Zucchini and Squash?

[Tangie]

I hear people feeding their parrots cooked Zucchini and Squash, but it is safe raw, right? I was also thinking about Sweet Potatoes, but I know that needs to be cooked first.

Our plants are giving us Zucchini and Squash like no tomorrow, so it would be great to put it in some of his birdie mash. I also know there are good websites that show safe Vegetables, but I always like hearing everyone else's experiences.

 

[Amanda_Bennett]

I believe zucchini, squash and sweet potatoes can all be fed raw or cooked. Whatever your bird prefers.

 

[Mimsy01]

zucchini and squashes are fine raw. Sweet potato should be cooked, just like any potato. Uncooked potato, sweet included (if you munch one you will notice it's not really sweet raw) is not very digestible, so you will get little nutrients from it and very possibly some indigestion. If they are greenish or sprouting toss them.

 

[RavensGryf]

I have fed raw yams for years! Because of a similar converstation, I called the 2 avian vets that I have (one works exclusively with birds), and they both said something similar to "yes, raw yams are fine, why do you ask?". Two of my birds have had x-rays several times (not because of yams lol), and nothing wrong with digestion . But we all have to do what we personally feel most comfortable with. I love yams too... but cooked for me please!

 

[Christinenc2000]

Seek and you shall find. I have had issues with BB and sweet potatoes. Hand feed him anything and he will eat it. He does not seem to like the texture of the cooked sweet potato. He LOVES anything raw and i have been going nuts trying to find out how to feed this silly bird sweet potatoes.
So Raw it shall be. I am not sure where I read they HAVE to be cooked. He loves raw squash any type but especially Butternut.

And proof this is not a good idea please speak up . I know it taste better to us cooked .

 

[RavensGryf]

Well, as I posted above, 2 avian vets (who have been great vets for my birds for years) have spoken up , and proof with good blood work and x-rays. They love raw butternut squash too.

 

[Terry57]

I feed zucchini raw and cook squash and sweet potatoes, but just because my birds prefer it cooked. My avian vet also said raw is fine
For mine to eat sweet potatoes or squash, I have to roll each chunk in red chili flakes. The only exception is when I cook the sweet potatoes and flavour it with cinnamon while cooking. I'm so excited that pumpkin season is here, they love that! I just cut the pumpkin in half and cook upside down in a pan with a rack in it, and water in the pan. I add cinnamon sticks to the water and it flavours it as it cooks. They love the pumpkin seeds baked after as well, seasoned with some cayenne..lol.

 

[Christinenc2000]

Well my bird can be a bit of a jerk . He loves everything raw except Pumpkin seeds. I bought a whole bag and nope not gonna touch them they do not crunch . So will try your idea and bake some

Thanks I will try some raw sweet potato sticks for dinner tonight.
Maybe this will solve my issue with him eating it. His Feet are a little pink on the bottom again so it might be the lack of vitamin Mark was talking about

 

[RavensGryf]

Thanks I will try some raw sweet potato sticks for dinner tonight.

Mm, Christine's dinner sounds delicious :32:.

 

[Terry57]

Well my bird can be a bit of a jerk . He loves everything raw except Pumpkin seeds. I bought a whole bag and nope not gonna touch them they do not crunch . So will try your idea and bake some

Thanks I will try some raw sweet potato sticks for dinner tonight.
Maybe this will solve my issue with him eating it. His Feet are a little pink on the bottom again so it might be the lack of vitamin Mark was talking about

Christine, I put a little vegetable oil with cayenne in it over them and spread them on a cookie sheet. Keep a close eye, they cook quickly!

 

[Amanda_Bennett]

The only way Zilla will voluntarily eat sweet potatoes is off my plate or if I make sweet potato "fries" (just cut them to look like fries and bake on a cookie sheet for a few minutes) If it looks like a french fry it is a french fry right?