Vitamins in fruit help birds to stay healthy by boosting their immune systems. Some fruits cannot be fed whole to a bird because of hidden dangers. So, can Birds eat Cherries?
The answer is yes but there are things you need to know about cherries and birds before you introduce this fruit into your bird’s planned diet.
Birds often feed on seeds, insects and berries because they need a varied diet to remain healthy.
Adding a nutritious fruit like a cherry to a bird’s diet can keep their diet diverse. Cherries are healthy for birds to eat in limited amounts.
A diet consisting solely of fruit would lead to health issues for your bird.
How Do I Prepare Cherries for Birds to Eat?
It would be disastrous to feed a whole cherry to a bird. It is crucial to remove the pit from the fruit before you can feed this fruit to your bird.
The cherry pit should never be given to a bird to consume because they contain small doses of a compound called cardiac-toxic cyanide which is extremely harmful.
Birds do not typically try to swallow a whole cherry pit. The problem with birds and cherry pits is that birds enjoy gnawing on them.
They try to crack these pits open with their strong beaks. When they are successful they get dosed with cyanide.
After 1-2 hours, signs of cyanide poisoning can be observed in several different ways.
Cyanide causes cardiac issues with birds. A bird may experience abnormal blood pressures or heart rhythms when they come in contact with this toxin.
In addition to heart problems, cyanide poisoning can wreak havoc on a birds gastrointestinal tract. It can cause birds to experience vomiting and diarrhoea.
Abdominal pain has also been cited as a symptom of cyanide poisoning.
Hypothermia, central nervous system issues and respiratory problems can occur if a bird cracks open a cherry pit and face exposure to cyanide.
It is not uncommon for a bird to experience weakness and seizures when exposed to cyanide.
The above may be witnessed alongside with slowed or increased respiration rates. This is why it is crucial to remove the cherry pit before giving a bird a cherry to eat.
Cherry pits are not the only thing found in fruits that can be toxic to birds. Plum and peaches both have pits that contain cyanide as well. These pits need to be removed before birds can eat these fruits.
Pear and apple seeds are among the parts of fruits that need to be removed before they can be eaten because of their toxic nature.
Are Cherries Good for Birds?
Cherries make a healthy snack for our bird friends as long as you remove the cherry pits first. They are packed with antioxidants and vitamins that your birds need to be healthy.
Cherries are full of Vitamin C. This vitamin is an essential nutrient that contributes to a bird’s overall health.
Vitamin C contributes to your bird’s heart health, works to boost your immune system and lower blood pressure.
Birds receive health benefits from vitamin A found in cherries. Vitamin A contributes to keeping a bird’s feathers and their dermis healthy.
It also plays a role in the brightness of your bird’s appearance.
Another benefit cherries have is that they are rich in iron. Birds need iron in order for their blood to be able to carry oxygen through their tiny bodies.
In addition to iron, birds need calcium. Cherries are a good source of calcium. Birds require calcium to create strong bones and beaks.
Calcium is also necessary to maintain normal heart rhythm and boost the central nervous system.
Magnesium found in cherries aids in the absorption of calcium and other minerals. Magnesium secures the creation of a bird’s beak and the production of keratin.
The health of a bird’s feathers and skin depends on keratin being produced.