Feed budgies properly

General

The popular belief often appears that the budgerigar is very frugal and can only get by on conventional commercial grain feed mixtures. Very few people know that this is harmful in the long run and that life expectancy is reduced as a result.

Species-appropriate husbandry now involves more than changing water and filling up grains. Budgerigars in the wild typically feed on the fresh seeds that are fully mature and only access the dry ones during times of hardship and drought, such as the Australian summer. The consequences of pure grain feeding and possibly little free flight are stressful for the small organism, which quickly becomes fat.

It should be served daily

• fresh water
• Vogelgrit (good for digestion)
• Grain base mixture (15% shine or canary seed, 5% oily seeds, such as negro and hemp seeds, sunflower seeds, 80% different types of millet, such as Japanese, Plata, mohair, bell and Senegal millet)
• small portion of germinated seeds, here the budgerigars are occupied longer with the feed intake than with the feed intake of loose grains
• Forage (chickweed, dandelion, shepherd's purse, knotweed and many more)
• when vegetables fall off during cooking, such as carrots, kohlrabi shells, lettuce and the like. But offer them dry, as wet lettuce can quickly lead to diarrhea
• Types of fruit depending on what is on offer in stores
• Cuttlebone or beak whetstone. These contain the vital lime, which is used to build the skeleton and form the feathers.
• Bird Sand (Indispensable digestive aid, it helps to break down the grains in the stomach better)

In pet stores, too

• speech beads
• moulting aid
• honey sticks

offered. These can also be offered in small quantities, although the function of the speech beads is left open.

If she should let you nibble on some biscuit every now and then, that's okay too. But only in moderation, please. Otherwise, spicy dishes are taboo. Some birds have a liking for salty foods, but in the short or long term consumption leads to kidney and liver damage. Although some owners think that budgies know what is good for them, their opinion is completely wrong. Budgies are like people in this respect. They eat what they like first. Unfortunately, this is seldom the food that is digestible for them.

A varied diet is the be-all and end-all. If your darling doesn't lack anything, it will thank you with health and happiness.

Images used on this page:

#80024092 by Sesa

Source: WP Magazine