What Kind of Fruit for a Parakeet?

Parakeets are beautiful, active birds that still live wild in the Australian outback. There they eat a variety of food, including naturally occurring fruits. In captivity, however, parakeets are usually fed seeds and formulas that don't provide the same variety as their natural diet. Parakeet owners can help their birds eat a healthier, more varied diet by feeding them fresh fruit daily.

  1. Fruit's Place in the Diet

    • The optimal parakeet diet should consist of seed, fruit, vegetables and egg yolks. Seeds should comprise about half of their diet, with fruits, vegetables and egg yolks making up the other half of their diet. Parakeets can eat most any fruit, provided it is cut into small pieces for the bird's convenience. The best fruits are colorful and nutritious, like pineapples and peaches. Avocados are the exception to this rule. They are poisonous to parakeets and shouldn't be given to your birds in any amount. Birds may also be allergic to the pits of peaches, cherries, and other fruits with large seeds, so only feed them the flesh of these fruits.

    Introducing Fruit to the Diet

    • Though parakeets are accustomed to eating fruits in the wild, there's no guarantee that a captive budgie will eat the fruit you offer it. To make sure your bird gets the proper nutrition, continue to offer clean, diced fruits every day. Eventually, the parakeet will take interest and develop a taste for the fruit. If it continues to resist, try pouring natural fruit juice into the parakeet's water to let it get used to the taste of fruit. Then empty the water bowl and leave a bowl of wet fruits in the cage. The parakeet will be forced to nibble on the fruit to quench its thirst and will eventually grow accustomed to it. If this doesn't work, give its water back and keep trying. It may take a while for your parakeet to finally start eating the fruit.

    Nutritional Benefits

    • A parakeet that doesn't get nutrients from fruits and vegetables can develop health problems down the road. A diet high in seeds is also high in fat, and can lead to an overweight bird. Obesity in birds also puts them at risk for fatty liver disease, a potentially fatal condition. To keep your bird trim, healthy and active, keep feeding a balanced diet that includes fruits and vegetables. This will contribute to a long life.

    Other Good Foods

    • Parakeets grow to enjoy supplemental foods like fresh fruit and vegetables. You can further enrich their diet by also providing cuttlebone, a mineral block, and the occasional treat. Cuttlebone is a calcium supplement made from the bone of the cuttlefish. Not only does it give birds calcium, it also keeps their beaks trimmed and healthy. Mineral blocks serve a similar purpose. Other supplemental foods include millet and honey sticks. Millet is a high-fat grain that parakeets love to eat, but it isn't as nutritious as their regular seed. In moderation it could be used to train or reward your parakeets, but it shouldn't be left in the cage every day.