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Budgies, parakeets or budgerigars, are predominantly seed-eating parrots (also known as granivores) that eat mostly seeds and grains in the wild. Pet budgies should have a pelleted diet, though they are also often provided with fruits as treats. But what about mangoes? Can budgies safely eat mangoes?
Yes, they can! Soft, sweet, juicy mango flesh is irresistible to most budgies, though, of course, some may not enjoy it because all birds have their individual preferences. As with all fruit, mango should only be given as an occasional treat; too much can be detrimental to your bird’s health. In this article, we look at the potential benefits and concerns of feeding mangoes to budgies.
Budgie Nutrition
If you’re considering a pet budgie, you should know that attempting to replicate their wild diet isn’t advised. Wild budgies are constantly flying for long distances every day and eating a highly varied diet that is mostly seed-dominated. Their lifestyle dictates that they have a high metabolism, which means a diet full of seeds isn’t detrimental to their well-being. The energy that the seeds offer them is quickly expended as they fly great distances every day.
Budgies’ lives are much different as pets. They have a much more relaxed lifestyle, so the seeds that their wild counterparts consume are no longer considered safe for them. They simply do not have the mileage to justify eating large numbers of seeds.
Likewise, for granivores like budgies, fruits pose a risk. They are high in naturally occurring sugars, making them unhealthy for these birds when consumed in excess, as they can easily lead to weight gain. Excess weight is associated with many other ailments in pet budgies.
This bird’s diet should primarily consist of commercially made pelleted food. These pellets do not have the high calorie content of seeds. However, to date, no pellet is considered nutritionally complete for parrots (including budgies), so you must supplement your pet’s meals with vegetables, nuts, seeds, grains, protein sources, and a small amount of fruit to ensure that they get all the nutrients that they need. Fruits, however, should form the absolute minority of your bird’s diet.
Potential Benefits of Mangoes for Budgies
Mangoes are fruits, so they should not form the bulk of your budgie’s meals. Nonetheless, fruits are necessary for your bird and shouldn’t be ignored just because of their small proportion in their diet.
Incorporating mangoes into your budgie’s meals is relatively easy. Freshly washed, peeled, and de-pitted mangoes can be offered to your pet in small quantities as part of their daily fruit quota. It’s best to rotate different fruits, though, as monotony with fruits isn’t recommended.
As with all fruits, you should discard any uneaten mango after 2–3 hours of it being left out, as it may quickly form sludge in your pet’s food dish if left out longer. In addition, the dish in which mangoes are served must be thoroughly cleaned. Otherwise, the sludge may perpetuate harmful bacterial growth, which could cause health issues for your pet.
Like all fruits, mangoes will offer your parrots hydration, some vitamins and minerals, and carbohydrates in the form of fruit sugars. While humans tout the vitamin C content of most fruits, this isn’t a selling point for including fruit in a parrot’s diet, as they make their own vitamin C.
Potential Health Risks of Feeding Mango to Your Budgie
While mango is a tasty and healthy treat for your budgie, there are risks to consider too. The biggest concern is the high amount of sugar in mangoes, accounting for the vast majority of the calories in this fruit. These sugars can cause issues if consumed in excess. Your pet can easily develop a taste for sugar and may even reject their usual food as a result.
This sugar can lead to rapid weight gain, especially when you compare a pet’s sedentary lifestyle to that of a wild bird. This remains the largest drawback of mangoes (and most other fruits) for budgies.
Unripe Mangoes
Unripe mangoes are sometimes sold for use in human foods (often to be pickled or preserved). The good news is that unripe mangoes are safe for budgies to consume. However, their flavor might not appeal to all budgies. Furthermore, their toughness might prove slightly challenging (though this might not be a major hindrance for some individuals). Overall, though safe, it’s best not to obsess over offering your budgie unripe mangoes.
Pickled Mangoes
Mangoes are popular when it comes to pickling. The process encases the fruit in a mixture of select spices and herbs and results in a (usually) bitter-tasting piece of mango with a long shelf life. Pickled mangoes are a delicacy in many parts of the world; however, they aren’t considered safe for parrots (including budgies).
The reason pickled foods aren’t advised is that the process adds many oils and seasonings to the fruit. These oils and seasonings are desired by the human palate but are considered unsafe for budgies. Therefore, you should not offer your pet pickled mango or other pickled fruits.
Final Thoughts
Although parrots are often portrayed as fruit eaters, it’s important to thoroughly assess a species before offering them any fruits. Mangoes are safe fruits that you can incorporate into your budgie’s diet but only in moderation.
Ripe mangoes are preferred to unripe variants. Pickled mangoes are used as a condiment for human cuisine but aren’t considered safe for budgies to consume.
To learn more about which fruits and vegetables are safe for your pet to consume, it’s best to consult with your veterinarian.
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