Hi, I read in another thread that budgies like/need Fruit and Veg. I?m new to Bird keeping and have a couple of obvious but important questions.

 

Whats the best sort of Fruit and Veg to get ?

How much to give them ? and how often ?

Is there anything to avoid (in the other thread it warned about apple seeds)

 

Sorry to be a pain, but this is all new to me, and I?m scared of doing something wrong :nest:

 

Thanks

 

Z.

There are a few different thoughts on this. Mine normally get fresh food twice a day - breakfast and dinner. At each feeding, they get several different kinds of veggies. They don't care much for fruit, so I don't offer it often. Some people think that is too much, and only feed fresh food a few times a week. I've never had a problem, and it all gets eaten with gusto. But I've always done it from day one, so they are used to it. Some things I feed are broccoli, baby carrots, green and red pepper, red leaf lettuce, regular green kale and purple kale, carrot tops, baby spinach. If you do a search of the forum, there are several threads with links to lists of safe foods. As far as how much, remember a budgie is a small bird. If the piece of food you are feeding is too large, they may be afraid to try it. A small piece of broccoli (smaller than their head until they figure out what it is), a baby carrot, a few pieces of baby spinach, a slice of apple cut in half are about the right size. If you can get organically grown produce, that is best. Even then remember to wash it thoroughly before you offer it. I clip food to the sides of the cage, because they will ignore it if it is offered in a food dish. Avoid apple seeds, onions, and dairy. Budgies do not have the enzyme necessary to digest lactose, and it can cause problems if fed on a regular basis. Don't forget to add some pellets to the diet too, preferably ones without artificial colors and preservatives like ethoxyquin or BHA/BHT. Some studies show no problems with those preservatives, others show they create a host of health problems, so you should research those and make your own decisions. Hope this has helped a little. :nest:

i try to feed veggies every day if i can, a little bit of broccoli, carrot or celery leaves. i dont offer fruit as my budgies dont like it - not even apple!

 

i usually peg quite a few bits around the cage to try and stop bickering over the same piece! if your budgies dont eat it at first maybe try taking their seed pots away while the veggies are in. (only for a little while though).

 

im sure mine would love baby spinach or kale, will have to get some soon. :nest: do you budgies like red peppers rainbow? its my favourite, but i didnt think they would like it? do you leave it as strips or cut it into little squares?

Edited May 30, 200520 yr by pixie25

Thanks Guys

 

I never would have thought Budgies have such a taste for Veggies :nest: Or that often, You live and learn i guess

Some of them like them, some don't. They don't go crazy for it or anything, but I give it to them anyway. I just cut the pepper into skinny strips, then cut the strip in half and clip.

My budgie liked those little corn on the cobs. the ones you add to stir fries.

Good idea, budgeover! I tried to give mine regular corn on the cob, almost amputated my finger in the process, and got mad and didn't give them any so they still haven't tried it. Those little ones I wouldn't have to cut up. :nest:

rocky used to love them rainbow. i used to stick them at the top of the cage and he used to nibble away for ages on them.

another good one is growing seeds.

 

get some seeds (the ones you put in the seed tray) and put them on some kitchen paper. soak it with water like you do cress.

the seeds grow in a matter of days and my budgie used to love that too.

I've started giving my budgies fresh vegies everyday instead of a few times a week. They get lettuce, celery, brocolli, snow pea sprouts, alfalfa sprouts and today i was going to try some carrot. :nest: Blinkie's a bit harder though. He gets snow pea sprouts in the morning (he sometimes nibbles them, sometimes doesn't) and a piece of celery with leaves in the afternoon. Starting last night i've been adding brocolli buds to his seeds which he appears to be eating.

 

I think i'll try to get some baby corn budgeover, what a great idea! And i want to get spinach (even though i hate it) because wouldn't that have more vitamins than lettuce??? :mellow:

Yeah, lettuce is mostly just water. I bought some budgie grass (made by Beak Appetit) but when I gave it to them they all flew away...it scared them. Then they ignored it. Silly budgies. I'm going to try again today. It's supposed to have a lot of the amino acids and vitamins they need. I'm going to try the little corn and celery too, since you have such good luck with that. Sprouted seeds are supposed to be very nutritious too, but I've never had much luck growing them.

Some of them like them, some don't.  They don't go crazy for it or anything, but I give it to them anyway.  I just cut the pepper into skinny strips, then cut the strip in half and clip.

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my budgies love red capsicum....it surprised me!