Food safety
Can Parrots Eat Strawberries? Yes, Washed, Tops and All
Yes, parrots can eat strawberries. VCA Animal Hospitals lists strawberry among suitable foods for pet birds, and most conures, African grays, Amazons and cockatoos take to them quickly. Strawberries have no peel, so washing matters: VCA says produce for parrots should be washed thoroughly to remove chemicals and bacteria. Offer a few pieces, or a whole berry for a large parrot to hold, and keep fruit to about 10 percent of the day's food, as VCA suggests for conures.
By Matt GarnettUpdated November 13, 20263 min read4 sources
Strawberries are a suitable parrot fruit
VCA's list of suitable fruits and vegetables for budgies includes strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, grapes, kiwi, mango and papaya, among others, and the same fruits suit larger parrots. Strawberries are not toxic to parrots.
Their bright red color makes them a useful lure. Many owners place a strawberry among chopped vegetables to draw a cautious parrot to the fresh-food dish, and the bird often samples the vegetables around it. It is a small, simple trick.
Washing matters more for berries
A strawberry has no skin to peel and a surface covered in tiny seeds and crevices. VCA's conure and cockatoo guides say fruits and vegetables should be washed thoroughly to remove chemicals and bacteria before they are offered.
Rinse strawberries under running water just before serving, rubbing gently, and pick out any 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, you can leave the green leafy top on; many parrots enjoy plucking at it, and it is not on the avian do-not-feed list from Lafeber consulted for this page. Cut berries into pieces for a conure or caique, or offer a whole berry to an African gray, Amazon or macaw.
Serve strawberries in a separate dish and remove them after 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 fruit.
Fresh foods spoil fast in a warm room; offer them in a clip-on dish in the bird cage and remove leftovers within a few hours, or hide a piece in a foraging toy.
How many strawberries for different parrots
VCA recommends pellets at about 75 to 80 percent of a conure's or cockatoo's diet, with vegetables at 20 to 40 percent and fruit at about 10 percent, because fruit is high in water and natural sugar.
A strawberry cut into pieces a few times a week suits a conure. One or two whole berries a few times a week suits an African gray, Amazon or cockatoo. Rotate strawberries with other fruits, and give vegetables more room in the dish than fruit.
Strawberry treats to avoid
Strawberry jam, shortcake, ice cream and yogurt are sweetened or processed, and VCA lists processed snacks among foods to avoid and says dairy should be given only in moderation because birds are lactose intolerant.
Chocolate-dipped strawberries are a real hazard. VCA lists chocolate among things never to feed a parrot, and Lafeber explains that the theobromine and caffeine in chocolate can cause hyperactivity, a raised heart rate, tremors, seizures and death at toxic doses.
When to call an avian vet
Call an avian veterinarian if your parrot has diarrhea that persists, stops eating, fluffs up and sits on the cage floor, or seems weak after a new food.
If your parrot 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 parrots eat strawberry tops?
The green leafy top is not on Lafeber's avian do-not-feed list, and many parrots enjoy plucking at it. Wash the berry well first. You can also cut the top off if you prefer.
Can African gray parrots eat strawberries?
Yes. One or two washed whole strawberries a few times a week is a reasonable treat for an African gray, alongside a pellet-based diet with plenty of vegetables.
Can parrots eat frozen strawberries?
Plain frozen strawberries with no sugar added are fine once fully thawed to room temperature. Cut them up as you would fresh berries and never serve them frozen solid.
Can parrots eat chocolate-covered strawberries?
No. VCA lists chocolate among things never to feed a parrot, and Lafeber says its theobromine and caffeine can cause tremors, seizures and death in birds. Call your vet if your parrot ate any.
Can conures eat strawberries?
Yes. Cut a washed strawberry into pieces and offer them a few times a week. VCA suggests fruit at about 10 percent of a conure's daily intake.
Sources we checked
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell or injured, contact your veterinarian.
