Pumpkins

[Rebajoy]

Hi there,

I know that regular pumpkins are safe for birds... but they have a million different kinds of pumpkins! I have a bunch of different pumpkins (currently just for display) in my house, but I'm wondering if I can feed them to my birds safely?

[Wolf]

As far as I am aware, if you can safely eat the pumpkin then your bird should also be able to eat them. I will admit that I haven't researched this opinion out thoroughly as of yet. But I will do so very soon.

[Rebajoy]

I appreciate the help. I wasn't coming up with much when I tried to look in to it earlier today.

[marie83]

To be honest I wasn't aware that there were different types of pumpkin but I've never specifically seen that pumpkins aren't safe to feed so I'm assuming based on that they are all safe. That said it's always best to play it safe and do your own research. If pajarita doesn't reply on here it might be worth sending her a PM as she is very knowledgeable about parrot diets

[Pajarita]

My birds eat A LOT of pumpkin and squashes this time of the year (they are in season, inexpensive, hugely nutritious and the bird like them -a win-win all around!). All gourd veggies are edible so sugar pumpkin (the kind you make pie with), acorn, hubbard, turban, carnival, winter, summer, etc are all good to feed and very easy to prepare (wash, cut, put in microwave for 20 minutes).

[Rebajoy]

Thanks! My roommate and I had collected several different types of pumpkin from a patch this year. My flock LOVED them!

[Pajarita]

Yes, they do. And it's not only parrots, either, you should see my cardinals and canaries going to town on them! They had some yesterday and my husband was looking at the cardinals eating and eating from this long cup they have and thought there was seed in it because they hardly lifted their heads from it!

And, you can freeze them, too! So, if there is room in your freezer, buy as many as you can, wash, cut in large chunks and cook them just a bit (not completely or they get too mushy when you thaw them) and freeze for use during the winter (lots of betacarotene and a goodly amount of vit C, too). And, if your birds like the seeds, wash, dry and roast them in the oven for them (I don't do it because I give the seeds to the squirrels).