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Budgies are among the most popular pet birds. They’re smart, adorable, and hardy. Also sometimes known as parakeets (not a specific term), these small birds have playful personalities that will keep you and your family entertained for hours.
The one complex aspect of taking care of a budgie is their diet. A common question that people ask about feeding a pet budgie is if they can eat bread. The answer is a little complex. Yes, budgies can eat bread, but only certain types and in very small amounts.
Let’s dig deeper into the diet of the budgie and how bread fits in.
Bread and Budgies
- Doesn’t contain excess salt or sugar
- Is organic
- Is free from preservatives
- Contains whole grains rather than processed white flour
This ensures that your bird won’t consume ingredients that are harmful to them. Too much salt can harm your budgie’s kidneys, while excess sugar can cause weight gain. Common preservatives and other additives used in commercially produced loaves of bread are also not good for your bird to consume.
Furthermore, when you provide a small taste of whole-grain bread, maybe even one with seeds in it, you’ll give your budgie a nutrient boost with their treat. Make sure the bread is in tiny pieces that your bird can swallow easily.
The Wild Budgie Diet
In the wild, budgies are found in Australia. Their diet consists of seeds, berries, fruits, and vegetation. They eat what they can find, which means that during some seasons, they may rely more heavily on fruits, while others might include more vegetation. However, they are primarily granivores (seed eaters) and foragers.
The Pet Budgie Diet
In captivity, budgies need a mixture of foods to stay healthy. The bulk of their diet should come in the form of pelleted food made specifically for budgies. These pellets are made of seeds, grains, fruits, vegetables, vitamins, and minerals. They should make up 75–80% of their total food consumption.
Then, fresh fruits and veggies, nuts, seeds, legumes, grains, pulses, and some other sources of protein (such as eggs) should account for the remaining 20–25% of their food intake. You’ll notice that we don’t mention bread here. Bread should only be a rare, occasional, tiny treat. Too much bread can cause your bird to put on too much weight and prevent them from eating the food they need for optimal nutrition.
Preparing Bread for Budgies
Most budgies won’t be picky about how their bread is prepared. It can either be fresh or lightly toasted, and they’ll probably enjoy it equally either way. However, the bread should be plain, without any butter, jam, or other toppings on it. Finally, don’t give stale bread to your budgie, as it can have mold that can harm your bird.
Better Choices for Budgie Treats
While the right kind of bread is fine on a very limited basis in small quantities, there are other treats you can give your budgie more frequently that are better for them. Roughly 20% of their daily diet should come from sources other than pellets. Remember, you should always cut fresh produce into small pieces that are easy for your budgie to chew. The best choices for budgies include the following.
- Apples
- Bananas
- Blueberries
- Cherries (remove the pits)
- Grapes
- Kiwis
- Mangos
- Melons
- Nectarines
- Oranges
- Pears
- Pineapples
- Strawberries
- Arugula
- Bok choy
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Celery
- Cucumbers
- Corn (fresh)
- Spinach
- Zucchini
Foods You Should Never Feed Your Budgie
While it’s fine to give your budgie an occasional bit of bread, there are other foods that they should never have. These include:
- Alcohol
- Avocados
- Bacon
- Beans, especially if raw
- Cheese
- Chips
- Chocolate
- Coffee
- Crackers
- Dairy
- Garlic
- Unripe tomatoes or the stems and leaves of ripe tomatoes
- Mushrooms
- Onions
- Peanut shells
- Rhubarb
Some of these are not good for your bird’s health, while others are toxic. You should never feed your budgie processed or fried foods, as these are high in salt and calories. Sugar should also be avoided to keep your budgie at a healthy weight.
Final Thoughts
While you shouldn’t share an entire bread basket with your pet budgie, an occasional bite or two of whole-grain bread won’t hurt them. Just make sure you’re giving them a healthy, preservative-free, and additive-free kind of bread rather than a commercially processed version. The remainder of their diet should be pellets and fresh produce. Following these guidelines will ensure that your pet has a long, healthy life. It is best to consult with your veterinarian if you have doubts about your budgie’s diet.
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Featured Image Credit: KS.studio, Shutterstock
