Anyone who owns a wavy parakeet (also known as a budgie or parakeet) wants their bird to have the best life possible. Healthy eating is the best way to keep your budgie happy and healthy. A balanced diet will allow him to get the daily nutrients he needs; a wrong diet, on the other hand, can lead to nutritional imbalances, diseases and, in extreme cases, to death. If you learn to feed him the right way, he will surely have a happy and healthy life.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Choosing the Right Foods
Step 1. Try the seeds
They are a good option for feeding your parakeet. However, you shouldn't allow them to binge on seeds, as this can shorten their life - most seed mixes don't provide enough nutrients and can cause cancer, obesity, and other health problems.
The seeds should make up only one sixth of the diet
Step 2. Buy pelleted feed
One of the staple foods in a parakeet's diet are pellets. Look for pellets suitable for parakeets at your nearest pet store. They contain a lot of nutrients and are therefore the best choice to guarantee your budgie a well balanced diet.
Before buying pellets, make sure they do not contain preservatives, added sugars, colors and artificial flavors
Step 3. Give the parakeet fruit and vegetables
They form a very important part of his diet. You should give him green or yellow vegetables every day. Try apples, pumpkins, grapes, carrots, parsley, broccoli, mangoes, sweet potatoes, and spinach. Feed them raw fruits and vegetables, as cooking removes vital nutrients.
- You can give them any way you like, be it chopped, grated, diced, sliced, pureed or whole. Try different ways until you find the one the budgie likes best.
- Remove after two hours what does not finish, because raw cut vegetables can go bad quickly.
- Some fruits and vegetables don't have to never be given to parakeets, as toxic to them. These include avocado, fruit kernels and seeds (apple seeds contain a small amount of cyanide and are particularly toxic to a budgie), cocoa, garlic, onion, mushrooms, raw beans, rhubarb and the leaves and stems of tomatoes.
Step 4. Give him the cereal
Many owners and breeders use a mixture of soaked grains called "soft food" as a special treat. You can use as many grains as you want, including brown rice, crushed wheat, barley, and quinoa. You can also add organic honey, fruit or vegetables to make the grains more palatable.
Pour the cereals into a plate and sprinkle them with water; when they are swollen, drain the water and mix them with the ingredients of your choice
Step 5. Give it hard boiled eggs and grated cheese
It may seem odd to feed a parrot like this, but they are a great source of protein and other healthy nutrients and add some variety to the diet.
Limit the amount of these special treats - you should never give him more than a teaspoon at a time
Part 2 of 2: Feeding the Parakeet Properly
Step 1. Make sure the food is fresh and varied
Your parakeet should have several options available every day. Generally speaking, you should feed him seeds and pellets every day, fruit and vegetables every two days (but preferably every day), and eggs and cheese once a week or even every two weeks.
In addition to keeping the food fresh, you should also change the budgie's food every day so that it has consistently fresh in the feeder. Always remove old food before putting on more
Step 2. Use a suitable container
The parakeet must have access to food whenever it needs it. She may get sick if she doesn't eat for more than 24 hours, so make sure she always has access to food. The container should not be too deep, so that the budgie is not forced to sink into it to reach the food. In addition, it should be placed near the water bowl so that the parakeet can eat and drink together.
Step 3. Place a cuttlefish bone and a block of mineral salts in the cage
They are vital for your parakeet, as they contain important minerals and nutrients that they may not be able to get from other foods. Place the cuttlefish bone so that the soft part is facing the budgie, so it can scratch the surface.
- If the bone or block gets dirty with excrement or gets wet, throw it away and put new ones on.
- They can also serve as a distraction for your little bird. Parakeets like to use them as perches and sometimes tear them apart. Let them do what they want, as long as they stay clean and dry. He'll know when to use them, so don't worry if he doesn't touch them for a while - maybe he's getting enough nutrients from the rest of his food by that time.
Step 4. Prevent Obesity
Your parakeet needs a large cage or plenty of room in the house for exercise. You should also pay attention to his eating habits and prevent him from overeating, as he could become obese. An obese bird loses its tapered line and can become lethargic and suffer from health problems.
A veterinarian experienced in bird care can help you determine if your parakeet is overweight and, if so, decide how to help
Step 5. Balance your diet
Parakeets have a very delicate organism. Any changes in their diet should be done gradually over a long period of time. If you want to change the seed mix, for example, decrease the amount of the old mix and add the new one more and more every day, until the budgie has completely switched to the new food.
Nutrition must be balanced gradually, not in a single meal. Don't give him all different types of food at once. Follow general guidelines on how to feed your dog and vary your diet over time. Giving him everything at once can cause him to overeat and make him feel bad
Step 6. Get him to eat
It may happen that the parakeet does not want to eat, which may depend on how you present the food. If you refuse fruit and vegetables, cut them into small pieces and put them in an empty container; hang the container in the cage with a few green vegetable leaves or some other delicious treat on it.
Do this every day until the parakeet gives in and starts eating all kinds of food
Step 7. Check if the budgie is sick
You should check the consistency of the stool, as it can indicate if he is eating too many fresh foods. If the stool becomes sluggish and watery, decrease the amount of fresh food for a day or two. He may have taken too much fluid from fruits and vegetables, which causes such problems.
If diarrhea persists, consult your vet for other possible causes
Step 8. Change the water every day
All birds need to have a bowl of fresh, clean water available at all times, so change it every day. Wash the bowl with water and vinegar only; do not use soap or chemicals. Vinegar helps prevent the growth of bacteria.
