I have read the FAQ's and can see the eucalyptus is okay with budgies. Years age we planted gum trees but I can't remember what type they are, but they were marketed as "Koala food" and we regularly have koalas in them.

 

I have just googled "koala food" and the vast majority of trees they consider to be koala food are eucalypts so I'd say there id a high chance they are a type of eucalypt, however if they're not would they still be safe for the budgie, given they are definitely safe for koalas?

I would say they are fine...

 

 

I just had a brain surge... I know someone on here is a qualafied botinist (can't remember who) and can tell the type of tree by looking at it... why don't you post some pics of the tree...

Edited December 14, 200816 yr by JimmyBanks

I understand that the tree preferred by koalas are manna gums, and you can tell that it is a manna gum because it will have drooping branches a little bit like a willow and will have lots of woody messy bark at the bottom then the trunk will be smooth from about a metre or two from the bottom.

They certainly have the messy bark as you described, are manna gums okay, I can't see them in the toxic/non toxic plant FAQ?

 

good idea Jimmy, these are they...

 

 

They're the 2 larger trunks in the first shot.

Edited December 14, 200816 yr by Hills

Good as gold

 

 

Oh and the botanist is me Pretty much all Eucalypt species are fine. There are a couple of allied species which are from Western Australia which may be not so good but they are quite different and distinctive with broad oval leaves an flaky bark. I think Kaz knows the one of which I speak and may have a picture to share

Excellent thanks MB!!

 

I've just given him some and he loves them!

Great trees... If you're ever unsure, you can always break a leaf in your hands... you can't mistake the smell of a Eucalyptus tree!

The nasty ones that poisoned many of Kaz's birds are a close relative of Eucalypts and basically look and smell like one though so it can never hurt to be too careful

The ones we have have kind of oval leaves and flaky bark, but the higher up the tree you go the skinnier the leaves get, until they are about 1.5cm- 2cm wide. I gave it to my birds and they are fine. They ate it and I use the branches as perches.

Ah yes I can definitely smell the eucalyptus oil in the leaves!

 

I should have known as you can smell it in the koala poo under the trees as well

I would just like to know how often is it safe to give eucalyptus leaves to your budgies to eat, or is it as safe as carrot?

And does anyone know if the tree I described in the above post is okay?

I've read that if you give to much to them that they will start to get runny poo's...

I think it depends how much of it they actually eat, my birds have fresh branches almost every day (basically unless it's pouring and I can't be bothered getting it for them) and I've never had a problem. I see it like this. In the the wild a budgie would have access everyday to native leaves and bark, grasses and anything else they could find, I see no issue with supplying this sort of stuff to my birds every day. Soft greens, etc are not part of their natural diet and they aren't evolved to live off it which is why these things are more treat foods. There would be certain times of the year when these things would be more common in the form of dandelions, etc mainly in spring when the rains come but for most of the year the ground would be too dry for the very watery plants, the greens they eat in the wild would be tougher, drier grass types. When supplying fresh grasses frequently avoid the very soft high water content species and you'll be fine

Well I gave them some more yesterday and they were soo happy. I can see on the leaves where Rosellas have chewed them, so they must be good then!