Budgerigar Diet

A healthy, balanced diet is essential for your Budgie.

Feeding your budgies 

What should I feed my budgies? 

You should feed your budgies with good quality, commercially available budgie food. Complete pelleted foods are recommended because they contain the right amount and type of essential nutrients. In addition, fruit and vegetables can be offered in small quantities. The following are all good for budgies:

•  Apple 
• Sweet potato 
• Salad cress 
• Grated carrot 
• Grapes 
• Pumpkin 
• Winter squash 
• Broccoli 
• Parsley 
• Spinach 
• Mango 
• Papaya

Wash all the fruit and vegetables well to remove any chemicals, and cut them into manageable-sized pieces. You don't have to take the skin off. Give them to your budgies in a separate dish from the seeds. 

How can I safely introduce new foods to my budgies? 

Suddenly changing the food you give your budgies can upset their digestive system, so always introduce new foods gradually over at least a week, unless your vet tells you otherwise. 

Are seed-based diets suitable for budgies? 

Seeds are high in fat, so a seed-based diet is often associated with obesity. Millet sprays are often given to budgies, but these are also very high in fat so should only be offered very occasionally. The risk of obesity is greater if the budgies are housed in a cage rather than an aviary, because they have less opportunity to fly around and exercise.

How can I get my budgies to eat pellets instead of seed? 

It can be difficult to encourage a mature bird raised on seeds to convert to eating pellets. This process may take weeks and the best way to do it is to have the pellets constantly available, while gradually reducing the amount of seed. You should never withdraw the seeds until you are totally convinced that your budgie is eating the pellets and fresh foods. If in doubt, ask a vet with a special interest in birds for advice.

http://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-health-advice/budgerigars/diet