Hypoallergenic Budgie Food

Budgies make great pets or companions and can live between 15 to 20 years. They are a bird species from Australia and are sometimes referred to as parakeets in the U.S. Having a clean food and water source is the best way to keep your budgie healthy. Also, before buying a budgie, or any bird for that matter, you should wait to see if you have any allergies to the feathers or dust they give off.

  1. Seeds

    • Your budgie may be completely content only eating seeds. In the wild, this is what budgies mostly feed on. Grass seeds or budgie mix, which contains different seeds and pellets, should be the main diet of your budgie but you can slowly incorporate other foods such as fruits and vegetables. Throw away any old seeds your budgie has not eaten daily, making sure to never mix new and old food together to prevent bacterial growth. In addition, bird seed can sometimes contain peanuts, wheat or other allergens, so be aware of what is in it before buying it -- for both you and your budgie.

    Fruits and Vegetables

    • Fruits and vegetables are an important part of your budgie's diet. A diet consisting only of seeds may lead to an iodine deficiency. Apples, grapes, pomegranate, watermelon, oranges, carrots and any green vegetables will add some variety and balance into your budgie's life. Your budgie may not seem interested in these foods at first, especially if it has been living solely on a seed based diet, so It may take a few months for it to warm up to the new additions. Make sure to thoroughly rinse any fresh produce before giving it to your bird. If fresh produce is not available, dehydrated fruits and vegetables are an excellent substitute. Be sure to only get naturally dried fruits, as those treated with preservatives can cause allergic reactions in your budgie and result in feather picking or shredding.

    Treats

    • Budgies also enjoy sweet treats such as honey bells or sticks. Since budgies can become overweight quite easily, these high-fat treats should not be given regularly. If your bird is very active and spends a lot of the day out of its cage, these treats can be given once a week. For less active or older budgies, give a treat once every two weeks. As with seed packs, bird treats can also contain nuts and wheat, so be aware of what is in them before buying.

    Foods to Avoid

    • Budgies remove the shells when they eat seeds; check even if you think the food bowl is full, as it may actually be full of the shells. Apples are a great snack for budgies but not apple seeds, or any other fruit seeds, which should be removed before giving them to your bird. Other things to avoid giving your budgie include chocolates, avocado, eggplant, raw peanuts or asparagus and cabbage.