A Budgie's Diet

Budgies--also known as parakeets, shell parakeets, warbling grass parakeets and budgerigar--are small parrots native to Australia. When kept as pets, budgies require a varied diet that mimics foods found in the wild. A menu complete with seeds, pellets, fruits, nutritional supplements and fresh water increases a budgie's chance at living out his eight- to 10-year life span.

  1. Packaged Foods

    • Choose small packages of budgie seed blends for the freshest seed options. Seed in bulk bins might be more cost effective but are often stale, riddled with bugs and rarely sanitized. Avoid packaged foods with fattening fillers such as hulled oats. Pellet-based budgie diets are less fattening than seeds and offer more complete nutrition. The processed diet is entirely consumable, unlike a seed diet with leftover hulls. Grit should also be offered to aid in digestion.

    Fresh Foods

    • A healthy diet also includes daily offerings of fresh, chopped fruits and vegetables. Budgies that subsist on seed-only diets often suffer vitamin A deficiencies. Uncooked spinach, bok choy, shredded carrots, broccoli florets, peas, citrus fruits, bananas, strawberries and cored apple chunks gives a budgie natural sources of vitamins and nutrients. Cuttle bones, mineral block and calcium chews offer additional nutrients for pet budgies and a gentle way for them to file their beaks. Fresh, cool water should be offered daily.

    Extras

    • Treats add variety to a budgie's diet but should only be fed once every two months to avoid unwanted weight gain. These include spray millet, seed bells and seed-based treat sticks. To keep a pet budgie healthy, add vitamin and mineral supplements to the water or food supply. This added boost is especially beneficial to the bird's immune system during times of stress.

    Preparation

    • Thoroughly wash fresh fruits and vegetables offered to budgies to remove any pesticides or waxes applied at the growers or the grocery store. If possible, purchase organic foods. Chop all foods to small, pea-sized bites. Thick-skinned treats, such as bananas or oranges, should be peeled. Discard all stones, pits, seeds and stems before feeding them to the bird. After the bird has enjoyed the fresh foods for a few hours, remove them to prevent ingestion of spoiled foods.

    Precautions

    • Even if they seem like a member of the family, budgies cannot tolerate some treats humans enjoy. Chocolate, alcohol, processed snack foods (chips, candy), caffeine and soda can make the bird very ill and even cause death. Other foods to avoid include dried fruits, avocado, asparagus, eggplant, cabbage, raw potato, rhubarb and milk.