Budgies are lovely and one of the most popular pets in the country. The best part is that you will easily care for their nutritional needs when you know them.
Before becoming a pet parent, you must ask yourself what to feed the parakeets to fulfill their dietary needs.
Providing your birds with a balanced diet will save them from malnutrition, which may cause long-term health issues.
Let’s check parakeets’ nutritional needs to enhance growth and prevent malnutrition.
Balanced Parakeet Diet
When planning what your parakeet will eat, ensure that the meal doesn’t have a higher concentration of one nutrition requirement and leave others out.
Refrain from feeding your feathered friend with seeds and grains exclusively. Remember, even in the wild, the birds eat various food, from insects to grass seeds, for a balanced meal.
Feeding the birds with seeds adds too much fat to their body which can lead to obesity.
Additionally, pellets won’t stimulate digestion which may cause digestive imbalances or liver and kidney problems to your feathered friends.
Let’s check some nutritional essentials that will balance your parakeet’s meal.
1. Proteins
When feeding your parakeet, include proteins in their food since they break down into amino acids that boost your bird’s immunity and aid in weight loss.
Some seed mixtures have protein content, but it’s healthy to provide other protein sources, which include cooked meat, boiled eggs, and tuna. However, limit the amount of protein; you should give a fingertip amount every two weeks.
Raw or cooked corn is another good source of protein, and you can mix small amounts with the seed diet.
2. Essential Vitamins
Your bird needs essential vitamins to grow healthy. B vitamins such as thiamine help develop the nervous system. Niacin is a cofactor for carbohydrate enzymes for fat metabolism.
Ask your veterinarian about the supplements to give to your parakeets. Vitamin B complex supplements in your older parakeets’ food or after a meal will build the nervous system. When given enough vitamin B, your bird will handle stress during mating and other hard times.
Vitamin A also helps prevent eye disorders by enhancing the mucus that lubricates them and preventing high death rates among young budgies and unhatched eggs.
Vitamin C found in vegetables, herbs, and fruits help in tissue repair, and the best part is most budgies source their herbs.
Don’t keep your budgie enclosed indoors since it will lead to vitamin D deficiency that comes from UVB light.
3. Minerals
Calcium
It’s vital for birds since it helps strengthen bones, feather structure, and beaks development. For proper synthesis, provide magnesium and vitamin D3 with calcium supplements.
Calcium also helps mood stabilization when your bird gets aggressive, and it’s best to provide the mineral to avoid feather plucking.
Feed your bird only a few leafy greens as a source of calcium since some have oxalic acids that bind the mineral. Consult your veterinarian before choosing a formulated calcium supplement for your budgie.
Trace Minerals
Your birds also need trace minerals to help in breeding performance. Iodine tops the list of trace elements you should avail in your parakeet’s diet, and it’s best served in water or soft food in the breeding season.
Ensure your parakeet’s food has trace amounts of copper, zinc, and iron for development.
4. Plant Oils
Plant oils and fats are vital for body functions. They provide energy to the body and insulate tissues and cells. Additionally, they act as hormones and cellular signal pathways.
Provide fats in minimal amounts to prevent obesity in your birds. Some plant oils that work for parakeets include flaxseed, red palm, and chia seed oil.
These oils promote healthy living and prevent some disorders, such as vitamin A deficiency and cardiovascular diseases.
5. Water
It’s a no-brainer that budgies need drinking water near their feeding points. Use efficient waterers to ensure your parakeet has enough water throughout the day.
Use filtered and purified water for your birds since tap water has chlorine which, if primarily accumulated, can be harmful.
Remember to clean the water bowls and waterers to avoid bacterial contamination harmful to the birds. A bird bottle will save you from constantly changing the water.
Should I Include Treats in My Parakeet’s Diet?
Fruits make good treats since they are given in small quantities in their daily diet. There are also commercial treats to keep your budgie singing in happiness.
Parakeets will only take commercial treats if correctly stored. Avoid giving your birds honey sticks as treats regularly since they contain too much sugar, and the seeds are closely packed into each other.
Final Thoughts
When giving food and other supplements to your bird, ensure they have health benefits. Plant-based nutrients go a long way in ensuring your bird’s health is intact. Include some mineral and vitamin supplements in the diet.
Balance the proportions of food you give to your bird to avoid obesity. Plus, occasionally include parakeet treats in the diet to keep the birds happy. Remember to provide water points in the cage or aviary for healthy living.
