Are you a fan of cheese?
I’m not personally!
Although humans are programmed to love cheese! (I’m just different I guess Lol!)
It’s also good for our health when consumed in moderation.
Cheese is an excellent source of Vitamin B-12, A, riboflavin, phosphorus, and zinc.
So, is it safe for our feathered friends to consume?
Well, it is best to avoid serving meat and dairy to your parrot as they aren’t mammals, and their body hasn’t evolved to eat them.
So, it is best to keep your bird’s dairy consumption limited.
In this blog post, we answer the question, “Can African Grey eat cheese?” in detail.
Sound good?
Let’s “fly” right!
Can African Grey Parrots Have Cheese?
The answer to this question is maybe
Here’s why I said maybe
Cheese isn’t the best choice for your feathered friend, but it isn’t toxic to him either.
As mentioned earlier, offering dairy to your African Grey is not the best choice as birds lack the digestive enzyme to process dairy.
Milk and other dairy products are okay for mammals to consume; however, the same isn’t the case for birds.
That being said, some African Greys do like to have cheese once in a while as an exotic treat.
Cheese doesn’t have much to offer to your African Grey.
So, it is best to keep it away from your feathered friend.
Try not to eat it in front of your parrot!
Here are Some Benefits of Cheese to Parrots
Let’s take a look at some of the nutritional benefits that cheese has to offer to your feathered friend.
Zinc
Cheese is a great source of zinc which helps in bone and cartilage development, moulting, and feathering.
It also aids in insulin production, which is excellent.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is essential in the nervous system and brain functioning, and blood formation.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A helps boost the immune system and aids in kidney health.
It also helps with vision development.
Protein
Protein helps keep fatty liver disease away and is important for your parrot’s growth and development.
Calcium
Calcium is excellent for your bird’s overall bone formation.
It also helps with muscle, blood vessel, and connective tissue development.
If you do decide to offer your parrot a small amount of cheese
Then it’s important to know how you could feed it to your birdie
Carry on reading..
How To Feed Your Parrot Cheese?
In this section of the blog post, we will go over how to feed your parrot some cheese.
(Please talk to your avian vet before giving your parrot any dairy products)
Cheese And Creackers
Do you enjoy some cheese with your crackers?
You can share your favorite treat with your parrot by offering him a cracker with some cheese on it.
This makes for a good occasional treat.
Pasta With Cheese
If your parrot enjoys eating pasta every now and then, you can offer some with cheese on it.
Do keep in mind that pasta is high in carbs so you should only give it to your parrot occasionally.
Simple Cheese
You can offer small pieces of cheese to your parrot as-is.
This also works very well as an occasional treat.
Your bird gets to experiment with some new foods.
Only a very small amount!
And even then very rarely
I personally would NOT give your parrot any at all
Pizza
If you’re celebrating a special occasion, you can offer your feathered friend some pizza with cheese sprinkled on top.
This is a yummy treat that your parrot will surely enjoy.
Cheese Toast
Cheese toast may be a quick snack for you, but it can also be a yummy treat for your feathered friend.
You can spread some cheese on a toast and offer it to your feathered baby.
Instead of giving your african grey cheese you could give other healthy fruits and vegetables
Here’s some articles you may be interested in
Can african grey eat pineapple
Is Cheese Toxic To Birds?
Cheese is not toxic to birds
In fact cheese offers a number of nutrients and good fats
Although it is not toxic and healthy for your bird
Moderation is key here
Don’t overfeed your parrot with cheese
Maybe give it as a treat
Now you may be thinking..
Why Do Birds Love Cheese?
Here’s a secret – birds may love cheese
But,
Me, personally, I don’t like cheese at all!
I know what you’re thinking – How can I NOT like cheese?
Well, It makes me want to puke!
Anyways, that’s my little secret I shared with you
But why do birds love cheese?
It’s because cheese has a high-fat content
You see, birds like to store fat because this keeps them going throughout the day
It can also help them at night
So it makes sense why your birdie wants a bite off that cheese!
As mentioned earlier, it’s best to avoid giving your parrot for their own safety and well-being
Final Words
If you found this blog post helpful, feel free to share it with your friends and family!
Cheese isn’t healthy for your feathered friend, and your bird doesn’t have the digestive enzymes to process cheese and other dairy products.
While some African Greys love the taste of cheese, it is best to keep its consumption to a minimum.
You can give it as an rare treat but even then, a very small amount
Eating too much cheese has been linked to gastrointestinal issues in parrots.
So, it is best avoided.
Tell me, what treats do you offer your parrot?
I’d love to know!
Let me know in the comments below