A quick look in the bird section of any decently-sized pet store will reveal an arsenal of different supplements for parrots. Milk thistle, dandelion root, Aloe vera, mixes against stress, molting tonics, multivitamins, probiotics… is your head spinning yet?
You’re probably wondering if your parrot needs all this. And if it does, which supplements are you supposed to buy? We’ve got you covered. No more relying on hearsay: here’s a solid, science-backed look at everything you ever wanted to know about supplements for parrots.
Does my parrot need a supplement?
Before you run out to the pet store to stock up, consider whether your parrot even needs a supplement—and if so, what kind. A healthy bird in its prime that has received a nutrient-rich, high-quality diet all its life? Supplements could be a waste of money. An older rescue bird that spent 25 years of its life eating sunflower seeds? That’s a different story.
In any case, the great thing is that you don’t have to figure out the answer to this question yourself. That’s your bird’s veterinarian’s job! New additions to the flock should always be taken to an avian vet for a check-up, and ideally also a basic blood panel, which will reveal whether it needs an extra health boost. If any issues are present, like poor feather quality or a wonky beak, an additional nutrient panel may also be done.
We recommend additional check-ups on a yearly basis, or twice (or more) yearly for older and/or sickly birds.
Be careful!
Consulting with a veterinarian before starting your parrot on any kind of supplement is extra important because not all supplements are made equal. Some are actually straight-up bad for our feathered friends, even if they’re marketed specifically as being healthy for parrots. Many brands are unfortunately out to make a fast buck off concerned pet owners.
As an example, we recently came across a supposed “bird energy booster”. It contained dextrose (a type of sugar), whey protein (made from dairy, even though birds are lactose intolerant), and a few additional ingredients that are popular for human use but boast zero safety studies or dosage guidelines for birds. We also found multiple products that are just too vague about their formulation, like an “immune booster” that looked promising but didn’t specify what was in its “herbal blend”.
Below, let’s have a look at common deficiencies and health problems in parrots that might warrant the (temporary) use of a nutritional supplement. We’ll mention some of the most common symptoms—if you spot any of these in your bird, off to the vet they go, and it’s likely some kind of supplement will be recommended.
Common deficiencies and health problems in parrots
Unfortunately, nutritional deficiencies and other health issues are common in pet parrots. In many—though not all—cases, they are the result of a seed-heavy diet. If that’s what your parrot is eating right now, you should make the switch to high-quality pellets or a complete freeze-dried solution as soon as possible. Your vet can help you out with this as well.
Among other conditions, parrots are commonly affected by:
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Vitamin A deficiency: common in parrots on an all-seed diet. Symptoms include eye, beak and nose issues (discharge, swelling, sneezing) as well as poor feather quality.
Liver disease: common in parrots on an all-seed diet or that receive too much fatty food (and not enough exercise). Symptoms include yellowing feathers, overgrown beak and nails, lethargy, and a swollen belly.
Calcium deficiency: common in parrots on an all-seed diet, especially laying hens. Symptoms include “wonky” eggs, weakness, seizures, and bones unexpectedly breaking.
Vitamin D3 deficiency: closely related to calcium deficiency, but due to a lack of UVB light making the bird unable to absorb calcium properly. Calcium and D3 work in tandem, so the symptoms are the same.
Goiter: caused by iodine deficiency, common in small parrots on an all-seed diet. You may notice a lump on the neck (enlarged thyroid), and strange noises like clicking or heavy breathing.
Supplements for parrots that require veterinary supervision
Let’s quickly touch upon some of the supplements your vet may recommend if your parrot is under the weather. You’ll notice that for a lot of supplements, we can’t cite definitive proof that they help parrots specifically, as a lot more research still has to be done.
Still, we can often extrapolate—studies on commercially raised poultry are very common for example, and if it works in a chicken, there’s a good chance it will in a parrot, too.
Milk thistle
The extract of this pretty, purple-blooming thistle is an example of a supplement whose efficacy is supported by many studies in poultry, and for which there is a lot of anecdotal support for parrots as well.
Milk thistle contains a compound called silymarin, which has shown to support liver function. It’s often prescribed to birds with fatty liver disease and similar issues, and may be given on its own or as part of a broader supplement for liver support.
Dandelion root
Although not much research has been done into its function in parrots—most existing studies investigate the effect on mammals—dandelion root does seem to gently support liver function. It can be given as a tea, in a tincture, or as part of a liver support supplement.
Prebiotics & probiotics
Supporting the body’s own gut flora with pre- and probiotics has been all the rage in humans for a while now. Can certain yeasts and bacteria also help our parrots, like after an antibiotic treatment, if it has digestive issues, or just generally seems unwell? It sure looks like it.
There is a lot of support for the positive effects of probiotics in poultry. Since it has been shown that parrots have pretty similar gut bacteria to something like, say, a chicken, we can probably safely extend those conclusions to our psittacine pets. Ask your vet about parrot-specific probiotics to be sure.
Multivitamins
If your veterinarian suspects or has concluded that your parrot is deficient in various vitamins and minerals, they may prescribe temporary or long-term use of a multivitamin. You can count on having to supplement essential nutrients if your bird is or was on an all-seed diet, if its plumage is in bad condition, if it suffers from chronic illness, or if it has laid a lot of eggs lately. Elderly parrots may also need a little extra support in this department.
Don’t give your parrot a multivitamin on a routine basis unless your vet tells you to do so—it might end up suffering from an excess of fat-soluble vitamins, such as A and D.
Calcium & vitamin D3
Pretty much all parrot owners use a calcium supplement on a semi-permanent basis in the form of a mineral block or cuttlebone. Some birds simply ignore these, though, so you may have to consider sprinkling a supplement on their food instead.
Your veterinarian may also recommend a special calcium and vitamin D3 supplement if your hen has been busy laying lots of eggs, if a blood panel shows a calcium deficiency (hypocalcemia), and in cases of a lack of UVB. Some parrots, such as African greys, are particularly prone to calcium deficiency, so they at least need to be monitored closely.
Did you know? Cuttlebones alone can’t fix hypocalcemia, as they lack vitamin D3.
Omega-3
Yes, we know, it feels odd giving your parrot fish oil (which is why it’s a good thing algae-based oil is also an option). But parrots on a seed-heavy diet may receive too much omega-6, meaning more omega-3 is needed to maintain a healthy balance.
Your veterinarian might recommend supplementing omega-3 if your bird is on a seed diet, has inflammation problems (skin, arthritis), plucks its own feathers, struggles with certain mood issues (anxiety, confused older birds), or has cardiovascular problems.
Molt support
If you’ve been a parrot parent for a while, you’ll know how incredibly uncomfortable they can get while molting. Aside from topical formulations (see the section on Aloe vera, for example), there are also oral supplements that can help support them through a molt. These tend to contain helpful ingredients like amino acids and zinc.
After all, molting is not just about itchiness, but also the huge amounts of energy and nutrients that go into producing all those new feathers!
Breeding supplements
Breeding your parrots isn’t a good idea in many cases, not in the least because there are already so many birds out there looking for a good home. If you do plan on breeding, or if your birds seem to be having issues (such as poor hatch rates), you can talk to your veterinarian about using a supplement formulated for breeding birds.
Anti-stress
A stressed parrot is a loud, agitated, and sometimes even aggressive parrot. And because our birds are quite sensitive, they do tend to get stressed easily: travel, new people in the home, a new cage lay-out, or even just construction workers coming and going outside the home. Some rescue parrots can show symptoms of near-constant anxiety despite all your best efforts.
Stress in parrots can’t be managed without fixing the underlying cause, but there are promising natural substances that may help during the process. One is L-theanine, which is naturally found in green tea (don’t give your parrot regular green tea, though—it has caffeine).
CBD for parrots
It’s all the rage right now: CBD for adults, children, cats, dogs, and pretty much everyone else. Some folks swear by giving their parrot CBD as well, and studies have shown this cannabinoid is generally well-tolerated by our birds.
Anecdotal evidence seems to support the idea that CBD may have therapeutical benefits for parrots, including reducing inflammation, pain relief, seizure relief, and anxiety reduction. We’ll have to wait for more detailed reviews to confirm this, though! If you’d like to try CBD for your parrot, it’s important to talk it over with an expert avian vet first.
Supplements for parrots that don't need veterinary supervision
We’ve emphasized the importance of being careful with supplements throughout this article: just as a parrot can be deficient in certain nutrients, it can also overdose on them. Some products can also interact with regular medication, while others straight-up don’t work (or can even be toxic).
There are some exceptions to this rule, though. We’ve already mentioned calcium blocks, for example. Certain milder—usually plant-based—extracts and tinctures can also be given on a regular basis without the need for veterinary intervention. Think fennel tea for humans, for example which many folks drink daily to help soothe their digestive systems. In fact, a lot of these components are indeed commonly found in birdie tea formulations, including our very own Bird Brews.
Aloe vera
There’s quite a bit of backing for the use of Aloe vera in birds. Most studies were done on poultry, but hey, close enough—especially because there appear to be a lot of advantages to including small amounts of this plant’s juice into birds’ daily routines.
Adding a splash of pure Aloe vera juice (it should be free of additives and without any of the leaf rind, which is toxic) may help support your parrot’s immune system, healthy liver function, and overall vitality. Just be sure to find a parrot-safe formulation, and don’t overdo it.
You can also use Aloe vera topically. Its soothing properties can help alleviate symptoms in parrots that pluck their own feathers or seem to be itchy during a heavy molt. Aloe sprays for parrots can be found in most larger pet stores.
Red palm oil
Some parrots, like African greys, feed on the fruits of the oil palm in the wild. Pretty smart, as red palm oil is full of vitamins E and A, as well as beta-carotene. A few drops a week on your parrot’s food make for a nice mild nutrient boost. This is pure fat, though, so don’t overdo it!
Spirulina
This type of blue-green alga is popular as an unregulated supplement for humans simply because it’s so chock-full of nutrients. It’s safe for parrots, too; you can sprinkle a little on their normal food to add more antioxidants.
Chia seeds & hemp hearts
Remember what we said about omega-3? While fish and flaxseed oil are the real omega powerhouses, small amounts of soaked chia seeds and hemp hearts can also help.
Gentle herbal supplements
We’ve already mentioned special herbal tea blends for parrots, but which herbs can you use for your bird’s daily brew? You’ve actually got loads of options.
The benefits of most of these are based on anecdotal evidence and studies in poultry, but even if they don’t end up helping with anything, they won’t do any harm. Plus, your parrot might love the taste!
- Chamomile: anti-anxiety, anti-inflammatory
- Rosehip: vitamin C bomb, antioxidant
- Lemongrass: gut health and immune system
- Fennel seed: digestive support
- Anise seed: digestive support
- Hibiscus flower: antioxidant
- Thyme: antimicrobial and antioxidant, but use small amounts
If you’re unsure whether a plant is safe for parrots, check our list of parrot-safe herbs and spices first!
Did you know? If you were missing apple cider vinegar here, that’s because there isn’t actually really that much scientific evidence to be found for the benefits it supposedly offers, so we left it out. The same goes for turmeric and ginger. Your vet may feel differently, though!
Conclusion
Although many different types of supplements for parrots exist, most shouldn’t be used without first discussing the topic with an avian veterinarian.
The good news? If your parrot receives a healthy, varied diet, and isn’t elderly or laying eggs, you probably don’t have to bother with supplements at all. Of course, you can still offer small amounts of mild nutrient boosters like red palm oil.
Sources & further reading
- Alagawany, M., Abd El‐Hack, M. E., Saeed, M., Naveed, M., Arain, M. A., Arif, M., ... & Dhama, K. (2020). Nutritional applications and beneficial health applications of green tea and l‐theanine in some animal species: a review. Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition, 104(1), 245-256.
- Alagawany, M., Elnesr, S. S., Farag, M. R., Abd El-Hack, M. E., Khafaga, A. F., Taha, A. E., ... & Dhama, K. (2019). Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in poultry nutrition: effect on production performance and health. Animals, 9(8), 573.
- Carpenter, J. W., Tully Jr, T. N., Rockwell, K., & KuKanich, B. (2022). Pharmacokinetics of cannabidiol in the Hispaniolan Amazon parrot (Amazona ventralis). Journal of avian medicine and surgery, 36(2), 121-127.
- Clubb, S. L. Clinical Management of Feather Damaging Behavior Associated with Inflammatory Skin Disease in Parrots: AAV 2006.
- Darabighane, B., & Nahashon, S. N. (2014). A review on effects of Aloe vera as a feed additive in broiler chicken diets.
- Desmarchelier, M. R. (2021). Clinical psychopharmacology for the exotic animal practitioner. Veterinary Clinics: Exotic Animal Practice, 24(1), 17-35.
- Đuričić, D., & Sablić, M. (2025). Potential applications and effects of silymarin in domestic animals–a review. Veterinarska stanica, 56(2), 257-264.
- Liu, H., Chen, Z., Gao, G., Sun, C., Li, Y., & Zhu, Y. (2019). Characterization and comparison of gut microbiomes in nine species of parrots in captivity. Symbiosis, 78, 241-250.
- Lutful Kabir, S. M. (2009). The role of probiotics in the poultry industry. International journal of molecular sciences, 10(8), 3531-3546.
- Ness, R. D. (2006). Integrative therapies. Clinical avian medicine, 343-364.
- Qureshi, S., Adil, S., Abd El-Hack, M. E., Alagawany, M., & Farag, M. R. (2017). Beneficial uses of dandelion herb (Taraxacum officinale) in poultry nutrition. World's Poultry Science Journal, 73(3), 591-602.
- Sosa-Higareda, M., Guzman, D. S. M., Knych, H., Lyubimov, A., Zakharov, A., Gomez, B., & Beaufrère, H. (2023). Twice-daily oral administration of a cannabidiol and cannabidiolic acid–rich hemp extract was well tolerated in orange-winged Amazon parrots (Amazona amazonica) and has a favorable pharmacokinetic profile. American journal of veterinary research, 84(4).
- Swicegood, C. WING TIPS Aloe for Bird keepers... Avian Pharmacy in a Leaf. AFA Watchbird, 28(3), 4-7.
