Yes, birds can eat Apple. The flesh and skin are fine to offer after a good wash, but we recommend removing the seeds before handing it over.
Apple seeds have become one of those bird-feeding warnings that gets repeated everywhere, often without much explanation. Give your bird a slice of Apple, spot a seed afterwards and suddenly you're wondering whether you've just done something terrible.
The reality is much less dramatic, but there is a reason we still recommend removing them.
Why Are Apple Seeds Considered a Problem?
Apple seeds contain cyanogenic compounds. When the seed is broken open, chewed or crushed, these compounds can release hydrogen cyanide.
So the concern isn't completely made up. Apple seeds really do contain compounds capable of producing cyanide.
What tends to get lost in the warnings is the difference between knowing a compound is present and understanding the actual risk from a tiny seed.
How Dangerous Are Apple Seeds to Birds?
An intact Apple seed is much less concerning than one that's been cracked or chewed. The compounds are held inside the seed, so breaking into it is what makes them available.
That doesn't mean we'd recommend feeding them.
Birds vary enormously in size, from tiny Finches and Budgies through to large parrots, and parrots in particular are extremely good at getting inside seeds. There isn't a useful number of Apple seeds we'd consider worth testing.
So Why Do We Still Remove Them?
Because it takes three seconds and there's no reason not to.
That's really the most useful answer.
The risk from accidentally swallowing an intact Apple seed is very different from intentionally feeding the seeds, but the seeds don't offer anything we need to include in a bird's diet. Core the Apple, remove the seeds and offer the flesh.
It's a sensible precaution without needing to turn an Apple seed into something terrifying.
What About Pear Seeds?
We take the same simple approach with Pears: remove the seeds before feeding them.
There's no real benefit to leaving them in, so cutting out the centre before offering the fruit keeps things straightforward.
Stone Fruit Pits Are More Important to Remove
Apple seeds aren't the only fruit seeds associated with cyanogenic compounds.
The pits or stones from fruits such as Apricots, Cherries, Peaches, Plums and Nectarines should always be removed before the fruit is offered to your bird.
Unlike a tiny Apple seed, these pits can also be very tempting for a parrot with a powerful beak to crack open and investigate.
Remove the stone completely and offer the flesh instead. Our guide to bird-safe fruit and vegetables covers more of the fruits and vegetables you can offer and which parts should be removed first.
Can Birds Eat Apple Skin?
Yes. Apple skin can be left on.
Wash the Apple thoroughly before serving it, then offer a wedge, slice or piece appropriate for your bird. Leaving the skin on also gives parrots something extra to bite, tear and work at rather than having everything chopped into tiny pieces. A wedge threaded onto a skewer or tucked into a foraging toy gives them even more to do with it.
What If My Bird Accidentally Ate an Apple Seed?
Finding out your bird swallowed an Apple seed doesn't automatically mean they've been poisoned.
An intact seed that has simply been swallowed is much less concerning than seeds that have been deliberately cracked, crushed or chewed.
If you know your bird has chewed Apple seeds, you're unsure how many were eaten, or your bird appears unwell after eating something you're concerned about, contact your avian veterinarian for advice.
The Simple Answer
Apple is a perfectly reasonable fresh food to offer birds. Wash it, remove the seeds and let your bird enjoy the flesh and skin.
You don't need to be frightened of Apples, and you don't need to work out how many Apple seeds might be too many either.
Just core it first.
For a bigger reference covering fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds and other foods, see our complete list of 200 safe and toxic foods for pet birds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can birds eat Apples?
Yes. Birds can eat Apple flesh and skin. Wash the Apple thoroughly and remove the seeds before offering it.
Are Apple seeds poisonous to birds?
Apple seeds contain cyanogenic compounds that can release cyanide when the seed is broken down. We recommend removing Apple seeds before feeding Apple to birds.
Can one Apple seed kill a bird?
Accidentally swallowing an intact Apple seed is very different from chewing or crushing the seed, and it doesn't automatically mean your bird has been poisoned. We wouldn't deliberately feed Apple seeds, though, and recommend removing them as a routine precaution.
Do I need to remove Apple seeds before feeding Apple to my bird?
Yes. Core the Apple and remove the seeds before serving it. It only takes a few seconds and avoids an unnecessary risk.
Can birds eat Apple skin?
Yes. Apple skin can be offered after the fruit has been washed thoroughly.
Can birds eat Pear seeds?
We recommend removing Pear seeds as well. Remove the centre and offer the flesh instead.
Can birds eat Cherry, Peach, Plum or Apricot pits?
No. Remove stone fruit pits before offering the flesh to your bird. This includes fruits such as Cherries, Peaches, Plums, Apricots and Nectarines.
