Yes, birds can eat Ball pepper, the skin, the flesh and even the seeds, it is safe and nutritious although it would be in good faith to remove the seeds because most of the heat is contained in the seed and it is slightly bitter as well, however, to be honest birds love it either way their taste buds are not developed enough to pick up on the heat. It comes in bright colors which makes it even make it more attractive to birds.
Bell Peppers
First of all, bell pepper is of the chili pepper family. It spicy and nice to the taste, it grows all year around, so you need not worry about not finding it in you stores. The ball pepper starts out green, the green stage it is very crunchy, flavored but slightly bitter to the taste. It further matures and becomes yellow then orange and at its final stage it becomes red which is the most tasty and nutritious of them all.
Now you know that the variety that you see in ball pepper are only reflective of their varying stages of maturity, although there is difference in color is not all, the difference also reflects in taste, the nutrients and sometimes even texture, In practice, it all comes from the same plant but only at their different stages of maturity.
Green Bell Peppers
Green ball pepper is very popular, most people I know have seen it and eaten it, it has this very peculiar flavor and aroma to it, it is unmistakable, it is crunchy in texture, and not quite packing the heat so any bird will definitely enjoy it, although on the down side it is slightly bitter to the taste.
Yellow ball peppers
This looks like the green ball pepper, it is very pretty, in that it has that bright yellow color however it is less flavored than the red ones but just as tasty, its less bitter as well. This would therefore be a good addition to your bird’s meal.
Orange Bell Peppers
Bell peppers also come in orange color too. The only difference is in the texture and flavor probably because these are older than the yellow and the green versions, so the bitterness and crunchiness would likely be diminished.
Purple Bell Peppers
Purple bell peppers are tastier than the green ones, but definably but not as tasty as the yellow, orange and red ones. Even though its purple when raw, the same cannot be said of it when it is cooked because it ultimately turns grey or even brown. So in order to maintain the attractive nature of the color, you might have to serve it raw to your bird. Do not worry it is safe and nutritious as well.
Red Bell Peppers
This kind of ball pepper is in fact the most attractive of all the varieties; its bright red color will make it an irresistible treat for your bird. it is the sweetest and has the strongest flavor , probably because it is at its oldest stage. The red ball pepper has the most nutrient concentrated within it than the others, It also safe for your bird.
What nutritional benefits are there in Bell Peppers to my bird?
Ball Pepper Contains:
- Calorie
- Protein’
- Carbohydrate
- Fat
- Fiber
- Sugar.
Bell Peppers contains several vitamins and minerals as well;
- Vitamin A, B6,C,E
- Beta-carotene
- Folate
- Potassium
Health benefits of Ball Pepper
It lowers the blood pressure
Nutritionists are of the view that Vitamin C helps regulate blood pressure since it removes excessive body fluid. Ball pepper are packed with it , it will translate that it will help you bird with any blood pressure imbalance.
It improves the health of your bird’s heart
Ball pepper has anti coagulant properties that help the hearts arteries and veins with a cleanout. It removes any blood clots found within it thereby preventing heart attack.
It regulates the digestion
The sheer amount of fiber in ball pepper makes it a suitable support for your bird food digestion and bowel movement.
Reduces the risk of diabetes
Because of its fiber content, Bell pepper slow down how quickly sugar is gets into your bird’s bloodstream and reduces sugar that has already found its way into your birds bloodstream.
Improves and maintains the health of Eyes, Skin and Feather
The ball pepper is filled with vitamin A, I mean just take a look at the vibrant color of A ball pepper. The beta carotene within it also come together to make a perfect support for the heath of the your bird’s skin and in result, your bird’s feather as well. The Vitamin A content of the Ball pepper helps in sharpening the bird’s eyesight, which I dare say a very vital organ to a bird’s very survival.
Improves immunity
The vitamin C contained in the ball pepper helps it boost your bird’s immune system also Vitamin B6 supports the bioreactions that enable an effective immune system.
Photo by Dastan Khdir from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-flock-of-seagulls-flying-over-the-coast-3329858/
What Parts of a Bell Pepper Can I Give to My Bird?
There is always that you might just mistakenly give your bird a part of these healthy treats, which is in fact poisonous. This is a rational fear because birds are so small and a minor exposure to a toxin might literally kill it, so its best that one does not leave anything to guesses when it comes to feeding these birds. You will now come to know which portions of ball pepper are safe and which are not.
The Seeds
First the seed much to your surprise are vey safe for you birds. It is not toxic at all. Though it may be bitter in taste and that my friends, is not an such an enjoyable feature for your bird, so at this point its is more useful for you to first understand your bird’s likes and dislikes, that way you will know if it is a good option to leave the seed in the ball pepper when feeding it.
The Membranes/Skin
This part of the Ball Pepper is safe for your bird; however, you may choose to remove the seed and serve only the flesh or the membrane. This part is usually crunchy and with a nice flavor and taste. so, you try this with you bird and see if it like it or not.
Can I Feed My Bird with Bell Pepper’s leaves or Stem?
Bell pepper is one of the vegetables in the nightshade family, it stem and leaves has a high concentration of toxins called alkaloids which is linked to cerebellar degeneration, respiratory problems and even death. Its leaves and stems are poisonous, so ensure that you never serve your bird the stem along with fruit for any reason.
How do I serve my bird with ball peeper
Bell pepper should be served to your bird raw. When you hear that, you might feel that it will be inhumane to do so since pepper packs the heat. well Ball pepper is not that hot and birds have few taste buds, so they should be fine and it wouldn’t harm its system either. Besides they will love picking on those crunchy treats,
you can also have it cooked, though I would not advice this because the delicate nutrients will be lost while the bird would have enjoined the pepper raw and on its own merit.