Honey is seen as a miracle ingredient that can be used in the body, on the skin and even on the hair. This natural sweetener can be found in various beauty products, skincare products and is used in ancient remedies for healing various ailments. Honey is a sweet superfood enjoyed by many and widely used. Considering how good this syrupy superfood is for humans you may be asking yourself if it is also good for animals and birds specifically. This article gives the answer to the question of ‘can birds eat honey’ 

No birds cannot eat honey, honey may be a great natural sweetener for humans but it should not be given to birds. Honey can contain a number of bacteria that can grow into molds and kill the birds. Regardless of the quality of the honey, it should not be given to birds 

Can birds eat honey?

Honey boats a combination of carbohydrates, sugars and calories. This food has no protein, fat nor fibre. It contains trace amounts of zinc, iron and, potassium. Where honey really shines is in its concentration of antioxidants. High-quality honey contains many important antioxidants. Antioxidants reduce your chances of developing strokes, heart attacks and some cancers. But call all this benefit birds? No, it can’t

Although this natural sweetener is great for humans it should not be given to birds under any circumstances. Honey can harbour Bactria, even the most organic and best quality honey can harbour bacteria. This bacteria can grow into mold which can kill birds. Honey can harbour e. Coli, Listeria, molds/fungus and Botulism. Honey is more dangerous if it is not pasteurized. In addition, because it is very sweet, it is more damaging to birds than beneficial. Too much sugar can cause negative behavioural changes in birds like anxiety, irritability, plucking of its feathers and nervous disorders. 

Can birds eat syrup?

Syrup is simply sucrose and water, just sugar in a liquid form. Even though syrup isn’t toxic to birds it doesn’t offer many nutrients and is really just sugar. You can give them this food, but only in small amounts as too much sugar will negatively affect the bird. If you do decide to give them syrup, opt for grade B or grade C syrup. This type of syrup is processed less and has more nutrients in it. Also, make sure that it is 100 percent pure maple syrup. 

Can birds eat sweeteners?

Adding artificial sweeteners to a birds diet isn’t recommended. Sweeteners can have negative effects on humans, effects such as migraines, and this can be multiplied in birds as they are smaller and more sensitive. The idea behind giving your birds a healthy diet is to minimize or eliminate added sugars from their diet. You can add more natural sugars to your bird’s diet as a treat but adding artificial sweeteners is unnecessary and is not helpful for the birds.

If you give your birds sweeteners they may change your bird’s taste and make them prefer sweeter foods and reject healthier foods altogether. In addition, studies link artificial sweeteners to cancers in lab rats, sweeteners have not been tested on birds so better stay away. We simply do know the safety of these products on birds. 

Can birds eat honey Cheerios?

Cheerios are a great way to get your bird to enjoy a crunchy food that is somewhat sweet but is still low in sugar. Unfortunate honey Cheerios won’t be the best option to give your bird but you can definitely offer them the original Cheerios. These contain whole grains, are free from artificial colours and sweeteners and will still be enjoyed by your birds. You can string the Cheerios on a thread and leave them out for birds to eat. 

Conclusion 

In conclusion, birds cannot eat honey. This delicious superfood can easily be toxic to birds as it contains bacteria that can grow into a mold that can kill the bird. It can also cause the bird to have negative behavioural changes as it contains large amounts of sugar.

Also, do not give your birds syrup in large amounts or artificial sweeteners at all. If you want to feed them a sweet treat then offer them a little bit of fruit or add apple sauce to their food. If you want to serve them a crunchy snack that is low in sugar you can offer them the original cheerios 

If you enjoyed this article then you may also be interested in other bird related articles. Here are some articles that you may be interested in: Can birds eat garlic?, Can birds eat gelatin?, Can birds eat ham?, Can birds eat hard-boiled eggs?