What Do Budgies Eat?

What Do Budgies Eat?

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Budgies are small, playful birds also known as parakeets. These birds made wonderful pets because they are relatively easy to care for and have wonderful personalities.

As is true for any pet, budgies require a balanced diet for optimal health. Not only is it important to understand what your budgie needs in his diet, however, but you also need to know what foods are and aren’t safe for him to consume.

With proper care and keeping your budgies can live for six years or more. What it all comes down to, however, is a healthy diet. Read on to learn more about what your budgie can and cannot eat.

Safe And Unsafe Foods For Budgies

Wondering what your budgie can and can’t eat? We’ve assembled a list of dozens of foods that are and aren’t safe for your budgie. Check them out below!

26 Foods That Are Safe For Budgies:

Seeds or pellets and fresh fruits and vegetables should make up your budgie’s daily diet. Avoid fruit pits and make sure any foods you feed your budgie are fresh.

1. Seeds
2. Seed mixes
3. Pelleted bird food
4. Cucumber
5. Lettuce
6. Beetroot
7. Tomato
8. Celery
9. Green beans
10. Carrots
11. Pea pods
12. Cauliflower
13. Sweet corn
14. Banana
15. Strawberries
16. Apples
17. Grapes
18. Oranges
19. Peaches
20. Blueberries
21. Pears
22. Mango
23. Melon
24. Nectarines
25. Cherries (no pit)
26. Sweet potato (cooked)

20 Foods Budgies Can Eat In Moderation:

Depending what staple diet you choose, you may also want to offer whole grains or certain seeds as treats. Just be mindful of the fat content for certain seeds. Peas and beans are rich in protein but can be detrimental for budgies in large amounts, so feed sparingly.

1. Amaranth
2. Barley
3. Buckwheat
4. Canary seed
5. Oats
6. Quinoa
7. Rye
8. Sweetcorn kernels
9. Wheat
10. Herb seeds
11. Sunflower seeds
12. Flaxseeds
13. Hempseeds
14. Millet
15. Pumpkin seeds
16. Sesame seeds
17. Chickpeas
18. Black-eyed peas
19. Green peas
20. Lentils

13 Foods That Are Not Recommended For Budgies:

Avoid feeding your budgie human food, especially junk food, as well as large insects and insects that might bite. Avoid fruit pits and apple seeds as well.

1. Human food
2. Junk food
3. Fried food
4. Cockroaches
5. Spiders
6. Beetles
7. Maggots
8. Comfrey
9. Peanuts
10. Grit
11. Dairy
12. High-fat foods
13. High-sugar foods

12 Foods Budgies Should Not Eat:

While some foods that aren’t’ recommended for budgies may not do any harm, there are certain foods that are toxic to birds. Avoid these foods entirely for your budgie’s safety.

1. Avocado
2. Onions
3. Mushrooms
4. Garlic
5. Coffee
6. Tea
7. Alcohol
8. Chocolate
9. Fruit pits
10. Apple seeds
11. Nightshade plants
12. Sugar-free candy

Understanding which foods are and are not safe for your budgie is very important, but a healthy start starts with understanding your budgie’s nutritional requirements. Read on to learn the specifics of what to feed your budgie in different life stages.

Types Of Budgie Diets

When it comes to feeding pet birds like budgies, you’ll need to decide whether you want to feed commercial pellets or not. This is a sensible choice for many pet birds simply because it offers balanced nutrition. Unfortunately, not all birds will eat pellets.

If you choose to feed your budgie seeds, they should make up no more than 60% of the diet. The rest should be fresh fruit and vegetables. When feeding budgies a seed-based diet, make sure the seeds are fresh by soaking them in water overnight. If fewer than 50% of the seeds sprout, they aren’t fresh.

In addition to your budgie’s staple diet, you should also provide a cuttlebone as a source of calcium. Not only do these provide nutrients for your budgie, but it can be a source of entertainment as well.

Here is a quick breakdown of the different components of a pet budgie’s diet:

• Seeds – Budgies will eat a variety of seeds but most of their seed diet should come from grass and grain seeds since they are a staple in the wild budgie’s diet.
• Grains – Small whole grains like amaranth, barley, quinoa, corn, and wheat can also be included in your budgie’s diet. Offer these as treats if you’re feeding a pellet-based diet.
• Commercial Pellets – If you choose to feed your budgie a pellet diet, it should make up 75% of his diet with the rest from fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Fruits and Vegetables – Whether you feed your budgie seeds or pellets, fresh fruits and veggies should also be offered daily. Offer small amounts of fresh food from the list above.

Now that you know what kinds of foods will make up your pet budgie’s daily diet, you’re probably wondering how much to feed. Keep reading to learn about feeding recommendations for budgies.

Meeting Your Pet Budgie’s Nutritional Needs

When it comes to meeting your budgie’s nutritional needs, balance is key. Though seeds make up the majority of a wild budgie’s diet, your pet budgie shouldn’t be fed seed mix alone.

Budgies require a balance of protein, healthy fats, carbohydrates, and essential vitamins and minerals like any other animal. If you feed your budgie seed mix, make sure it includes several different types of seed. You should also offer pelleted food formulated for budgies to ensure balanced nutrition.

Some birds don’t immediately take to pelleted diets, so you might need to spend some time converting your budgie. Eventually, pellets should make up about 75% of his diet with fresh foods making up most of the rest of the diet. Seeds can be offered as treats.

To give you an idea what do guinea pigs eat and much you should be feeding your pet budgie in different stages of life, refer to this chart:

In addition to providing for your budgie’s nutritional needs, make sure to have fresh water available at all times as well. Most birds prefer to drink from a dish, but they tend to get them dirty pretty quickly. Plan to clean and refill the dish at least once a day.

Recommended Commercial Budgie Foods

If you’re wondering how to make sure your budgie’s nutritional needs are met, a commercial food may be a good option to consider. These foods are formulated with your budgie’s specific needs in mind, though it’s still your job as a responsible pet owner to make sure you pick a high-quality product.

Here are some of our top picks for the best commercial budgie food:

Looking for more recommendations on what to feed your budgie? Check out our in-depth guide to the best commercial budgie foods.

Budgie Feeding FAQs

What do budgies eat in the wild?

In the wild, budgerigars or budgies feed primarily on the seeds of grass and grains. In addition to seed, however, budgies will also eat fruits, berries, and other vegetation.

How much do budgies eat?

Budgies are fairly small birds, so they may only require a few teaspoons of seed or pellets per day. Refer to the feeding guidelines on the package according to your budgie’s age and size.

What do budgies drink?

Budgies drink water and they should have fresh water available at all times. Make sure to clean and refill your budgie’s water dish at least once a day.

Do budgies eat insects?

Wild budgies are technically omnivores, so they are able to digest plants as well as insects. Seeds make up the majority of a budgie’s diet in the wild, but these birds may eat insects as well. If you feed your budgie insects, make sure they are small – avoid beetles, cockroaches, and spiders.