Can parrots eat kiwi seeds?

Yes, the small black seeds inside a kiwi are not a hazard for parrots and do not need to be removed before offering a slice. This is different from fruits with a hard stone or pip, which are worth taking out.

How much kiwi can I give my parrot?

A small slice or cube, offered as an occasional treat rather than daily, is plenty for most parrots. Fruit should stay a minor part of the diet, with a good quality pellet or seed mix making up the bulk of it.

Can baby or young parrots eat kiwi?

Wait until a young bird is fully weaned onto solid food before introducing treats like kiwi, and then offer only a small amount the first time. A young bird's digestion is more easily upset than an adult's.

Is fruit generally good for parrots?

In moderation, yes, as part of a varied diet alongside a complete pellet food and vegetables. Fruit tends to be higher in sugar than vegetables, so it works best as an occasional addition for variety rather than a daily staple.

Can parrots eat kiwi?

Yes, parrots can eat kiwi, and it is one of the better fruit treats to offer — soft, easy to eat, rich in vitamin C, and the small black seeds inside are not a hazard. It is still a treat rather than a staple, so a small piece rather than a whole fruit is the sensible amount, and it works well as an occasional part of a varied diet. Its soft flesh also makes it a good option for an older bird who finds harder fruit and vegetables more difficult to manage.

Picked for your pet

Vitakraft Parrot Cocktail Fruity

A fruit, seed and nut mix for parrots, meant to be mixed into their daily food

£4.30

Vitakraft Kracker Feather Care for Cockatiels & Parrots

A cage-clipped seed treat for cockatiels and parrots, aimed at moulting birds

£6.20

Vitakraft African Parrot Honey Stick 180g

A honey and vitamin treat stick for parrots, clips straight to the cage

£6.20

Johnson's Parrot Bumper Rings

A large seed and honey ring treat that fits directly onto a perch

£2.49

Why kiwi is a genuinely good treat

Kiwi carries a good amount of vitamin C along with some fibre, and its soft texture makes it easy for most parrots to eat without needing much preparation. Unlike some fruits, the small seeds scattered through the flesh are not a choking risk and do not need to be removed. Its vitamin C content is genuinely comparable to citrus fruits gram for gram, which is a large part of why it is often recommended over less nutritious sweet treats.

It is a more nutritionally useful treat than many fruits offered purely for sweetness, though it should still be thought of as an occasional extra alongside a proper base diet of a good quality parrot pellet or seed mix, rather than a food in its own right or a substitute for their main diet.

How to serve it safely

Wash the kiwi and offer a small slice or cube sized for your bird — a whole kiwi is far more than most parrots need in one sitting, even the larger species. The skin is edible for people but is fuzzy and tougher than the flesh, so it is generally left off for a pet bird.

Introduce it in a small amount the first time and watch how your bird takes to it, the same as with any new food. Some parrots take to new fruits readily, others are more cautious, and neither reaction means anything is wrong — patience and repeated small offers usually work better than persisting with a large piece.

When to hold off

Fruit of any kind, kiwi included, should stay a small part of a parrot's diet — a base of a complete pellet food, with fresh vegetables making up more of the variety than fruit, tends to serve a bird's nutrition better over time.

If your bird has any known digestive sensitivity, or seems off colour, less active, or fluffed up after trying a new food, stop offering it and speak to a vet experienced with birds rather than continuing to test it.

What to feed instead, or alongside it

A good quality complete pellet or seed mix formulated for your species of parrot should remain the bulk of the diet, with kiwi and other fruit as an occasional addition for variety and enrichment rather than the main event.

Fresh vegetables such as peppers and leafy greens generally offer a better everyday balance of nutrients than fruit does, so rotating a few of those through the week alongside an occasional piece of kiwi gives a more rounded diet than fruit-heavy treating on its own, and helps prevent your bird becoming a picky eater who only wants sweet things.

More for your pet

Things we stock that owners commonly reach for here. Nothing on this page depends on you buying one.

Johnson's Parrot Bumper Bell

A large seed and honey bell treat with a cage clip, for parrots

£3.25

Johnson's Parrot Bumper Bar

An extra-large seed, nut and honey treat bar for parrots and other cage birds

£3.49

Johnson's Cockatiel/Parrot Nut & Honey Bell

A 50G bell-shaped seed, nut and honey treat for cockatiels, parrots and similar birds

£1.89

Johnson's Cockatiel/Parrot Nut & Honey Bar

A 50G seed, nut and honey bar treat for cockatiels, parrots and similar birds

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Common questions

Can parrots eat kiwi seeds?: Yes, the small black seeds inside a kiwi are not a hazard for parrots and do not need to be removed before offering a slice. This is different from fruits with a hard stone or pip, which are worth taking out.
How much kiwi can I give my parrot?: A small slice or cube, offered as an occasional treat rather than daily, is plenty for most parrots. Fruit should stay a minor part of the diet, with a good quality pellet or seed mix making up the bulk of it.
Can baby or young parrots eat kiwi?: Wait until a young bird is fully weaned onto solid food before introducing treats like kiwi, and then offer only a small amount the first time. A young bird's digestion is more easily upset than an adult's.
Is fruit generally good for parrots?: In moderation, yes, as part of a varied diet alongside a complete pellet food and vegetables. Fruit tends to be higher in sugar than vegetables, so it works best as an occasional addition for variety rather than a daily staple.

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.