Post by Budgiebonkers on Nov 13, 2013 20:04:59 GMT
Seed - Every budgie's diet staple should be a fortified seed mix. This should include (but doesn't have to be limited to) millet, canary seed, and oat groats. Some seed mixes come with extra additives such as dried fruits/veggies and small pellets. These are all fine, but don't be surprised if your budgie doesn't eat them. Some seed mixes add colors to the seeds. Avoid any mixes that use artificial colors. Only buy those that use natural colorants, such as beat juice. Keep the seed fresh by keeping it sealed in an air-tight container. To avoid seed moth problems, you can freeze the seed mix overnight after bringing it home.
Fresh Foods - Many people don't realize that seed is not the only thing a budgie should eat. In fact, budgies on a seed-only diet will suffer from malnutrition and related complications and will live much shorter lives than those on healthy diets which include fresh foods every day. Budgies on seed-only diets can be expected to live only 4-6 years, while budgies can actually live to be 10 years or more. So it is very important to provide your budgie with a healthy, varied diet which includes fresh fruits and vegetables. Every budgie has individual tastes, and you will learn what your budgie(s) like and dislike. In general though, budgies like crispy things, such as crisp lettuces and greens. They also enjoy their fresh foods wet, so be sure to rinse first and put greens into the cage while they are still dripping wet. Some fresh foods that budgies often enjoy include carrot tops, sprouts, strawberries, kale, apples, broccoli, and most dark, leafy greens. When you feed lettuces to your budgie(s) avoid those that are mostly water, such as iceberg and cabbage. These light colored, watery greens don't offer much in the way of nutrition. Stick with the dark green/purple lettuces which are full of nutrients. Also, always take any left-overs of fresh foods out of the cage after a few hours so that it does not go bad inside the cage.
When offering fresh foods to your budgie, go for variety in choices and presentation and experiment to see what your budgie likes. In other words, try many different kinds of fresh foods, and offer them in different ways. You can clip chunks (ie melon, corn-on-the-cob, apple, etc) in the cage, or pierce them with a skewer made for pet birds. You can clip wet greens to the side of the cage, hang them from or twist them through a favorite toy, or just hang them from the top of the cage. You can offer sprouts in a treat cup or on top of the seeds. You can chop up/shred different foods (i.e. broccoli, cauliflower, carrot, bell peppers, etc.) to make a birdy salad and put it in a treat cup or bowl in the cage. You can even offer favorite foods from your hand. Variety in choices will ensure your budgie receives complete and balanced nutrition, and variety in choice and presentation will keep him interested in fresh foods and in trying new fresh foods.
Supplements- Budgies need to be supplied with a cuttle bone and mineral block at all times. These provide important minerals and calcium. Some budgies prefer one over the other, some like to tear them apart, and some like to use them as perches. No matter what, they should always be available, even if your budgie doesn't even touch them. Your budgie's body will tell him (or her) if and when it is in need.
There are also other supplements available in pet and bird stores, which range from vitamin and mineral supplements to pro-biotics and algaes. None of these are necessary, especially if your budgie is healthy and receives a healthy diet. However, some owners may choose to consider using any of these supplements. Before using any supplements, you should first consult with your avian veterinarian.
Fresh Foods - Many people don't realize that seed is not the only thing a budgie should eat. In fact, budgies on a seed-only diet will suffer from malnutrition and related complications and will live much shorter lives than those on healthy diets which include fresh foods every day. Budgies on seed-only diets can be expected to live only 4-6 years, while budgies can actually live to be 10 years or more. So it is very important to provide your budgie with a healthy, varied diet which includes fresh fruits and vegetables. Every budgie has individual tastes, and you will learn what your budgie(s) like and dislike. In general though, budgies like crispy things, such as crisp lettuces and greens. They also enjoy their fresh foods wet, so be sure to rinse first and put greens into the cage while they are still dripping wet. Some fresh foods that budgies often enjoy include carrot tops, sprouts, strawberries, kale, apples, broccoli, and most dark, leafy greens. When you feed lettuces to your budgie(s) avoid those that are mostly water, such as iceberg and cabbage. These light colored, watery greens don't offer much in the way of nutrition. Stick with the dark green/purple lettuces which are full of nutrients. Also, always take any left-overs of fresh foods out of the cage after a few hours so that it does not go bad inside the cage.
When offering fresh foods to your budgie, go for variety in choices and presentation and experiment to see what your budgie likes. In other words, try many different kinds of fresh foods, and offer them in different ways. You can clip chunks (ie melon, corn-on-the-cob, apple, etc) in the cage, or pierce them with a skewer made for pet birds. You can clip wet greens to the side of the cage, hang them from or twist them through a favorite toy, or just hang them from the top of the cage. You can offer sprouts in a treat cup or on top of the seeds. You can chop up/shred different foods (i.e. broccoli, cauliflower, carrot, bell peppers, etc.) to make a birdy salad and put it in a treat cup or bowl in the cage. You can even offer favorite foods from your hand. Variety in choices will ensure your budgie receives complete and balanced nutrition, and variety in choice and presentation will keep him interested in fresh foods and in trying new fresh foods.
Supplements- Budgies need to be supplied with a cuttle bone and mineral block at all times. These provide important minerals and calcium. Some budgies prefer one over the other, some like to tear them apart, and some like to use them as perches. No matter what, they should always be available, even if your budgie doesn't even touch them. Your budgie's body will tell him (or her) if and when it is in need.
There are also other supplements available in pet and bird stores, which range from vitamin and mineral supplements to pro-biotics and algaes. None of these are necessary, especially if your budgie is healthy and receives a healthy diet. However, some owners may choose to consider using any of these supplements. Before using any supplements, you should first consult with your avian veterinarian.
