Can Budgies Eat Pomegranate? What About the Seeds?

Three budgies sitting on a branch surrounded by Pomegranate

It can be hard to keep track of which fruits are safe for your budgie. Don’t worry; that’s what I’m here for!

What about pomegranate? Can budgies eat pomegranate?

Pomegranate is perfectly fine for your budgie to eat. You’ll notice that a lot of people tell you to remove the seeds from fruits before serving, but in this case, you want to do the opposite! The pomegranate seeds are the edible part of the fruit, while your budgie won’t be interested in the outer shell or white pith. 

To understand where all the confusion has come from (and learn the fantastic nutritional benefits of pomegranate), keep reading this short article. 

Benefits of Pomegranate for Your Budgie (Nutritional Value)

Here are some of the vitamins and minerals in pomegranate seeds:

  • Vitamin K
  • Vitamin C
  • Folate (same as Vitamin B9)
  • Vitamin B6

These will contribute to healthy blood coagulation for wound healing, supporting immunity, and regulating energy. 

The outer pith and skin of the pomegranate are not nutritious or tasty, and your budgie will probably ignore them. 

Risks of Pomegranate for Your Budgie

You likely won’t have any problems with pesticides when it comes to pomegranate. This is because chemicals are concentrated in the skin of fruits, which budgies don’t eat in this case.

Nonetheless, it’s always a good idea to wash fruit before feeding it to your bird.  

Digestion and Obesity

Too many fruits and veggies will give your budgie a sore tummy and diarrhea. The high sugar content could also lead to obesity and related illnesses. 

So, you want to keep fruit at an appropriate level, which is no more than 20% of your budgie’s diet. 

The rest of their diet should be a balanced pellet mix (and the occasional bit of seed as a treat).

Why Do People Sometimes Say to Remove the Pomegranate Seeds?

You have to remove the seeds from many types of fruits because they are toxic to budgies. 

Here are some examples of seeds that must be removed:

  • Apple pips
  • Pear pips 
  • Apricot kernels 

Because of this, some people think that all fruit seeds are bad for budgies. However, that’s not the case when it comes to pomegranates. With this fruit, the seeds are the edible part, while the rest of the fruit is unappealing and not nutritious. So, don’t be confused by the other articles you might see online!

How to Prepare Pomegranate for Your Budgie

A nice way to prepare pomegranate for your bird is to cut it in half or quarters (depending on how many birds you have), then make a hole in the skin. 

You can thread some string through the hole and hang the fruit from the cage bars. 

This will give your budgie a fun edible perch to hang out on while they enjoy their treat. 

Alternatives to Pomegranate for Your Budgie

Remember that not all fruit seeds are good for budgies. 

You must NOT feed your budgies:

  • Apple seeds
  • Nectarine seeds
  • Pear seeds 
  • Cherry stones
  • Peach stones

But budgies CAN eat the seeds of:

Clarification: Some people take the seeds out of watermelon because they are worried about choking. However, the seeds in the list directly above are not poisonous to budgies. 

Final Thoughts 

Now you know that budgies can eat pomegranates, and pomegranates are a tasty treat for budgies.

They aren’t packed with vitamins and minerals, but they contribute to a nutritious diet if you feed plenty of other fresh foods to your budgie. Just make sure that fruits and veggies make up no more than 20% of your bird’s diet; otherwise, your bird is likely to have painful (and messy!) tummy problems. 

Remember, it’s the pomegranate seeds that budgies enjoy, not the white pith and tough skin. Just be careful with other types of fruit because some seeds can be poisonous to birds. 

Thank you for reading this article; I really hope you found it helpful!

Lasso Brag