Food safety
Can Birds Eat Strawberries? Yes, Washed and Chopped
Yes, pet birds can eat strawberries. VCA Animal Hospitals lists strawberry among suitable foods for budgies, and Lafeber includes berries among fruits that make good daily snacks for pet birds. Strawberries are soft, colorful and popular with parakeets, cockatiels and larger parrots. Wash them thoroughly, since VCA says produce for birds must be washed to remove chemicals, cut them into bird-size pieces, and keep fruit to a modest part of a pellet-based diet.
By Matt GarnettUpdated November 13, 20264 min read3 sources
Strawberries are a safe fruit for birds
VCA's list of suitable foods for budgies includes strawberry alongside apple, banana, blueberry, grapes, kiwi, mango, melon, peaches and pear, plus many vegetables. Strawberries are not toxic to birds, and the green leafy cap is not on any of the do-not-feed lists consulted for this page.
Their bright red color often catches a bird's eye, which makes strawberries useful for coaxing a cautious bird to explore its fresh-food dish. Mixing small pieces with chopped vegetables can help a bird try something new.
Washing matters more than usual
Strawberries have no peel, and their surface is full of tiny seeds and crevices where residue can sit. VCA says fruits and vegetables for birds must be washed thoroughly to remove chemicals, and Lafeber recommends using organic produce whenever possible.
Rinse strawberries under running water just before serving, rubbing gently. Pick out any berries that are soft, bruised or moldy; Lafeber warns that moldy peanuts and grains can carry a toxin-producing fungus, and spoiled fruit is not worth the risk either.
How to serve strawberries
After washing, slice off the cap if you like and cut the berry into pieces sized for your bird: small cubes for a budgie or canary, quarters for a cockatiel, halves or whole berries for larger parrots. The small seeds on the surface are eaten along with the fruit.
Serve strawberries in a dish separate from pellets and water, and remove them within a couple of hours. VCA warns that fresh fruit left in the cage all day may spoil and cause digestive upset, and soft berries spoil faster than most.
Foraging for food keeps pet birds busy, so tuck a small piece into a foraging toy or clip it near a perch so it has to work for it.
How much fruit is the right amount
VCA recommends that fruits, vegetables and greens together make up no more than 20 to 25 percent of a budgie's daily diet, with pellets at roughly 60 to 80 percent. For conures, VCA suggests fruit at about 10 percent of the daily intake because it is high in water and natural sugar.
For a parakeet, a couple of small strawberry cubes a few times a week is plenty. A cockatiel might have a quarter to half a berry, and a larger parrot one berry. Vegetables such as broccoli, carrot and peppers should make up more of the fresh-food dish than fruit.
Strawberry products to avoid
Strawberry jam, yogurt, ice cream, shortcake and candy are sweetened or processed, and VCA advises avoiding processed foods. Dairy brings an extra problem: Lafeber explains that birds cannot digest lactose well and that increasing dairy can cause diarrhea.
Chocolate-dipped strawberries are a particular hazard. Lafeber explains that theobromine and caffeine in chocolate can cause hyperactivity, a raised heart rate, tremors, seizures and death in birds at toxic doses. Keep them well away from your bird.
When to call an avian vet
Call an avian veterinarian if your bird stops eating, fluffs up and sits on the cage floor, has diarrhea that persists, or seems weak. Any bird that is eating poorly should be checked by a veterinarian to rule out illness.
If your bird ate chocolate, avocado or another toxic food, call your vet straight away. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 and Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 can also advise; a fee may apply.
This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.
Common questions
Can parakeets eat strawberries?
Yes. VCA lists strawberry among suitable foods for budgies. Wash a berry, cut it into small cubes, and offer a couple of pieces a few times a week, removing leftovers within a couple of hours.
Can birds eat strawberry leaves?
The green cap is not on the avian do-not-feed lists consulted for this page, and many birds pick at it. Most keepers remove it anyway and offer only the washed fruit.
Can birds eat strawberry seeds?
Yes. The tiny seeds on the outside of a strawberry are eaten along with the fruit and do not need to be removed. Just wash the berry and cut it into pieces.
Can birds eat frozen strawberries?
Plain frozen strawberries with no sugar added are fine once completely thawed to room temperature. Cut them up as you would fresh berries, and never serve them frozen.
Can birds eat chocolate-covered strawberries?
No. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which Lafeber says can cause tremors, seizures and death in birds at toxic doses. Call your vet if your bird ate any.
Sources we checked
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell or injured, contact your veterinarian.
