than one cockatiel, it may be worth it.
