Is Red Palm Oil for Good for Parrots?

If you've been wondering, "Is Red Palm Oil good for parrots?,"the short answer is, “yes”.  It's very good for parrots. In this blog post I'll describe why so many avian vets and bird nutritionists endorse red palm oil for parrots. 

Why is palm oil considered such a controversial product?

Sadly, Red Palm Oil for parrots has received a “bad rap.”That’s understandable. 

First of all, if it's not sustainably produced it can be bad for the environment. Irresponsible production has contributed greatly to deforestation.  Sadly, millions of orangutans have been displaced. 

There are a number of small farming operations who use responsible, sustainable farming practices through the RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil). 

UnRuffledRx is proud to have partnered with them to bring UnRuffledRx Red Palm Oil for Parrots.  Even though it's more expensive, we’ve opted to carry only RSPO-certified Red Palm Oil. 

From a nutritional perspective, red palm oil is known to be high in saturated fat.This can make it bad for cardiovascular health. Especially in large quantities.

Is red palm oil the same as palm oil?

According to Healthline.com,Palm oil comes from the fleshy fruit of oil palms. Unrefined palm oil is sometimes referred to as red palm oil because of its reddish-orange color. 

Palm Oil is semi-solid at room temperature. It’s melting point is 95°F.

Is red palm oil good for birds?

When fed correctly red palm oil is very good for birds.

Here is the nutritional content of one tablespoon (14 grams) of palm oil (1):

• Calories: 114
• Fat: 14 grams
• Saturated fat: 7 grams
• Monounsaturated fat: 5 grams
• Polyunsaturated fat: 1.5 grams
• Vitamin E: 11% of the RDI

Avian veterinarians often recommend red palm oil for parrots that are experiencing skin and feather problems, for its medicinal use. 

It’s especially helpful for African Grey Parrots, Macaws and Palm Cockatoos. The health benefits Red Palm Oil is unique in the bioavailability of nutrients that parrots need! 

Research on human subjects reveals that Red Palm Oil, sometimes called Dende Palm Fruit Oil has these benefits:

• It improves skin health, especially the soft tissue in the lungs, nasal cavity, and digestive tract.
• It decreases incidence of arteriosclerosis.
• It lowers blood cholesterol.
• It decreases the occurrence of blood clots by increasing vasodilatation.
• It lowers the incidence of strokes and heart attacks.
• It improves immune function.

SHOP RED PALM OIL

UnRuffledRx Red Palm Oil is one of the richest, bird-safe, natural sources of carotenoids that you can offer your parrot. 

Carotenoids offer important antioxidant and anticancer effects. Antioxidants “forage” free radicals, thereby reducing known risks associated with heart disease, cellular aging, cancer, and arthritis. 

Carotenoids are also known to repair body tissues and soothe the skin. They assist in the formation of bones, improve the resistance to infection and aid in the development of healthy eye tissues. Who doesn’t want these benefits for their bird?

Red palm oil is a rich resource ofVitamin E, Omega 3, Omega 6, Antioxidants, Beta Carotene and Carotenoids (Vitamin A precursors). Your bird would have to consume overwhelming amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables to receive the benefits found in just ¼ teaspoon of Red Palm Oil. 

But, on top of that little factoid, the body requires fatty acids to convert the Carotenes.

Fruits and vegetables that contain Carotenoids, such as squash, carrots, and mangos, are not necessarily rich in important, essential fats.

What is healthier palm oil or coconut oil?

Actually, both red palm oil and coconut oil have health benefits.  and, you should consider using both of these fats in your bird's diet. Both red palm oil and coconut oil are considered Essential Fatty Acids, or EFA’s.

EFA’s  Are important for reproduction, feather production, and a healthy immune system.  Your bird requires EFA’s  to properly absorb important vitamins such as A, D, E, and K.

You've probably heard of Omega fatty acids. Most notable are Omega-3  Omega-6.

Red palm oil contains both Omega-3 and Omega-6.  Omega-3 is needed to replace old and dying cells. Omega-6 is also known as linoleic.  This fatty acid supports your bird's skin, feathers, normal reproduction, and normal organ function. 

Coconut oil, on the other hand, is rich in medium chain triglycerides, or MCT’s. The body uses MCTS as an energy source. coconut oil has been shown to reduce cancer risk and degenerative conditions like arthritis. It also supports the metabolism and balances hormones.

Unfortunately, a lot of bird owners overlook the importance of essential fatty acids in their birds' diets.

SHOP COCONUT OIL

 Getty Images: Used From PicMonkey

How to Teach Your Bird to Accept a New Supplement

Parrot’s, like most pets, are often reluctant to try a new supplement.

That’s normal. It’s not the taste. Parrots only have about 30% of the taste buds that you and I have. They're more worried about whether the new supplement is safe to eat.

 

You literally have to "teach" your bird that any new supplement, including Red Palm Oil, is safe for it to eat.

 

Here’s how:

Grab Up Some Supplies

• A bird stand
• A jar of the supplement
• Two spoons
• Maybe, even a clicker

Set the Stage

• Get your bird out on its bird stand and bring out the red palm oil.
  
  
• Place a dab of red palm oil on a plate.
  
  

Let the Training Begin

1. After getting your birds' attention, dip a spoon or your finger into the red palm oil and elaborately eat it in front of your bird, making a h-u-g-e deal out of it.”
   
   Ooh and awe” about how delicious this orange stuff is. Do this over and over again until your bird is literally begging for a taste.
   
   
2. Don’t give in just yet. Tell your bird that this fabulous treat is all yours and that you are not sharing. “No, you can’t have any!” Continue savoring your new treat. Back up if your bird stretches its neck out to get a text.
   
   
3. When your bird has made several attempts to get you to share, finally give in. Dip a clean spoon in the  jar and grab a dab of red palm oil.  Or, you can dip a piece of fruit or vegetable in it. Serve it to your bird enthusiastically, using a clicker to reinforce that this is a wanted behavior.
   
   
4. Tell your bird that this is “Red Palm Oil,” giving it words for what you're feeding it. Continue teaching and praising your bird over the course of several days until the bird has learned that Red Palm Oil is a safe and desirable food source.

In conclusion, I shared with you the importance of finding sustainably produced red palm oil to feed your pet bird. I've also talked about coconut oil. Both of these products provide important nutrients for you as well as your bird! And, they should be an important part of your bird's diet.

Hey, please leave a comment or share this on your social media if you love this post! 

References: 

https://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fats-and-oils/510/2

https://www.wwf.org.uk/updates/8-things-know-about-palm-oil

https://facty.com/food/nutrition/12-benefits-of-coconut-oil