As some of you will know, Foobles hasn't been well. I'm happy to say that he's again chirping away after weeks of silence. He seems to be responding well to the medicine the vet gave me though he's still got about 10 days left of taking it. I was told not to let him have millet since it's a sort of budgie junk food so I removed it. Problem is, he went so thin while he was sick that I wonder if there's a way to beef him up a bit without making him fat. Or should I just hope the seed mix eventually kicks in? At present he's feathers and bone. He gets fruit and veg (not overly fussed on either it seems, though he loves picking at hibiscus flowers).

Have you tried the egg mix? Freshly sprouted seeds? He may not be fussed with these either but it's worth a try!

Have you tried the egg mix? Freshly sprouted seeds? He may not be fussed with these either but it's worth a try!

 

 

What's the egg mix? I could get alfalfa sprouts. Is that what you mean for sprouted seeds or do I sprout bird seed? If so, how? On wet cotton? Sorry, but Foobles is my first budgie (can you tell?)

Egg and biscuit you can buy from a bird store. Some like it dry and some like it made up with water....some like that sloppy and some firmer. It's trial and error. Sprouted seed thats being talked about here I am thinking is the bird seed sprouted (only just) not to the point of grass like growths. My budgies all go ape over corn on the cob, or thawed frozen corn, and chopped up bok choy. mine hate broccoli and some of the other things other budgies do like. Try thawed frozen peas, also they adore snow pea sprouts. Offer a little of everything here and there and repeat the process. The taste for it may come later.

Edited April 19, 200619 yr by budgiebird

Egg and biscuit you can buy from a bird store. Some like it dry and some like it made up with water....some like that sloppy and some firmer. It's trial and error. Sprouted seed thats being talked about here I am thinking is the bird seed sprouted (only just) not to the point of grass like growths. My budgies all go ape over corn on the cob, or thawed frozen corn, and chopped up bok choy. mine hate broccoli and some of the other things other budgies do like. Try thawed frozen peas, also they adore snow pea sprouts. Offer a little of everything here and there and repeat the process. The taste for it may come later.

 

Thank you so much for this advice. This forum is so helpful! I'll try what you said. Foobles is afraid of grapes (no idea why, the sight of a single grape spooks him - a cluster almost gave him a heart attack) so I expect he'll think peas are little grapes in disguise but I'm going to try since I haven't got the other things here just now. Foobles hates broccoli too.

:hap: ....Grapes are terrifying!

:hap: I knew it! I chopped up a green bean and added it to some frozen corn and tucked three baby peas in a corner on the little tray. Foobles approached the tray with what could only be called suspicious interest. Then he saw the peas. Squawked and ran away. "Horrors! Grapes in disguise. I just know the minute I touch one they'll expand and turn into a cluster!" Of course that was it for the other veggies. He's currently eyeing the peas as if they're going to leap out at him. I might mention that he's only ever seen green grapes. I'm not sure he could cope with the shock of knowing other kinds also exist

Maybe mushing the peas would help?

Ah yes, now there's lateral thinking. Thanks. I bet Foobles would like that too. A mashed pea couldn't possibly run him down!