Orange and Citrus Fruit Peels

[Tomsde]

I was wondering if orange and other citrus fruit peels are safe to give the parrots, if they have an nutritional value? Our birds likie apples and pears and once in a while some strawberries. I think I have seen orange peels in different bird publications used for forraging.

 

[Greycloud]

Not sure on the nutritional value. I remove all skins from fruits and veggies due to any chance of pesticides. My flock love oranges!

 

[JLcribber]

They paint peels, they shellac them, they wax them, they spray them heavily with pesticides. Not something anyone should be eating. If you offer a slice of orange to a bird that likes fruit, they eat the fruit and drop the peel once they"re done. Most of the best nutrition is just below the peel in the fruit, not in the peel itself.

And yet they make marmelade from the peels. I never did understand that.

 

[wonderb]

If you get organic there is less to worry about, and if you have a citrus tree in your back yard, then that's even better! Since you're in Delaware, I'm assuming that's not the case I don't think the peel itself is harmful, but if its not organic I would be worried about the stuff on them.

 

[Sparkles]

Don't use it unless it's organic, from somewhere local to you.

 

[Theresa]

Here is a write up about the nutritional value of peel/zest

Fruit peel nutrition facts and health benefits

 

[AmberMuffinz]

Agreed, oranges are heavily sprayed with pesticides and because the peels are like sponges it soaks it all up.

 

[Moldybread]

My parrotlet loves mandarin orange peel it; has a lot of zest & very little pith. Otherwise he rarely touches fruit. I get organic mandarins from our farmers market.

 

[Tomsde]

I didn't know about the possible parasites in the peels--I assume this is only in thick rhined fruits like citrust fruits and melons etc. No orange peels for our flock. Thanks for the insights.