Proper nutrition is the be-all and end-all when it comes to pets, but what are the best foods for budgies to eat to stay healthy? The right amount of food and enough variety on the menu are particularly important.
Seeds and grains are a good nutritional basis for budgerigars – Shutterstock / PrakapenkaAlena
With many grain mixtures from the trade, the actually healthy ingredients are coated with honey. This tastes good to the budgerigars, but it makes them fat in the long run. For the right diet, it is better to use untreated grains and fresh fruit.
Grains as the basis for a healthy diet
When asked “What do budgies eat?” there is no short answer, because the diet in the wild is extremely varied. However, the basis is seeds and grains. A good feed mix for non-obese parakeets consists of 25 percent pointed or glossy seed – i.e. grass seeds – 25 percent white millet, 45 percent other types of millet such as plata or Japanese millet and 5 percent oat kernels. On the other hand, if your bird is overweight, you should increase the proportion of grass seed, as this makes it less fat. In the case of liver disease, a feed additive made from milk thistle seeds is recommended.
How Much Do Budgies Eat?
As pets, budgies tend to eat out of boredom. Therefore, make sure you not only eat a balanced diet, but also an appropriate amount. Just 2 teaspoons of seeds provide your bird with the energy it needs throughout the day. A teaspoon should not be more than 5 grams.
What do budgies eat? Fresh food brings more variety
In addition to seeds and grains, fresh food should also be on the table so that the birds are optimally cared for. But what exactly do budgies eat? Pineapples, apples, bananas, strawberries, pomegranates, kiwi, oranges, melons, papaya and grapes are among the parakeet’s favorite fruits. But be careful: Many types of fruit have a high fructose content and lead to obesity in large quantities. They should be fed less often.
Vegetables such as radishes, beetroot, cucumbers, lamb’s lettuce, iceberg lettuce, carrots and pumpkin are added to the right diet. Make sure fruits and vegetables are spray-free and chemical-free.
Tip: Since fresh food is perishable, leftovers should be removed from the cage quickly to avoid mold growth. Don’t mix too many different types and make the food even healthier by covering it with a layer of grains.
Healthy diet with herbs and medicinal plants
Not absolutely necessary, but a good addition to normal nutrition are herbs and medicinal plants. However, you should only feed plants with essential oils in small amounts, otherwise the parakeets can get digestive problems. And what do budgerigars eat from the herb bed? Basil, mugwort, chervil, thyme, sage, watercress, St. John’s wort, dill and tarragon – actually, almost everything that people like tastes good.
Which minerals and feed additives make sense?
Minerals are particularly important to ensure that the plumage remains beautiful and is renewed regularly. In addition, shell grit and lime play a major role when it comes to your bird’s health. Certain supplements in the diet therefore make sense. There is usually sufficient grit in good bird sand. However, this is contaminated by feces. Therefore, always offer a clean shell with shell grit. Cuttlebone and limestone can also be accommodated in the cage. Healing clay, silica, iodine stone and charcoal are also good for your budgie.
You might also be interested in these topics on Einfachtierisch.de:
Buying a budgie: What is important when buying?
Budgie Escaped: How Can I Catch The Bird?
Fan and air conditioning dangerous for pets?
