Basics

Feeding and watering

Good nutrition is essential for any animal, but birds especially need a diet that is tailored to their individual needs. Poor nutrition can often be the basis of many health problems, such as obesity and iodine deficiency. Remember that you are not just trying simply to keep your budgie alive - you are trying to help it stay fit and healthy!

Packaged seeds are very convenient to use, but budgies in the wild would naturally eat a far greater variety of seed types because of the different plants that come into season at different times of the year. Commercial seed diets have about two to eight different types of seed, but when a container of seeds is given to your budgie, it will most often select one or two of its favourite seeds. Millet is often the one chosen, and the budgie owner will often make things worse by offering a millet spray as well! This means that this budgie will have an imbalanced source of nutrients, which can be high in fat. The best thing to do is to offer a smaller amount of good quality varied seed mix, so that the budgie will tend to eat a greater seed variety.

The amount fed to each bird daily should be a maintenance amount of about two level teaspoonsful of seeds. This should be provided in a shallow dish, with separate ones for each bird. Any seeds left at the end of the day may be because there was too much in the bowl initially and seeds should only be a small part of a budgie's ideal balanced diet.

20 - 25% of a budgie's diet should be fruit and green vegetables, with 'pale' vegetables, such as celery, being of little value. 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, and give them to your budgie in a separate dish from the seeds. Sprouting pulses, such as those used in stir-fries, are a great source of nutrients.

Pelleted and similar diets have been specially formulated for a budgie's needs. It can be difficult to train a bird away from being a seed eater to becoming a pellet eater, but pellets are thought to be the ideal way to feed a budgie. It may take weeks to 'wean' a mature budgie from seeds to pellets, and the best way to do it is to have the pellets constantly available, while 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. It may also be that your budgie finds this change in diet all a bit too much and if they get stressed during this period, make sure you ask your vet for advice. Remember, as well, that your budgie should have fresh water available at all times, and the container bottles, as well as the food dishes, must be cleaned daily.