Cranberries are also known as a superfood because it offers numerous health benefits to us. For example, cranberries are a good source of antioxidants necessary for the proper functioning of the body. Moreover, cranberries are also a source to prevent the risk of infection in the urinal tract. Not only this but dried cranberries are also served a lot of benefits to us. As they dried cranberries play a vital role in the toppings of numerous recipes. But do birds eat cranberries? Or can they eat dried cranberries?
However, birds can eat both cranberries and dried cranberries. As they are a good source of several essential nutrients and minerals for them like humans. For example, cranberries and dried cranberries are good sources of carbs, fiber, vitamin C, E, K1, copper, manganese, etc.
As birds can eat dried cranberries, but they shouldn’t have to eat artificially preserved dried cranberries. Not only this, but fresh cranberries may not be the favorite of several birds. But why? Let’s dig together.
As this article is all about exploring the questions mentioned above. So if you are interesting to know about it, then navigate this article. As this article will serve you like a book about all the exciting facts of eating cranberries of birds. So let’s start.
Can Birds Eat Dried Cranberries?
Birds can eat dried cranberries as they offer them several essential nutrients. For example, dried cranberries are a good source of vitamin C and fiber, which boost their digestive system’s working.
However, birds shouldn’t have to eat artificially preserved cranberries because these cranberries contain Sulphur dioxide for preservation. And this Sulphur dioxide is dangerous to birds, as it can cause dangerous allergic reactions in birds.
However, you can offer them naturally dried cranberries, and they will surely like it. As they don’t have any harmful side effects due to the absence of Sulphur dioxide.
As we discussed that can birds eat dried cranberries? But now I want to explain another fact about birds eating cranberries and dried cranberries. Because many birds don’t like to eat cranberries and dried cranberries. And the reason is their tart and astringent taste.
No doubt that cranberries can offer several antioxidants to birds with essential nutrients and minerals. Not only this, but dried cranberries are of the same nutritional importance as fresh cranberries with a milder difference.
But their tart, bitter, and sour taste is the thing which several birds don’t like. However, due to their taste, they are wildly use in sauces.
Can Wild Birds Eat Dried Cranberries?
A precise answer to this question is yes. As those wild birds who like to enjoy cranberries would surely like to eat dried cranberries. However, in the wild, only sun-dried cranberries are available, which are healthy for them. As sun-dried cranberries do not contain Sulphur dioxide, which is not safe for birds.
How To Prepare Dried Cranberries for Birds?
Fruits are a good source for birds to complete their nutritional need. Unfortunately, a deficiency in it can cause the fatal death of birds. However, if your bird like to eat dried cranberries, the following ways tell you how to prepare dried cranberries.
Methods To Dry Cranberries:
Sun Dry: With the use of solar heat, you can easily dry your cranberries. For this, you have to arrange a tray of medium size, and you can use tray of any material like steel or plastic to dry cranberries. Then spread cranberries in the tray but in one layer.
After that, cover the try with cheesecloth and put it at the place where sun rays stay well for a long time. However, it depends on you that how much dryness; otherwise, it takes 3-4 days for cranberries to dry well.
Oven Dry: However, dried cranberries can use throughout the year and are also available in the market throughout a whole year. But fresh cranberries are available only from October to December. As this period is the season of cranberries.
However, as sunlight is not that strong during their season, you can use the oven to dry cranberries. For that, place your cranberries into the oven and set the temperature at 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
Again the time of drying them depends upon that how much dryness you want. And to get the required dryness, you can check them after a time period of 20 minutes. First, however, remove the tray carefully from the oven after the job is done.
Microwave Dry: However, if you have a microwave, then you can also dry cranberries in it as well. As it is the quickest source to dry them out. Moreover, the same process you have to adopt here is like an oven.
And for that, set the temperature at a lower degree at the start, but you can increase it gradually as well if you feel the need for it. Once again, time depends upon the requirement of dryness.
Read also: What Do Pigeons Eat ?
How To Serve Dried Cranberries to Birds?
After drying them, you can place cranberries in bird feeders so that they can enjoy them. Moreover, cranberries have edible seeds for humans, but these are not edible for birds. Because these seeds are toxic to birds.
That’s why before offering dried cranberries to birds, make sure that you already remove their seeds. So if you provide them dried cranberries, then it is better to remove their seeds.
What Should You Not Feed to Birds?
A healthy diet for birds leads their good health, while a diet with poor nutritional and minerals value can lead to death in birds. But there are some other foods are available which we don’t have to offer them. As, these foods can cause immediate death in birds. For example,
Avocado:
However, fruits are healthy for birds, but avocado is not on the list of those fruits. Because avocado’s leaves produce a chemical known as pectin, which is a fatty acid. As for avocadoes, this acid protects them from insects and fungi, but this chemical is harmful to birds.
If birds digest it, they can face heart failure, respiratory issues, and even sudden death. So if you are used to offering foods to birds, then make sure to keep avocadoes away from them.
Caffeine:
However, caffeine is present naturally in leaves, fruits, cacao, and beans of coffee. And it is also present in a number of processed foods, for example, energy drinks, tea, etc.
And all the foods with caffeine as an ingredient can be fatal for birds. Because it can cause hyperactivity in birds, and in some cases, it could cause cardiac failure in birds as well.
So you also have to avoid giving them foods that have caffeine. However, we also have to avoid the excessive use of foods having caffeine.
Chocolate:
For humans, it is a tasty snack and a portion of good staple food. But it is not a healthy food for birds and animals. As it contains a chemical theobromine, which is toxic for birds as well as for animals. As it can cause nausea, digestion problem, and even cardiac failure in them.
So you have to avoid offering chocolate to birds. Not only but you don’t have to offer it to animals like dogs, cats, squirrels, etc.
Apple Seeds:
As, apple seeds contain traces of cyanide, which is a poison for birds. However, not only apples but other family members like peaches, apricots, etc. are also contain minor amount of cyanide. So birds avoid eating apple seeds. However, apple fruit is fine for them they can eat it.
Salty Foods:
A food with an excessive amount of salt in them is also harmful to birds. As it can cause dehydration and kidney failure in birds.
Raw Beans:
Cooked beans are a great source of a healthy treat for birds, but raw or uncooked beans are not fit for them. As raw beans contain hemagglutinin, which is toxic for birds.
Onions:
Exposure of onions to birds is also an unhealthy treat. As it can cause a burning effect in birds. Not only this, but it can cause diarrhea, vomiting, etc., in birds.
A Final Word:
Can birds eat dried cranberries? This article is all about the explanation of this question. As cranberries are a good source of healthy nutrients for birds. Similarly, dried cranberries offer them similar benefits to fresh cranberries.
But it is also another fact that several birds don’t like to eat dried cranberries and also fresh cranberries. Because they have a tart taste, which birds don’t enjoy.
However, if your bird likes to consume dried cranberries, you have to offer them those naturally dried with the sunlight. As such, cranberries don’t have Sulphur dioxide, which is toxic for birds.