Cockatiels can eat peanut butter, yes. Peanut butter can be a great snack you can offer on its own or smeared in a bread. Still, when feeding peanut butter, you should feed the type without any added salt or sugar. You should also avoid commercial brands that are sugar-free, as it contains xylitol which is toxic for cockatiels.
Peanut butter may be an unusual snack for our birds. But, if you take pleasure in this nutty spread, it might be tempting to spare some with your bird.
Thus, I researched some essential things to help you be aware of the pros and cons of feeding peanut butter.
Take a look at this!
Contents
Is peanut butter good for cockatiels?
Peanut butter both have positive and negative effects on our cockatiels. Most of these outcomes depend on the type and amount of peanut butter.
In general, it would be best to take peanut butter as a safe food for cockatiels and other birds.
The reason is that most types of peanut butter contain no toxic ingredients.
The main component of peanut butter is peanut, and it’s high in protein and fiber that can be beneficial to birds.
Still, while peanut butter is nutritious, it’s not a good idea to feed it in large amounts. The reason is that it contains high amounts of salt and fat.
At the same time, some kinds of peanut butter even contain xylitol. According to a study, this chemical is toxic to most pets, including cockatiels.
Don’t discard the idea of feeding peanut butter to your pet, though. Your pet can still use some of this nutty treat because of the protein and fats it contains.
As a general rule of thumb, feed peanut butter in moderation. Further, avoid feeding the types that are rich in salt and have artificial sweeteners.
You May Also Read – Can cockatiels eat watermelon?
What to do if your cockatiel eat peanut butter?
Peanut butter is not that toxic for cockatiels. For this reason, you won’t need to do anything if you find out your pet ate this nutty spread.
However, it’s a different case if your pet shows adverse reactions after eating. If you observe your pet is acting strange, it would be best to consult a vet immediately.
The only instance where peanut butter may take a toll on your bird is when you overfeed it. Further, it can happen, depending on the type of spread it ate.
To avoid such unwanted incidents, you should be mindful of the type and the amount of peanut butter.
Upon doing my research, here’s a sort of guideline when it comes to feeding peanut butter to your bird:
Stay away from sugar-free peanut butter.
Sugar-free peanut butter sold in stores often contains artificial sweeteners such as xylitol. Such artificial sweeteners compensate for the sweetness of sugar.
While xylitol is safe for us, it’s toxic for our pets. Thus, avoid feeding such peanut butter.
Avoid feeding peanut butter, which is too salty and sweet.
Peanut butter that has too much salt and sugar can also be rancid for our pet birds.
For this reason, it would be best to go for kinds of peanut butter that have little to no salt and sugar content.
Peanut butter is best if homemade.
Instead of commercial peanut butter, opt for peanuts and make your own. This way, you can be sure that the peanut butter you offer has no added salt and sugar in it.
Don’t go overboard with peanut butter snacks.
Peanut butter may offer many nutrients if fed as treats and in small amounts. However, the oil in such snacks can take a toll if given in large servings.
For this reason, you should limit the peanut butter to a teaspoon. Feed it on its own or have it spread on a cracker or bread.
Trust me. Your bird will benefit in that small amount, so don’t give more than that.
Can cockatiels eat peanut?
Cockatiels can eat peanuts, like most other birds around. Still, some kinds of peanuts can be harmful to them.
Old peanuts, for instance, are usually moldy. These kinds can be dangerous to cockatiels if fed.
The peanuts that are safe for human consumption should also be alright for these birds.
Still, you should avoid feeding salted peanuts, as it can be harmful to them in large amounts.
You can also feed other nuts like almonds, but make sure it’s unsalted as well.
If you want to know more about this topic, read more about it in this related article.
Is peanut butter dangerous for other birds too?
As I said earlier, not all kinds of peanut butter are dangerous. If you have other birds aside from cockatiels, you can feed some peanut butter as long as you follow what I said.
Many people believe that feeding peanut butter can choke a bird, but that’s not true.
In fact, this nutty spread is very nutritious. It contains calories that provide energy for birds.
As long as they eat in moderation and avoid the ones with xylitol, these birds should be alright.
What should you not feed cockatiels?
Cockatiels may have a variety of food options to eat. Still, it doesn’t mean you can feed every food you see.
Of course, like any other animal, cockatiels have foods they shouldn’t eat, as these can be toxic to them.
Aside from sugar-free and salty kinds of peanut butter, below is the list of the toxic food you shouldn’t feed:
- Avocado
- Chocolate
- Any Fruit Seeds
- Onions
- Garlic
- Alcohol
- Mushrooms
- Honey
- Salt
- Caffeine
- Dried or Uncooked Beans
- Rhubarb
- High-Fat
- High-Sodium
- High-Sugar Foods
What can cockatiels eat?
Cockatiels may benefit from peanut butter. Still, this nutty spread does not have all the nutrients they need for their daily sustenance.
As owners, we want to feed the best we can offer for our pets. For this reason, you should always make a well-balanced nutrition plan.
Here’s a list of what cockatiels can and should eat:
Pellets
The first thing to consider feeding your bird is pellets. Many experts would recommend such to be a part of a cockatiel’s diet. Although it’s not natural, it can give a good diet for your pet.
Seeds
The next one in line is seeds. Pits of different types can do good for your cockatiel if fed. When feeding such, make sure it’s clean and free from fungus and other substances.
One thing to note is that these birds know how to separate the seed from its husk. Thus, it may look like the bowl is full, and yet there’s no food anymore.
For this reason, make sure you always check if they still have seeds to eat.
Fruits
Fruits also play a significant role as treats and snacks. You can offer almost any fruit you can access, such as grapes, watermelons, and blueberries. You can also feed some apples, mangoes, oranges, and others.
The only thing you should remember is to offer fruits in bite size pieces.
Vegetables
Aside from fruits, vegetables also form part of their diet. You can offer almost any veggie like carrots, broccoli, corn, kale, spinach, and others.
While they can eat most vegetables raw, some types need cooking to serve well. These are pumpkins, potatoes, and sweet potatoes.
Protein food
You can also offer protein-rich food for cockatiels. However, if you opt for meat, make sure it’s good quality.
Aside from the meat, you can also offer eggs and dairy products such as cheese and yogurt.
Can you offer some apples and carrots to your cockatiel? Check it out!
Summary
Cockatiels can eat peanut butter, and you can offer your pet some as long as you know the risk. The thing is that peanut butter can be rich in protein and fats. Although both are beneficial, the latter can be harmful if taken more than what is enough.
Another thing to note is that sugar-free and commercial peanut butter may contain toxic ingredients. For this reason, it would be best to offer peanut butter, only if it’s homemade, without added salt and sugar.
Like any other snacks and treats, you should only feed peanut butter in moderation. This way, you can be confident your pet avoids having problems.
Resources
Veterinary Center for Birds and Exotic’s study on toxic items for birds
Image Credits – Photos by Deva Prasanna and Olia Nayda on Unsplash
