I was just wondering if a budgie can eat too much veggies in a day? Since Blinkie and Ozzie were introduced they're both 100x more keen on veggies. Today Ozzie's scoffed down almost a whole piece of brocolli by himself and just then they shared a baby spinach leaf....Blinks also had a go at some carrot. So alot more than what they'd usually eat.

Would it be the competition. Same as for cats and dogs. If there's someone to share the food with it becomes a competition or a race. Or could it be love ?

I was thinking the same question, Pretty can woof a brocolli down in to time flat.

I'm pretty sure it's a competition. Like they're scared that if they stop eating the other will eat the rest in an instant and they won't get another mouthful! :(Laughing out loud):

This is where feeding fresh foods gets tricky. Generally, no you can't really feed them too much of the good vegetables. On the other hand, it definitely helps to know what you're feeding and how much in comparison to other foods. One thing I learned very recently is that spinach has calcium binding properties to it. Basically, this means that it can actually hinder the body from using calcium properly. For this reason, I've started leaving it out of my birds' diets (much to Pika's dismay). It's definitely something you'd want to steer away from with a breeding hen.

 

Aside from that, most vegetables should be okay as long as they're not making up the majority of the diet and as long as they're healthy veggies and they're getting a variety of the good ones. (Generally bright orange ones and dark leafy greens). You definitely wouldn't want them to eat too much fruit (it should be a treat, really) or unhealthy veggies like iceberg lettuce or celery (which shouldn't be fed at all unless you're on a trip and they need a water source that won't spill).

 

I'm still learning a ton about all this but the more I learn the more I realize just how complex avian nutrition really is. With budgies, the simplest way of looking at it is reducing fatty foods and increasing variety since budgies are extremely prone to obesity and can be picky little eaters.

thanks Terri, that is very interesting about Spinach since he loves the organic kind.

From the little I've read, the oxalic acid content is too high with spinach and that's what causes it to interfere with the body's absorption of calcium. So even organic spinach would have the same problem, unfortunately.

 

This is something I just recently learned though so it's definitely worth trying to read more about. Unfortunately, most sources deal with human nutrition rather than parrots so it's difficult to find a good source other than ones that flat out say "Spinach has calcium binding properties and shouldn't be fed." It would be nice if people would elaborate when they state such things. It's frustrating!

 

I'm hoping this is covered somewhere in the book I'm reading though. That is, if I ever get a chance to finish it!

Yes I figured, either way same properties. I think as people learn more and write more there will be more for sure. It is like anything, and our birds are so complicated. I remember seeing a PBS program, on baby polar babies, where the mother abandoned the 2. They still died inspite of everything, because they are unable to replicate polar bear milk, I think they lived for 5 months max. So much to learn!!

 

I know my dad was not allowed grapefruits or their juice because it interfered with his anti-rejection medications.

I knew about the spinach and calcium problem. But I was told by a seasoned bird breeder that the chinese vegies....i.e. bok choy ( also known as pak choi ) are okay in place of spinach. Different properties.

 

 

******Bok choy, also known as Pak choi or Peking cabbage, forms a small but elongated head (not round like European cabbage) with plump white stalks and deep green leaves. A member of the brassica family, bok choy offers nutritional assets similar to those of other cabbages: It is rich in vitamin C and contains significant amounts of nitrogen compounds known as indoles, as well as fiber--both of which appear to lower the risk of various forms of cancer. Bok choy is also a good source of folate (folic acid). And with its deep green leaves, bok choy has more beta-carotene than other cabbages, and it also supplies considerably more calcium.

Edited April 11, 200619 yr by budgiebird

Very interesting about spinach, fact is my birds dont like any other green leafy food apart from carrot tops which arent available all year round. I figure that if they are eating at least some spinach instead of gobbling seed its a good thing. Broccoli is a no no with all of them, kale is a no and we dont get romaine lettuce. They eat carrots and tops and apple. Thye do get mineral supplements - everyday at the moment with Tobi being ill - at least if there is some in most pots she will benefit from it - not that its working grrrrrr.

Broccoli is a no no with all of them, kale is a no a -- why??

Oh sorry Elly I meant they dont like those things and wont touch them even if there is nothing else in the cage.

gotcha because he LOVES it.

None of mine will eat broccoli, or parsely. I chopped the broccoli up fine and hid it in the bok choy. They found every last bit and threw it out of the bowl onto the ground

But they all LOVE spinach even the tiels who dont like veggies so I am tempted not to stop feeding it - it must give more nutrition than seeds and if they wont eat any other veggies (tiels) I feel it better than none at all.

well as my parents told me moderation is best, just like salt - nature put it on this earth for a reason right but we tend to abuse using it - hmm just like sugar and many more good things in nature that we humans have transformed into yummy fattening treats. Did you know that milk can block iron absorption? That is why you are supposed to take your Iron pills with juice (we don't stop drinking milk). The information Terri provided is excellent, so if we chose not to stop feeding a certain food we are now educated on what it does to the body.

Edited April 11, 200619 yr by lovey

I agree the information is fantastic just my decision for the time being not to stop giving spinach especially to my tiels who wont touch any other veg.

 

I dont drink milk so my iron will be okay hehe!

Quick question about the bok choy - I"m wondering why this is okay if it is from the cabbage family? I read that cabbage is not okay. Just looking for clarification.

Eterri has some great information but to answer the first question Yes you can give them too much vegies. They need a seed base diet and if they eat too much vegies they wont eat their seed. Particular Vegies are good for them Endive is probibly one of the best ... if you can get it. But it's like a kid sitting down to a health meal and filling up on milk. Milk is good but if they are full of milk they wont eat there dinner.

 

As they say - "All in moderation"

Edited April 11, 200619 yr by daz

I agree daz.

When I do my grocery shopping, i get the staples of romaine lettuce, grated carrots and corn, sometimes spouts (they have this daily), but I also buy a little of a lot for their daily treat. This I keep whole and hang on the side of the aviary. I get different types of greens, broccoli (i havent gotten this in a long time, and someone posted about it so i tried again, they love it now) cucumbers etc. I use a different one each day.

Plus they get apple once a week (too much and they seem to get runny/sticky poos!)

 

This is what mine get. Each bowl is for one pair.

 

Carrots, Sprouted seeds, Celary, Snow pea Sprouts and some times corn.

 

They also get from time to time brocolie and Endive (If I can find any)

Edited April 11, 200619 yr by daz

So how much vegetables should one budgie eat in a day?

The dishes have one large (over flowing) tablespoon of vegetables each. Remember you also have the seed.

...and also supply my crumble mix

 

 

They like it.

Edited April 11, 200619 yr by daz

Can I come live with you? you have very well looked after and loved birds Daz

you think he will cook for us Una