Feeding

One of the most important decisions a budgie owner will make is what to feed their birds. Staple diets have traditionally consisted of seed mixtures, which are sold in pet stores as "parakeet seed." Companies such as Kaytee and Roudybush now make pellets for budgies (these are sold as being "for parakeets") that are touted as being nutritionally correct.

Some experienced budgie owners and breeders swear by pellet diets. Others distrust "artificial" diets and stick to seeds. While ultimately the decision is up to you, I recommend a mixed diet of both pellets and seeds. My reasoning (which is shared by many other bird owners) is that the more varied a bird's diet is, the less likely it is to suffer from a deficiency in some nutritional requirement. When buying seeds, pellets, and specialty foods, make sure that the package says that the product is "for parakeets" or "for budgerigars."

Regardless of what type of staple diet you choose, a budgie's diet should always include fresh foods as well. Green leafy vegetables and other vegetables are essential. (If you feed lettuce, choose a dark-colored lettuce such as Romaine; avoid iceburg lettuce, which has virtually no nutritional value.) Foods such as scrambled eggs provide extra protein, which is important during molting. See the lists of good and bad budgie foods below for more ideas. To provide essential minerals such as calcium, see Cuttlebones and Mineral Blocks.

Fresh foods should never be left out long enough for bacteria to grow. Eggs, chicken, etc. cannot be left out for more than about half an hour to an hour; other foods can be left out a little bit longer.

Convincing budgies to eat new foods can be a challenge, especially when they have been raised on a diet of all seeds. Pellets can be introduced by gradually mixing the pellets in with the regular seed. Start with about 10% pellets and 90% seed and work your way up to the ratio you want. Make sure the birds are eating the pellets, not just throwing them around. For other foods, try offering them frequently and in different ways. For example, you can try offering them from the top or sides of the cage, or try serving them wet. You may be able to entice your birds to try broccoli by pushing the head with the flowerets into seeds. As the budgies eat the seeds, they may try the broccoli too. Be creative.

• Pellets
• Seed mixtures
• Hulled oats
• Millet spray (as a treat)
• Honey stick treats
• Specialty foods such as Lafeber's Nutriberries
• Green veggies (including various greens such as spinach and collards)
• Sprouts
• Carrots
• Fruits such as apples
• Just about any other fruit or vegetable
• Cooked pasta and rice
• Well-cooked chicken
• Scrambled eggs (you can include the shells for calcium)
• Bread
• Yogurt (small quantities)

• Avocado
• Chocolate
• Drugs such as caffeine and alcohol
• Any food that has been unrefrigerated for a long interval