Hi

 

I am pretty sure that beetroot is safe to give to birds - but I just wanted to double check first. I think that I have seen a post about it but I couldn't find it again!

 

Also, I have never actually bought fresh beetroot before, do I just peel it and grate it :laughter: ?

Edited November 14, 200816 yr by Neat

Safe YES....good to give birds ....definitely yes. Grated....YES.

Makes red faces though :laughter:

Safe YES....good to give birds ....definitely yes. Grated....YES.

Makes red faces though :laughter:

 

Great thanks Kaz. I am sure that it was your post I saw and your birds looked like they were having the time of their lives

 

Off to the markets I go at lunch :chickendance:

A good idea with beat root is to wash it and then boil it skin and all for about 20 to 30 mins (or untill soft) drain off the beet water and keep. You can freeze this and give it to the birds in the middle of summer in a seperate water dish as they like it icey cold. It is also thought to help stop the growth of tumors.

 

Take the remaining beet and peel and mush/grate and give to the birds or if you are like my house we eat it and they just get the water.

 

My guys get it about 4 times a month/ once a week depending on the ability to get them.

 

DO NOT feed them the canned stuff as it sends them nutty as it is full of sugar and salt.

 

I freeze my water in an old ice cube tray (it will stain so be careful of that) then on a really hot day like today all my guys got an ice cube in a dish in their cage and a few in the avairy. Just be aware that it will stain everything I have had bright red perches and toys before.

 

Also if you want to make a wooden toy for the bird drop the piece in the water towards the end of the cooking process and they stain red. Harley LOVES it when I do this and then spend all day destroying the wooden block that I put in his cage. My King Parrot likes it as well.

 

Hope that helps.

A good idea with beat root is to wash it and then boil it skin and all for about 20 to 30 mins (or untill soft) drain off the beet water and keep. You can freeze this and give it to the birds in the middle of summer in a seperate water dish as they like it icey cold. It is also thought to help stop the growth of tumors.

 

Take the remaining beet and peel and mush/grate and give to the birds or if you are like my house we eat it and they just get the water.

 

My guys get it about 4 times a month/ once a week depending on the ability to get them.

 

DO NOT feed them the canned stuff as it sends them nutty as it is full of sugar and salt.

 

I freeze my water in an old ice cube tray (it will stain so be careful of that) then on a really hot day like today all my guys got an ice cube in a dish in their cage and a few in the avairy. Just be aware that it will stain everything I have had bright red perches and toys before.

 

Also if you want to make a wooden toy for the bird drop the piece in the water towards the end of the cooking process and they stain red. Harley LOVES it when I do this and then spend all day destroying the wooden block that I put in his cage. My King Parrot likes it as well.

 

Hope that helps.

 

Wow I can't belive how many good ideas are in your reply I never knew beetroot had so many uses, I can't wait to get home now

 

They only had baby beetroot so I am hoping that this will work the same - maybe just cook it for a little less.

The longer you boil it for the stronger the beet water is. I know someone who boils for like 6 hours and then strains it and the beets are pretty much mush at the end but the water is really rich.

That's so interesting AV!!!

Will have to get boiling :hap:

Wouldn't you boil the goodness out of it if you boiled too long

I grate mine uncooked and mix with their vegies and they love it but it does look like some one has killed some one by the red on their faces but at least you can see who is eating it.

Edited November 13, 200816 yr by splat

If you are going to boil for long periods of time you slow boil it like in a slow cooker if you raipdly boil it for 6 hours yes you would boil all the goodness out.

if you're going to use the water (ice cubes etc) anyway, the nutrients would still be in the water, wouldn't they??

Heat destroys a lot of the phytonutrients and vit C.

 

I put whole raw fresh carrots, beetroots, apples, spinach/silverbeet clumps, in the aviary = orange, pink and multicoloured budgies!

 

It is good exercise for them to have to tear at their food to get it as well.

I find my guys would not touch it raw but the water they love an all end up with red heads.

Mine get fresh grated (not peeled) beetroot, with grated carrot, sweet potato or pumpkin, fine chopped greens or whatever else I have in the fridge.

I did get a fright the other day going out an hour after I fed, I am used to the pink faces but one hen was Red as red, I thought she'd been stuck into her chicks- but no just the vegies!

Mine get fresh grated (not peeled) beetroot, with grated carrot, sweet potato or pumpkin, fine chopped greens or whatever else I have in the fridge.

I did get a fright the other day going out an hour after I fed, I am used to the pink faces but one hen was Red as red, I thought she'd been stuck into her chicks- but no just the vegies!

that must have been beetroot/carrot face

Agree with AV totally on the BEETROOT JUICE!!!!!!

However I have never heard of it being boiled longer then 45mins due to the Heat destroying

the Goodies in it .... It is a great anti oxidant along with other extra benefits ... You can use the juice to dye your pine or home made toys

Well, after getting home and cooking up the beetroot, I was the only one who ended up eating it :hug: He didn't touch the juice or the beetroot - but that doesn't surprise me because he is very cautious of new foods so I will have to try again (I would be too with my cooking ).

 

I froze a heap of the juice in ice cube trays so i will try giving him some of those.

 

Thanks for all of the ideas

Beetroot, beetroot, beetroot - that's all I'm hearing lately! Different ideas about it and how good it is and how to also feed it to my parrots as well as the budgies. So I bought a fresh bunch this morning and am going to try "everyone" on it over the next couple of days. I wont be boiling, just using it in hunks for parrots and grated for budgies. I was wondering however, can you give them the leaves on the beetroot or is it best to chop these off?