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Petite and friendly budgies are known for their vocal chirping sounds and adorable personalities. Obviously, diet is an important part of the overall health and vitality of your bird. Fruit makes up a small portion of a budgie’s diet, but finding out which fruits are safe to feed is important. Can budgies eat apples? Yes! Apples are one of the most popular fruits for pet birds and perfectly safe to feed budgies.
But one word of warning: Do not allow your budgie to consume the apple seeds. Keep reading for more info!
Budgie Diet Info
Wild budgies are granivores, meaning their diet mostly consists of seeds and grains. When kept as pets in captivity, this presents a unique challenge. Seed-only diets are very difficult to balance and source because of the diverse nutritional requirements of pet budgies. In addition, seeds are high in calories, and while this isn’t a problem for wild budgies (that constantly fly around for hundreds if not thousands of miles everyday), captive birds can quickly become obese when fed a diet of just seeds.
Therefore, for pet budgies, the best diet is a pellet-based “base” diet which is supplemented with vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, pulses, grains, and a small amount of fruits. It is important to note that all of these components are important and not optional; a pellet-only diet isn’t considered nutritionally adequate for your budgie.
Are Apples Safe for Budgies to Eat?
Apples are completely safe for budgies to eat, and they are quite healthy for them. Apples contain essential nutrients and vitamins that are useful for budgies.
Like most fruits, most of an apple is actually water. This is followed by the natural sugars found in the fruit (in the form of natural sugars), and smaller amounts of fiber and other micronutrients.
It is important to note that while apple is touted for its vitamin C content, this isn’t a factor that adds to its appeal for budgies. Like all other parrots, budgies can make their own vitamin C, and unlike humans and some other pets (such as guinea pigs), they don’t require this vitamin from their diet.
Another factor to remember is that much of the nutritional benefits of apples (for example, the fiber) are found in the fruit’s skin and not in the flesh of the fruit. Finally, like all fruits, overfeeding apples isn’t advised; the sugars in the fruit will lead to an insulin spike if it is overfed.
What Part of Apples Is Unsafe for Budgies?
The seeds of apple (and some other fruits) contain amygdalin, a compound which can convert to an organic form of cyanide if crushed while consumed. Though it is reported to be toxic in many mammalian species, there are no confirmed reports of apple seeds being toxic for parrots.
In studies of wild parrots, they were observed eating many plants, fruits, and seeds that are toxic to certain mammals with no adverse effects whatsoever. Furthermore, another common misconception about amygdalin is that like mercury, it can persist in a bird’s body and accumulate over time. This isn’t true either, as it’s easily excreted by birds. This has been experimentally tested and confirmed in some bird species. That being said, some parrots may develop an affinity for just the apple seeds rather than the fruit itself. Therefore, the prevailing advice is to avoid giving your budgie apple seeds, if possible.
How to Prepare Apples for Budgies
As with all fruit, the best option is to spring for fresh apples for your budgie. Apple candy, dried apples, or other forms of apple (such as apple pie) are not recommended; stick to just apples. Different types of apples can be fed to your budgie. These include variants like Granny Smith, Fuji, Gala, Empire, and Honey Crisp.
- Begin by washing the apple with water to remove any chemical residue.
- Use a sharp, clean knife to slice a thin quarter of the apple. A thin slice will suffice for one adult budgie. Please note: If your children are participating in preparing food for your budgie, you should not let them handle sharp objects such as knives.
- Place the slice in the cage on a ceramic or stainless steel bowl. This makes cleaning easier for you.
- Discard any uneaten apple after 2–4 hours (at most). Thoroughly rinse and disinfect the bowl and let it completely dry before using it again.
After approximately 2 hours, your budgie should be done eating the apple and it is then time to clean up the leftovers. This can be done by removing the plate and neatening the bottom of the cage.
Safe Foods to Feed Your Budgie
In addition to apples, your budgie can also enjoy the following fruits:
- Strawberries
- Grapes
- Peaches (no pit)
- Pears (no seeds)
- Raisins
- Melons
- Mango
- Nectarine
- Kiwi
- Blueberries
Unsafe Foods to Feed Your Budgie
- Avocado (all parts)
- Figs (sap)
- Jerusalem cherry
- Mistletoe (berries)
- Sweet pea (fruit and seeds)
- Waxberry
Conclusion
Since we have discovered that apples are safe for budgies, it is now time to see if your little friend will enjoy eating a slice. We hope this article has helped you determine if your budgie can safely eat apples!
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Featured Image Credit: pixel2013, Pixabay
