Food safety
Can Parrots Eat Oranges? Most Can — Not Iron-Sensitive Birds
Most parrots can eat oranges in small amounts, but not all of them. VCA Animal Hospitals lists orange and grapefruit among suitable foods for budgies. The Merck Veterinary Manual, however, says nectar-eating birds such as lorikeets and lories are often sensitive to iron and should avoid high-iron pellets and citrus fruits such as oranges and grapefruit. For conures, cockatiels, African grays and Amazons, a few peeled segments occasionally are fine.
By Matt GarnettUpdated November 13, 20263 min read4 sources
Which parrots should skip citrus
The Merck Veterinary Manual explains that many nectar-eating birds, such as lorikeets, are sensitive to iron, and advises owners to avoid high-iron pellets and citrus fruits such as oranges and grapefruit for them. Merck's parrot nutrition chapter adds that iron oversupplementation should be prevented in birds that were originally seed feeders.
If you keep a lory or lorikeet, leave oranges out and use the fruits Merck suggests instead: apples, papaya or grapes. If you are not sure whether your species is iron-sensitive, ask an avian veterinarian before offering citrus.
For most parrots, orange is a normal fruit
VCA's list of suitable fruits and vegetables for budgies includes orange and grapefruit alongside apple, banana, mango and papaya. For the common pet parrots, including budgies, cockatiels, conures, African grays and Amazons, a little orange is an acceptable part of the fruit share.
That share is small. VCA recommends pellets at about 75 to 80 percent of a conure's or cockatoo's diet and suggests fruit at about 10 percent for conures, because it is high in water and natural sugar. Orange is juicy and acidic, so modest servings are the rule.
How to prepare orange
Wash the orange, then peel it. VCA says peeling fruit is generally not necessary for birds, but orange peel is thick, bitter and often waxed, so most keepers remove it. Pull the fruit into segments and remove any seeds. Cut segments in half for smaller parrots.
Serve it in a separate dish and remove it after a couple of hours, as VCA advises for fresh food. Orange juice is a concentrated source of sugar and is best skipped, and orange-flavored drinks and candy are processed foods VCA advises against.
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 orange for different parrots
For a cockatiel or conure, half a segment a couple of times a week is plenty. An African gray, Amazon or macaw can have one or two segments a few times a week. Scale portions to the size of the bird.
Rotate orange with other fruits, and give vegetables more space than fruit. VCA says pale, watery produce such as iceberg lettuce and celery offers little nutrition, so lean on darker vegetables for the rest of the fresh-food dish.
Other citrus fruits
Grapefruit is on VCA's suitable-foods list for budgies, and tangerines and clementines are prepared the same way as oranges: peeled, seeded and offered in small pieces. The Merck caution for iron-sensitive birds applies to all citrus.
Lemons and limes are very sour and add little to the fruit share. Citrus-flavored processed foods, from candy to sodas, carry sugar and sometimes caffeine; VCA lists caffeinated drinks among things never to give a parrot.
Common questions
Can lorikeets eat oranges?
It is best not to. Merck says nectar-eating birds such as lorikeets are often iron-sensitive and should avoid citrus fruits such as oranges and grapefruit. Apples, papaya or grapes are better choices for them.
Can parrots eat orange peel?
Peeling is not usually needed for bird fruit, according to VCA, but orange peel is thick, bitter and often waxed. Most keepers remove it and offer only the segments.
Can African gray parrots eat oranges?
Yes, one or two peeled segments a few times a week is a reasonable treat for an African gray, as part of a pellet-based diet with plenty of vegetables.
Can parrots drink orange juice?
It is best to skip it. Juice concentrates the fruit's sugar without the fiber, and fresh water is what a parrot needs to drink. Offer a small piece of fresh orange instead.
Can cockatiels eat oranges?
Yes, in small amounts. Half a peeled, seeded segment a couple of times a week is plenty for a cockatiel. Remove uneaten fruit after a couple of hours.
Sources we checked
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell or injured, contact your veterinarian.
