Why did my parrot's droppings turn red after eating beetroot?

That is the beetroot's natural red pigment, called betalain, passing through the digestive system. It is harmless and will clear within a day or two once the beetroot has worked through, and it is the same effect some people notice in themselves after eating beetroot.

Can parrots eat beetroot leaves?

The green tops are generally considered safe in small amounts alongside other leafy greens, washed thoroughly first. Introduce them gradually the same way you would any new vegetable, and offer them alongside the root rather than as the main event.

How much beetroot can a parrot have?

A small piece offered occasionally, as part of a varied mix of vegetables, is plenty. There is no benefit to beetroot making up a large part of the diet, and a varied diet matters more than any single vegetable.

Can parrots eat pickled beetroot?

No, avoid pickled or prepared beetroot. The vinegar, added salt and sugar used to pickle it are not suitable for a parrot even though plain beetroot itself is fine, so stick to fresh or plainly cooked pieces.

Can parrots eat carrots as well as beetroot?

Yes, carrot is another safe root vegetable in the same small, occasional category as beetroot, offered raw or lightly cooked with no seasoning. Rotating between a few different vegetables like these, rather than relying on just one, gives a parrot more variety across the week.

Can parrots eat beetroot?

Yes, parrots can eat beetroot. It is not toxic, a small piece offers vitamins and fibre, and many parrots take to the colour and texture readily. Serve it plain, in small pieces, and do not be alarmed if their droppings turn a deep red afterwards — that is just the beetroot's natural pigment passing through.

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Why beetroot is fine in small amounts

Beetroot is a root vegetable that is not on the list of foods that are dangerous for parrots, unlike avocado, chocolate or anything containing caffeine or xylitol. It can be offered raw, grated or in small cooked pieces, without any seasoning, salt or added fat.

The one harmless but startling effect worth knowing about is that beetroot's natural red pigment can pass through into a bird's droppings, giving them a reddish tinge for a day or so. It is not blood and it is not a sign of anything wrong — it is simply the same pigment that turns beetroot juice red in the first place.

Beetroot also contains oxalates, a naturally occurring compound found in many vegetables that can bind to calcium if eaten in large amounts. At the small, occasional quantities described here that is not something to worry about, but it is another reason beetroot works best as a rotating extra alongside a varied diet rather than a food offered daily in quantity.

How to serve it safely

Wash the beetroot and offer a small piece, raw or plainly cooked with no added salt, oil or seasoning. Grating or finely chopping it makes it easier for a smaller parrot to manage than a whole chunk.

Introduce any new vegetable gradually and in a small amount the first time, watching how your bird takes to it, rather than replacing a large part of their usual diet in one go. Beetroot should sit alongside a varied diet of vegetables and a good-quality base food, not replace either.

When to hold off

Skip beetroot that is pickled, salted or prepared with any seasoning intended for people — the vinegar, salt and sugar in a jar of pickled beetroot are not suitable for a parrot even though the vegetable itself is fine.

If your bird seems off colour, less active, or stops eating normally after trying a new food, that is worth a call to an avian-experienced vet rather than assuming it will pass. A change in droppings colour from beetroot pigment alone is not, on its own, a reason for concern.

Fitting beetroot into a varied diet

A parrot's health depends far more on the overall variety and balance of their diet than on any single vegetable, so beetroot is worth thinking of as one rotating option among several rather than a food to focus on for its own sake. Offering a changing mix of vegetables across the week, rather than the same one or two repeatedly, tends to keep a bird more interested in fresh food generally.

Some parrots are cautious about brightly coloured or unfamiliar foods the first time they see them, so do not be surprised if beetroot is initially ignored or investigated rather than eaten. Leaving a small piece in with their usual food for a few days, rather than giving up after one refusal, often gets a more accurate read on whether they actually dislike it.

Cooked beetroot without seasoning is just as acceptable as raw for a parrot who prefers a softer texture, and steaming or boiling in plain water with no salt is the way to prepare it if you go that route. Whichever way you serve it, let it cool fully before offering it, since a warm piece straight off the heat is as unwelcome to a bird's mouth as it would be to a person's.

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Common questions

Why did my parrot's droppings turn red after eating beetroot?: That is the beetroot's natural red pigment, called betalain, passing through the digestive system. It is harmless and will clear within a day or two once the beetroot has worked through, and it is the same effect some people notice in themselves after eating beetroot.
Can parrots eat beetroot leaves?: The green tops are generally considered safe in small amounts alongside other leafy greens, washed thoroughly first. Introduce them gradually the same way you would any new vegetable, and offer them alongside the root rather than as the main event.
How much beetroot can a parrot have?: A small piece offered occasionally, as part of a varied mix of vegetables, is plenty. There is no benefit to beetroot making up a large part of the diet, and a varied diet matters more than any single vegetable.
Can parrots eat pickled beetroot?: No, avoid pickled or prepared beetroot. The vinegar, added salt and sugar used to pickle it are not suitable for a parrot even though plain beetroot itself is fine, so stick to fresh or plainly cooked pieces.
Can parrots eat carrots as well as beetroot?: Yes, carrot is another safe root vegetable in the same small, occasional category as beetroot, offered raw or lightly cooked with no seasoning. Rotating between a few different vegetables like these, rather than relying on just one, gives a parrot more variety across the week.

Sources

Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.

Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.