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| Home | Feeding your budgie essential minerals is important to your birds well being. So much gets processed out of things that it can't be guaranteed that your bird is getting all that it should for a healthy life. Budgies will be wary of any new food placed in their cage, but their curiosity should win out eventually, just remember to replace food especially fresh food daily. Basic bird seed purchased from any store is a mixture of Red, Gold and White Millet and oats. Most birds love the oats and mental fun can be found in removing the husk before eating it, but some birds don't learn how to remove the husk and dehusked oats can be obtained in the form of "groats". Plain canary seed is also a much loved favourite by budgies and can be mixed into their regular seed. Japanese Millet (Jap Millet) is also a favourite but how much is eaten depends on the time of year. Canary and Jap Millet should be available during breeding. Millet sprays are also good treats and useful in seeing whether chicks are eating seed and can be removed from their parents. Seed bells or honeyed seed sticks are also wonderful treats. During breeding canary seed and Jap millet should be available as well as ordinary seed. During the first few weeks of breeding the canary seed will be eaten. As the chicks grow older the parents will switch to the millet. Just before the chicks are ready to leave and the parents get ready for the next lot of laying the canary seed will be eaten again. See Breeding Fruit, vegetables and other extras Green vegetables such lettuce, parsley etc. are good providers of extra minerals and can be enjoyed by budgies. Corn on the cob can also be fed and is often enjoyed. If bread is fed, whole-wheat is best. A toy can be a carrot top with the leaves, placed on the bottom of the cage or attached to the side of the aviary. Apple a good fruit to feed, though often to get the budgie to eat it and to make it easier for them, the skinned side should be placed towards them. Remember that fresh food should be changed at least once a day, more if necessary, depending on the climate. Several minerals have been processed out of the seed that you feed your budgies. Some can be supplemented with green vegetables, but to ensure that your budgie gets the minimum minerals required certain things should be available. In my experience grit and gravel mixture is necessary for good health. The gravel aids in the digestive process by helping to break down the seeds. The grit is actually pieces of oyster shell and provides needed calcium. Birds need calcium as much as humans do. There are several ways in which to provide this for your birds. Either it can be sprinkled on the bottom of the cage and then it can be refreshed when you clean the cage or aviary or it can be mixed in the seed bowl with the seed. Gravel can be a great bottom for aviaries, sprinkle a thick layer on the bottom and then you can just vacuum it up and replace when you clean the aviary. Additional calcium can be provided in the form of cuttlefish bones. They can be bought from pet shops or, if you live near the ocean, they can often be found washed up the beach, but first check that there hasn't been any toxic substances present in the area or you'll end up feeding toxins to your bird. Iodine blocks can also be fed and are often found in a variety of flavours. These normally give Iodine, Calcium and a host of other minerals. During breeding a cuttlefish is a must for the hen because she'll need it for the shells of her eggs. Grit without the gravel can be obtained and this can supplement the grit in your grit/gravel mixture to provide additional calcium. See Breeding |
