Pets - Sonoma Birding

If you’re fond of pet birds, the budgies are your best choice. They’re small, colorful, intelligent, and social birds that can be highly affectionate to you once they grow accustomed. Moreover, these birds are inexpensive and easy to care for, making them ideal feathered pets. They can also eat many things off your table. But what about tomatoes? Can budgies eat tomatoes? Yes, they can eat tomatoes safely in moderation. However, it is essential for you to carefully choose the fully-ripened tomatoes for them to avoid the risk of nightshade poisoning. The leaves of tomato plants should also be kept away from the budgies for the same reason. Sun-dried tomatoes are the safest as well as the healthiest form of tomatoes for your feathered pets. What the health benefits of tomatoes for your budgies? Are cherry and grape tomatoes safe for them? If you’re wondering about these questions, we’ll help you out. In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about feeding tomatoes to your budgies. Are tomatoes healthy for budgies? Veggies usually are considered to be a healthy part of your budgie’s diet. However, not all vegetables have the same nutritional benefits. It is, therefore, normal to wonder exactly how tomatoes can add to their health. Given below is its nutritional chart, take a look: Nutrients Quantity Vitamin A 42 mcg Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) 0.036 mg Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 0.018 mg Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 0.595 mg Vitamin B4 (Choline) 6.7 mg Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid) 0.088 mg Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) 0.09 mg Vitamin B9 (Folate) 15 mcg Vitamin C 13.6 mg Vitamin E 0.55 mg Potassium 236 mg Phosphorus 24 mg Magnesium 11 mg Calcium 10 mg Sodium 5 mg Iron 0.26 mg Zinc 0.16 mg Manganese 0.115 mg Copper 0.058 mg Carbohydrates 3.88 mg Fat 0.2 g Protein 0.87 g Energy 18 kcal Water 95% Serving size: 100 grams From the chart, we can gather that tomatoes are a powerhouse of various vitamins and minerals. But are these helpful for your feathered pet? And if they are, what exactly do they do for them? The answer to your questions lies in the next sections: Tomatoes are a good source of vitamins for budgies Vitamin A serves several essential functions in the body of a budgie. It plays a key role in the formation of their vascular, mucous, and epithelial membranes. It is also involved in their immune system responses, hormone production, and their overall growth and development. Moreover, it is responsible for the maintenance of their respiratory health. Its deficiency in your pet’s diet can lead to breathing difficulties, faded feathering, and dry, scaly feet. In many cases, budgies can also lose their hearing due to the lack of Vitamin A. All the Vitamin B-series and Vitamin C are water-soluble vitamins that have different functions to play in your budgie’s health. Thiamin is responsible for the maintenance of their nervous system; its deficiency can make them restless and increase their feather-picking tendencies. Riboflavin promotes the formation of enzymes in their body, Niacin plays a key role in their tissue formation, and Pantothenic acid aids their carbon dioxide metabolism. Pyridoxine boosts their antibodies’ formation; the lack of it in their diet can cause immune dysfunction. Vitamin C contains ascorbic acid, which maintains collagen and elastin in the walls of their blood vessels. Tomatoes are rich in Calcium Of all the nutrients budgies need, calcium is the essential one. It is responsible for providing the structure of their feathers, beak, bones, and connective tissues in all bird species. And since the bones of budgies are denser than most birds, they need more absorbable calcium. Moreover, calcium also works as a mood stabilizer for them. The lack of it can make your budgie anxious. Protein Proteins are the building blocks of your budgie’s tissues and muscles and also provide them with essential calories that keep them energized throughout the day. Its deficiency in your pet can impact their ability to eat, perch, or fly properly. In some severe cases, it can also lead to organ dysfunction and even complete failure. Water Water is essential for all living beings, but your little pet can get dehydrated surprisingly easily. Therefore, adding water-rich food to their diet is a great way to prevent it. Can tomatoes harm your budgies? In the previous section, we discussed all the health benefits of tomatoes for budgies. And to be honest, there are many. Why then do we recommend you to feed them these treats in moderation? This is because the overconsumption of tomatoes can have adverse effects on your pet’s health. One of these is nightshade toxicity, which we will discuss elaborately in the next section. Another problem with tomatoes is that they’re highly acidic, which is why overeating them can lead to stomach ulcers in your budgie. Some of the common symptoms of stomach ulcers that you can notice in them are loss of appetite, diarrhea, unusual weight loss, blood in urine, poop, and vomit. Can budgies eat unripe tomatoes? No. It would be unwise to feed your budgies unripe or green tomatoes. This is because, just like peppers, potatoes, and eggplants, tomatoes belong to the nightshade family that is popular for its solanine content. But what is solanine? Let’s find out: The risk of solanine: Nightshade Toxicity Solanine is a glycoalkaloid poison that is present in all the green parts of the nightshade plants. The job of this poison is to repel insects and pests from destroying the fruits and vegetables of these plants. While it takes a substantial amount of solanine to affect your health, for your little pets, even a little amount can prove to be lethal. Some of the common symptoms of solanine poisoning in your budgies can be trembling, muscle twitching, and difficulty in breathing. Cooking tomatoes: effective to remove solanine? It is a common misconception among bird-owners that cooking green tomatoes can make them safe for their pets. Although boiling does neutralize the amount of solanine present in them a little, it is still not enough to make them safe for your pet’s consumption. Therefore, if you want to feed them tomatoes, always choose the red, fully-ripe ones. So, are tomato leaves safe for budgies to eat? Absolutely not. Just like we discussed in the previous section, all green parts of a nightshade plant are rich in solanine. The same is true about tomato leaves. If you have planted nightshade plants in your garden, be careful about letting your budgie out of the cage. Can budgies eat cherry tomatoes? Considered to be a mixture of currant and domestic garden tomatoes, cherry tomatoes are small in size and almost cherry-like sweet in taste. These tomatoes are often believed to be the ancestors of the regular garden tomatoes that we commonly eat. As for your budgies, these tomatoes are safe for your pets as long as they eat them in moderation. They are rich in healthy sugars that appeal to the taste of your budgie, and when fully ripe, contain no solanine. What about grape tomatoes? Grape tomatoes are small, bite-sized tomatoes that are oblong in shape and have a sweet taste similar to cherry tomatoes. These tomatoes are endemic to southeast Asia. Your budgies can safely eat these tomatoes as an occasional snack when they are fully ripe. Are tomato seeds safe for budgies? Unlike the apple or avocado seeds, the seeds inside tomatoes contain no toxins and are, thus, completely safe for them to eat. Moreover, these seeds are also too small in size and soft in structure to become a potential choking hazard for them. Can budgies eat sun-dried tomatoes? As their name suggests, the sun-dried tomatoes are tomatoes that have dried in the sun for a long time and have lost all their moisture in the process. Not only can your budgies eat sun-dried tomatoes, but these are one of the healthiest forms of tomatoes for them. Wondering why? We’ll tell you: In the process of drying, most of the acid of the tomatoes gets neutralized, thus, making it gentler on your pet’s stomach and reducing the risk of ulcers. These tomatoes are also sweeter in taste than the regular, bitter tomatoes and are, thus, preferred by the budgies. However, the store-bought sun-dried tomatoes can contain salt and sulfur dioxide that can harm your pet’s health. To avoid it, you can make your own sun-dried tomatoes as a treat for them. Making your own sun-dried tomatoes for pet budgies Making your own sun-dried tomatoes is much easier than it sounds. All you need to do is buy cherry tomatoes or another small tomato variety and slice them halfway. Take a baking tray and spread these slices on it, with the cut-side facing upwards. Slow roast them at 250°F for about 2-3 minutes, pull them out, and leave them to cool for a while. Your treats are ready. Is tomato ketchup safe for budgies? While tomatoes are safe for budgies as long as you’re careful about moderation and solanine, the factory-manufactured tomato ketchup is not healthy for them. This is because ketchup is often rich in refined sugar that is harmful to your budgie and can make them gain unnecessary weight. Eating too much ketchup can also lead to obesity. Therefore, it is best to keep them away from it. Can you feed tomatoes to baby budgies? The tomatoes are as safe for baby budgies as they are for adults. However, you should be extra cautious about feeding them only the fully-ripe because their health is more fragile than their parents. Frequently asked questions Can budgies eat rice? There have been rumors about rice swelling up in these birds' stomach and causing problems for them. However, there is no truth in them. In reality, rice is entirely safe for budgies to consume. Is it okay to feed my budgie meat? Although budgies are omnivores, it is best to limit the non-vegetarian part of their diet to insects. Besides, they can easily gain all the nutrients essential for them from fruits, veggies, and grains. Conclusion Let’s return to our first question: can budgies eat tomatoes? Yes, they certainly can. Tomatoes are rich in a number of vitamins and minerals, all of which complement their health. Not to forget the high water content that keeps them hydrated throughout the day. As long as you feed them tomatoes that are properly ripened, these treats are safe for your little pets. Related articles: Can Cockatiels Eat Peanut Butter? Do Hummingbirds Eat Bugs?