what to feed parakeets

What do parakeets eat? Parakeets

eat a mix of seeds, pellets, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and nuts. All of these play an important part in some way or the other, whether that be by providing budgies with the energy they need throughout the day or adding essential vitamins and minerals to their daily diet.

Full Answer

What fruit or vegetable should you feed your parakeet?

What Fruits & Vegetables Can Parakeets Eat?

• Leafy Greens. Leafy greens provide rich nutrients. Pet parakeets enjoy many different vegetables, but leafy green vegetables and plants seem to be a favorite choice for many pets.
• Other Vegetables. Parakeets enjoy the same flavorful vegetables you do. ...
• Fruits. Be sure to thinly slice the fruit you feed to your parakeet. ...

What foods are bad for parakeets?

What kills birds instantly?

• Poisoning. Poisoning is one of the major factors for the bird's instant death in the recent past. ...
• Open Deep Water. Many usual things are available in each home that contains deep water. ...
• Non-Stick Coating. ...
• Unhealthy Food. ...
• Electrical Cords. ...
• Ceiling Fans. ...
• Bird Toys. ...
• Mirror.

What types of fruits and vegetables can I Feed my parakeets?

Fruits are fabulous treats for parakeets. However, like vegetables, make sure you are feeding the most nutrient-rich fruit to your bird for the best possible diet. Any kind of fruit available at your local grocery store is great for your parakeet: apples, tangerines, melons, bananas, tropical fruits .

What kind of food can you give a parakeet?

Which Foods Are Safe for Parakeets to Eat?

1. Veggies. Vegetables can be a very important part of a parakeet's diet. ...
2. Fruits. Parakeets love fruits. ...
3. Nuts. Many parakeets love to eat nuts. ...
4. Grains (Occasionally) Healthy, whole-grain breads can be a tasty supplement to your parakeet's diet when offered in moderation.

What human food can parakeets eat?

Here are some safe veggies that you can feed to your budgies.Asparagus.Carrots.Zucchini.Squash.Pumpkin.Broccoli.Beets.Small amounts of cabbage.

What food is best for parakeets?

Romaine lettuce, kale, spinach, sprouted seeds, and dandelion leaves are all great options to consider. Some budgie pellets contain dried vegetables. Fruits: Fruit also offers a range of nutrients that help to promote healthier Parakeets. Consider pears, kiwi, oranges, berries, melon, grapes, and apples.

What food kills parakeets?

Toxic foods that should never be fed to your bird include:Alcohol.Avocado.Cassava (tapioca)Dairy products.Meat.Chocolate or cocoa.Peanuts.Fruit seeds and pits.

What fruits and veggies are good for parakeets?

Fruits and vegetables are wonderfully nutritious and will be joyfully accepted by your budgie(s). A few veggies that are safe and nutritious for parakeets include lettuce, broccoli, carrot, corn, peas, spinach, and celery. Fruit options include apples, tangerines, melons, bananas, mango, pineapple, and coconut.

Should parakeets eat seeds or pellets?

Pellets are the ideal diet; therefore, seed-eating birds should be slowly weaned off seeds onto a pelleted diet. Pellets should represent approximately 75-80% of the bird's diet.

How often do parakeets eat?

How often do parakeets eat? You could provide two meals a day, or free feed. It's your choice. If you have a training routine then training before a meal has a bird more eager for treats.

Do parakeets need baths?

Parakeets will bathe whenever they want to, and you'll get to know your own bird's preferences. There are no rules, as such. Some owners put the bath in the cage every week and their birds leap straight in. Others say their parakeet never bathes at all.

Should you let parakeets out of their cage?

Let trained budgies out of their cages into a safe room every day and allow them to fly around for an hour or so. Untrained birds also require time outside their cages but you may want to have their wings clipped for safety. Veterinary surgeons can clip budgies' wings.

Are bananas safe for parakeets?

Bananas, cut into small pieces, are safe to feed your pet birds. But, as a general rule, it is best to offer fruit in moderation. Parakeets don't necessarily have a sweet tooth, but it's easy to feed them too many sweet fruits, like high-calorie bananas.

What do parakeets drink?

Offer bottled drinking or spring water so that he isn't absorbing chlorine or heavy metals found in tap water. He may also prefer the taste of spring water over tap water. If your bird stops drinking completely or seems ill, contact your veterinarian immediately.

What do parakeets need in their cage?

Parakeets need the basics in their cage: perches, feeding and drinking bowls, something to chew on, a swing, some toys, a bird bath, and something to line the bottom of the cage.

How can you tell parakeet gender?

One way how to tell the gender of a parakeet is to check its cere, the band of raised fleshy skin located above the nostrils. The male parakeet has a cere that is either a pink, blue, or purplish-blue color. The female parakeet has a cere that is either white, light tan, or light blue.

What do parakeets eat?

Parakeets eat a mix of seeds, pellets, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and nuts. All of these play an important part in some way or the other, whether that be by providing budgies with the energy they need throughout the day or adding essential vitamins and minerals to their daily diet.

What do parakeets drink?

Not just your parakeets’ feeding habits and diet matter, but also what they drink. Parakeets should only drink water and they should not be given things like soda, beer, or any other type of alcoholic beverage. All of these can be dangerous to them.

Balanced parakeet diet

What can parakeets eat in an ideal situation? Even though budgies are rather adaptable to new foods, they can’t have a diet that’s too rich in something and entirely lacking in something else.

What do parakeets eat in the wild?

What do budgies eat in the great outdoors? Wild budgies are omnivores, so they will eat a variety of fruits and veggies, but they will also nibble on seeds, if they get the chance, and also eat insects. In their natural habitat (which is Australia), they have to make do with whatever is available.

How to feed your parakeet

Now that you know what parakeets are supposed to eat, you can feed your budgies correctly. All foods, no matter if they’re seeds or fresh fruit and veggies, should be sized as per your bird. Parakeets are small, so cutting everything into tiny pieces will make it easier for them to eat.

What foods NOT to feed to parakeets

To start with an example, chocolate can be extremely dangerous for a variety of pets, not just pet birds — including cats and dogs. This type of food causes severe intoxication in many animals and if no medical assistance is sought out quickly, it can lead to death. ( 11)

Does my bird need gravel or grit?

Doves and pigeons need grit or gravel in order to be able to digest food properly. However, that only happens because they eat seeds without removing their hull.

What to feed a parakeet?

The aim when feeding your pet parakeet is to match the diet the bird would have in the wild. This means a good-quality seed (grass seed and other seeds being the staple diet of wild budgerigars in Australia). The seed should be supplemented with a mineral block and a little fresh food. Parakeet pellets are an alternative to a seed-based diet.

How long do parakeets keep their cere?

Robert, many young parakeets will keep a violet colored cere until about 1 year old. If there are white rings right around the nostrils, you have a female. Even in the nest, before their feathers grow in, this can be seen.

What is a parakeet's beak?

The parakeet's beak is a precision tool for removing seeds from their husks, with a tongue for scooping out the nutritious stuff. When the bird flaps its wings in exercise, it will send small clouds of these discarded seed husks into the air, so expect to be sweeping parakeet bran from your floor on a regular basis!

What is the white part of a parakeet's poop?

The white bits in parakeet droppings are uric acid, the bird equivalent of urine, and the dark bits (lighter in pellet-fed birds) are the poop.

How often should I feed my chicken feeder?

Treats, such as millet sprays or store-bought 'seeds-on-a-stick', should be fed no more once a week.

Do parakeets eat seed?

Parakeet Feeding Behavior. Parakeets are cautious eaters - you'll notice that they nibble a seed, and then instantly raise their head to have a good look around. This habit serves them well in the wild, where they might be mugged by a predator or robbed by a cheeky neighbor.

Can parakeets eat grit?

Many birds need grit, but not parakeets - although some pet stores still sell grit specifically for parakeets. In rare cases, parakeets can actually die of a blocked crop after eating too much grit. So, the best policy is to never offer insoluble grit: it serves no purpose and may even lead to problems.

What do parakeets eat?

Feeding Parakeets Fresh Food. Fruits and vegetables are part of the standard diet for pet parakeets. They enjoy the different textures and tastes, and fresh foods are part of the bird's sensory world.

How to tempt a parakeet?

Fresh foods should be served in a familiar bowl to tempt your parakeet to try something new. Remove uneaten food from the cage at the end of the day. Many fresh foods, especially fruits, are full of sugar, and will soon turn into a bacterial bloom that can kill a parakeet.

Why are my parakeets dropping water?

If the bird’s droppings turn watery, it’s probably a sign of overindulgence in fresh foods. Simply cut back for a day or two until the droppings are back to normal. These are veggies that your parakeet will enjoy: Asparagus. Beetroot.

Can birds eat organic food?

Only feed your birds organic fresh food. This ensures that there are no toxic herbicides, fungicides or preservatives on the produce. As a second best, ensure that fruit and veg are washed thoroughly. You should always try to source organic seeds and grains, too.

Can parakeets eat insects?

Never offer any of these raw, and always remove any uneaten food after a few hours. Parakeets, as a rule, don’t eat insects in the wild.

What are the two types of parakeets?

Two types of parakeets are most common in the U.S. pet trade – the English budgie and the American parakeet. The American variety is the one you’re most likely to see in your local pet store, but if you frequent exhibitions and shows, you’ll probably find the English budgie instead.

How to keep a parakeet's feet in good shape?

You should also include a variety of perches to help keep your bird’s feet in good shape. Socialize with your bird often. Make sure you give your parakeet plenty of time outside of the cage to fly around in a safe, secure area. When it comes to feeding your parakeet, variety is the species of life.

How to teach a baby parakeet to talk?

Like you might teach a baby to talk by repeating words back to your bird, do this with your parakeet, speaking as clearly as you can. Before you know it, your parakeet will be chatting up a storm. Just keep in mind that male parakeets often learn more quickly (and speak with more overall clarity) than female birds.

What is the smallest parrot?

Parakeets are pet birds that are generally regarded as the smallest of all parrot species. They are some of the most popular pet birds you can raise, not only because they are extremely affordable but also because they are friendly and easy to tame.

Why do parakeets get tumors?

Goiters are common, typically caused by iodine deficiency. If you need your bird too many seeds and not enough fruits and vegetables, this can cause tumors. Another disease that parakeets might suffer from is something called parrot fever. Caused by bacteria, it requires treatment from a vet.

What color are parakeets?

Parakeets are normally pale green with black bars on their backs, heads, and wings. Mature parakeet females usually have a cere (this is the fleshy piece around the nostrils) that is tan or beige, while the cere on males is blue. Juvenile parakeets also have unique bar markings on their foreheads.

When were parakeets first introduced?

Parakeets – or more specifically, budgies – were first brought to Europe in the 1830s, where they became favorite pets.