Oranges?

[Narkissios]

Ok midnight is home and doing well, but i noticed she wasn't really drinking, she doesn't like the taste of our water it seems. However she loves oranges and having her oranges in her water. She has eaten almost a full orange today mixed in with her water.

Now i was talking to Tab and her vet told her that oranges are not overly good due to the acid in them and it should be restricted to 1/4 of one a week. Just wondering if anyone else had any opinions as she really really loves them.

Thanks

Peter

 

[Featheredsamurai]

You may want to try bottled water

I agree with tabs vet(and my own vet). Any citrus has a lot of acid, and sugar, and should be considered a treat. My galah Rosie loves banana(used as example since she doesn't like oranges), if I let her she will fill up on it, but I only give her a small 1" piece maybe once or twice a week when I happen to eat one.

Vegetables are much healthier and should be the bulk of fresh food given.

 

[Alwese]

My Catalina loves oranges and does the same thing of 'making orange juice in his mouth' while drinking water. I don't think oranges are bad for them. It hasn't hurt Doogie in 15 years.

 

[Kiwibird]

Everything in moderation. Citrus fruits (of any kind) are parrot favorites, and while certainly not toxic, they are very acidic. A couple orange slices a week for a bird is fine, but I wouldn't let her have it everyday or a particularly large quantity of it. Our Kiwi LOVES lemons (go figure). I give him a lemon wedge here and there, but it isn't something he sees in his dish every day. I also don't know that I agree about them getting lots of fruit in general being unhealthy, as fruit is their primary source of nutrition in nature (when was the last time you heard of carrots or spinach growing wild in the jungle?). Kiwi gets a bit of whatever produce I bring home (which is quite varied), and a good portion of that is fruits. He's very healthy.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

Everything in moderation. Citrus fruits (of any kind) are parrot favorites, and while certainly not toxic, they are very acidic. A couple orange slices a week for a bird is fine, but I wouldn't let her have it everyday or a particularly large quantity of it. Our Kiwi LOVES lemons (go figure). I give him a lemon wedge here and there, but it isn't something he sees in his dish every day. I also don't know that I agree about them getting lots of fruit in general being unhealthy, as fruit is their primary source of nutrition in nature (when was the last time you heard of carrots or spinach growing wild in the jungle?). Kiwi gets a bit of whatever produce I bring home (which is quite varied), and a good portion of that is fruits. He's very healthy.

Sorry, I should of clarified more. I wasn't saying that fruit shouldn't be fed. Fruit is fantastic. I just think vegetables should be provided more often.

 

[Jtbirds]

I find oranges to be just fine my m2 loves clementines and can eat whole one if I'd let him. As stated everything in due courses or anything good can turn bad.

 

[wenz2712]

Codie loves clementines too. I normally give hin 2 segments per day in with his other fruit.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

I was just browsing a parrot site and found this

*Please note: When feeding pellets to your pet, please be aware of the fact that overly feeding citrus fruits (including oranges) or vitamin-C-rich foods to your birds can lead to "Iron Overload Disease" as vitamin C increases the amount of iron absorbed from foods.

Source

 

[antoinette]

I agree with the above statement

Everything in moderation. Citrus fruits (of any kind) are parrot favorites, and while certainly not toxic, they are very acidic.

 

[Narkissios]

Thank you every one for your replies, she still wont drink plain water so i squeezed a segment into her water, it seems to have worked today, will keep you updated.

 

[Turquoise]

My ekkie likes oranges & just about every veggie & fruit I have offered her. My macaw boys don't especially like oranges or the citrus fruits except pineapple. Guess mine have strange tastes. Their most favored fruit is grapes, but I don't give them every day & I only put a couple in their bowls when they get them.

Possibly the breeder didn't notice Midnight was not drinking much water before she was weaned. That is one of the things they have to learn to like once the weaning process begins. Hopefully in time she will adjust to drinking water without the flavor. If you think she doesn't like the taste of your water, you might try bottled water & see if she likes it better. I know some parrot owners who will not give their parrots tap water due to the chemicals they are treated with.

 

[Narkissios]

Just an update, bought a filter for midnights water and she now drinks redily with no issues.

Thanks for all the ideas and support