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How Much Seed Do Parakeets Eat?
Parakeets need about a pound of birdseed every month, and they require freshwater every day. The recommended standards that most people suggest are 1.5 to 2 tablespoons of seeds per day.
There are a lot of variations on this, of course.
Some people recommend giving seeds to the Parakeets, which are soaked first; others don’t.
Some people say that it is a good idea to stay away from sunflower seeds because they have a lot of salt.
The quantity of bird seed given to your Parakeet really depends on their health status, their size, and their age.
Although parakeets are granivores, they do need something else to help with a balanced diet, and this should be supplied in the form of greens and vegetables.
Most people feed their parakeets some greens like dandelion, mustard, and cress, and kale.
What are Parakeets Favorite Food
Their diet needs to be well-balanced. You can use pellets which should make up about 70% of what they eat.
Their favorite food item is fresh fruit, and making sure they have a variety of this will give your bird its nutritional requirements.
For example, if you give them pears, apples, melons, berries, oranges, kiwi, and grapes, they will have a wide variety of nutrients.
Another great thing about parakeets is that they eat very little, so you don’t need to buy tons of different types of seeds and treats.
The following are some fruit benefits for parakeets.
Fruits are a source of many vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Apples: Apples are a superfood! They’re an easy and simple way to get all the nutrients you need in one delicious snack.
Apricots: Apricots are a fruit and vegetable that has been consumed since antiquity. For hundreds of years, apricots have been eaten as food. The fruit is extremely juicy and can range in color from green to yellow, orange, or red.
Bananas: Bananas are a good source of potassium, fiber, and vitamins. They also contain the amino acid tryptophan, which is a precursor to serotonin.
Blackberries: The Blackberry fruit is rich in vitamin C and is a good source of dietary fiber.
Blueberries: Rich in antioxidants, they are very high in Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Vitamin E, and Beta carotene
Cherries: a good source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and zinc
Coconut: The flesh of the coconut contains both saturated and unsaturated fats that are necessary for providing good nutrition to parakeets
Grapes: Grapes contain vitamins A and C that help fight colds
Mango: They are chock-full of vitamins C and A and are rich in antioxidants.
Melons: Melons are a good source of vitamin C, which is essential to bird health. It also contains potassium, magnesium, and fiber.
Oranges: For a healthy, happy bird, Oranges are the perfect choice for fruit.
Pineapple: Pineapple Fruit is very beneficial for the Parakeet bird, as it contains high levels of Vitamin C, Calcium, vitamin B6, and amino acids like Cysteine.
Strawberries: Strawberries are rich in many nutrients that your bird will benefit from. Their high water content boosts fluids and electrolytes, which is important for reproduction. They also have a high vitamin C content which helps boost the immune system and fight infections.
Vegetables for Parakeets
I’m sure you know already that Parakeets are granivores, so they eat seeds and grass in their wild state. Unfortunately, when you buy seeds in a local store, they may not necessarily have all the required vitamins in them, so it’s important to supplement their diet with vegetables. We have an extensive list with some detailed information below
The recommended amount of fresh fruits and vegetables for a parakeet per day is 1/2 to 3/4 cup.
Leafy vegetables
Leafy vegetables are a type of green vegetable that comes from a large group of plants called lettuces. They include kale, romaine lettuce, sprouted seeds, and dandelion leaves.
Leafy vegetables have been found to be full of live enzymes as well as nutrients like vitamin A and C.
They are also low in calories and dietary fiber. You need to ensure that they are washed before feeding your bird.
Asparagus: It contains a number of nutrients, including folate, vitamin K, and vitamin C. The high levels of folate and vitamin K make it an excellent food for Parakeet should be added to the diet in small amounts.
Carrots: Carrots are an excellent source of beta-carotene, which is a powerful antioxidant. They can help combat problems like feathery pooping, eye discharge, and skin issues.
Celery: One of the most notable benefits of Celery for a Parakeets diet is that it has a lot of fiber in it. Fiber can help to promote digestive health by giving the parakeets something to digest and pushing food through their digestive system. The Celery also provides nutrients that are useful for the birds, including Vitamin K and Vitamins C, A, B6, and B12.
Corn: Corn is an important supplementary food that can help your parakeets meet the requirements for calcium, phosphorus, iron, and vitamin A. It also contains B vitamins which are beneficial to their metabolism, heart health, and brain function. Corn is low in fat but high in fiber, making it a great addition to your bird’s diet!
Cucumber: Provides an excellent source of vitamin K and folate
Peas: Peas are a very high dietary fiber food, and green peas are among the best sources of vitamin C.
Potatoes: Parakeets have been observed to ingest large amounts of carbs, like potatoes or corn. Like humans, they rely on glucose for their energy and thus can suffer from hypoglycemia in the case that a bird has not eaten regularly.
Zucchini: Zucchini can be a great option as a daily diet for a parakeet. Zucchini is high in dietary fiber and water content, so that your bird will benefit from drinking more water.
Nuts for Parakeets
The benefits of giving nuts to a bird are that the bird will have a variety in its diet which will increase its chances of living a longer and healthier life.
If your Parakeet is eating only one type of food, it’s going to know about it soon enough.
It may not be healthy for the bird because they need different types of nutrients, such as proteins.
Almonds: Almonds are a good source of protein and healthy fats, which parakeets need to stay in good health. They offer other benefits as well.
Peanuts (shells removed): Peanuts are a good source of protein for pet birds. They also offer the fat content that helps birds maintain healthy plumage and wings.
Pecans: Pecan nuts are nutritious and provide a good source of protein, fiber, antioxidants, and minerals. There are many benefits to be had by feeding a parakeet a diet containing pecans.
Pistachios (shells removed): Some of the benefits of feeding your parakeet pistachios are that they’re a good source of protein, minerals, and vitamins. They’re also rich in fiber which aids digestive health.
Walnuts: Parakeets love walnuts. Walnuts are not just a great source of nutrition, but they’re also a favorite for chewing. The kernel of walnut contains protein, and it also happens to be a good source of fat, taurine, vitamin E, and selenium. Walnuts are also commonly known to contain antioxidants that protect the body from free radicals.
Ensure that you have the nut chopped and crushed into pieces so your Parakeet can easily eat them.
The Best Way to Pamper Your Parakeet
Parakeets love to try other types of food when they are given the option.
Parakeet food can be so varied that it can be a challenge to decide what to feed your feathered friend.
Peanut butter is a super source of protein. It also has soluble fiber that helps to prevent constipation, which is a common problem for birds. You should avoid giving them peanut butter from a jar; instead, put it inside of an empty paper towel roll.
Honey is another super treat for a parakeet, and they absolutely love it. You need to be aware that honey contains a lot of calories, so just give this to them occasionally.
Millet is a grass seed that is typically fed to parakeets. However, this seed is not always the best for a parakeet, so you need to use it sparingly as well. It can also deprive them of other much-needed nutrients like calcium and protein found in other seeds.
Toxic Foods for Parakeets
So this is something you really need to watch out for. Some human food can have a bad effect on birds, so watch what you’re giving them.
Chocolate: we all know that chocolate is not good for dogs (although I have seen people giving it to dogs). It’s the exact same for parakeets.
Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which is bad for your Parakeet. It can cause all sorts of problems like diarrhea, an increase in heart rate, hyperactivity, and even death in larger quantities. 100% keep them away from dark chocolate.
Keep them away from chocolate entirely.
Alcohol: Another one that should be obvious if you gave your Parakeet a drink of beer, it would be awfully sick.
Onion/Garlic are just not good for Parakeets, and it is so easy to avoid. They are highly toxic and can be fatal. These foods contain a substance that destroys red blood cells and causes the blood to become sticky. The condition is called hemolytic anemia and can be fatal.
Apple Seeds need to be avoided as these are poisonous. The seeds contain cyanide, so as you can imagine, this is very harmful to parakeets. It is best to avoid the seeds altogether. The seeds are toxic for both humans and other animals, so that is why they are called deadly seeds.
The Bottom Line
Hopefully, this article has been able to answer some of your questions, and we have included some of the details to help with your budgies’ needs.
Too often, owners assume they are feeding their budgie a healthy diet when in fact, the Parakeet’s diet is not balanced. This can lead to weight loss, weakness, and even death. A few savvy budgie owners know the importance of changing their budgie’s diet regularly to ensure its health.
It’s all about balance, just like what we humans need. A baby requires a balanced diet that’s different from an adult.
Feeding your budgie healthy food will ensure that he lives a long and happy life with you.
