Which Foods Are Safe for Parakeets to Eat?
What Should You Feed Your Pet Budgie?
Parakeets are small, tropical parrots whose captive diets usually consist of store-bought seed mixes, the occasional millet spray, and not much else. For optimal health and happiness, however, a wide variety of foods should be incorporated into your pet's meal plan. It's a lot of fun to offer your bird a variety of tasty morsels to eat, and in doing so, you will find that they have their own personal taste preferences.
Safety Note
Never offer your budgie a new type of food without first ensuring it is safe for parakeet consumption. If you notice any changes in your parakeet's behavior or appearance after they consume a new type of food, contact your veterinarian.
By offering your budgie a variety of healthy treats, you'll learn what they like, what they don't like, and what their favorite foods are. Listed below are a variety of foods that are safe to feed your pet parakeet in addition to store-bought seed mix. They have been divided into the following four categories.
- Vegetables
- Fruits
- Nuts
- Grains (Occasionally)
Healthy Parakeet Treats by Category
Veggies
| Fruits
| Nuts
|
|---|---|---|
Lettuce
| Apple
| Almonds
|
Broccoli
| Orange
| Pistachios
|
Carrot
| Banana
| Peanuts
|
Corn
| Pineapple
| Walnuts
|
Peas
| Grape
| Pecans
|
Spinach
| Mango
| —
|
Celery
| Coconut
| —
|
1. Veggies
Vegetables can be a very important part of a parakeet's diet. They contain many necessary nutrients that may not be included in a typical store-bought seed mix. Some veggies that are safe to feed to parakeets are:
- Lettuce
- Broccoli
- Carrot (preferably shredded)
- Corn
- Peas
- Spinach
- Celery
Bite-Size Is Best
Anything you feed to your parakeet should be cut up into small, bite-size pieces. Otherwise, they may have trouble breaking it into consumable portions.
2. Fruits
Parakeets love fruits. However, just like in a human's diet, these should be consumed in moderation. Fruits are high in natural sugars that can be detrimental to your parakeet's health when consumed in large quantities. Fruits that are safe for parakeet consumption include:
- Apple
- Orange
- Banana
- Pineapple
- Grape
- Mango
- Coconut
Keep It Fresh
You should only feed your bird fresh fruits and veggies. Dried or packaged fruits and vegetables may contain added sugars, spices, preservatives, or other ingredients that could be harmful to your feathered friend.
3. Nuts
Many parakeets love to eat nuts. They are tasty, protein-rich, and full of nutrients that they may not be getting anywhere else. Here are some nuts that are safe for your budgie to snack on:
- Almonds
- Pistachios
- Peanuts
- Walnuts
- Pecans
A Note About Nuts
Be sure to de-shell and chop or mince any nuts that you wish to feed your parakeet. Most nuts are far too large to be consumed by a parakeet whole, and shells can be difficult and dangerous for them to open themselves.
4. Grains (Occasionally)
Healthy, whole-grain breads can be a tasty supplement to your parakeet's diet when offered in moderation. Be sure to choose breads that are free of sugar, preservatives, and other harmful additives. Don't use sweet, heavily-processed breads like Wonder or Franz. Instead, opt for fresh, natural, whole-grain varieties that are free of salt.
Breads in Moderation
When compared to the other parakeet-safe treats listed in this article, breads have fewer nutrients and are more filling. Only offer bread to your budgie in small amounts and very occasionally. Bread is a treat and should not be used to replace other components of a parakeet's diet.
This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. It is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.
Comments
Why do you have peanuts as a nut that they can eat, when someone posted that peanuts are very bad for them??
kiki
12 months ago
Actually, peanuts are highly toxic to budgies in any amount because their tiny hearts cannot handle the caffeine that peanuts offer, please do not feed peanuts to your precious budgies. (This isnt some random fact i am making up, my local avain vet told me this tid bit of info
can parakeets eat cockatiel food/seed
Thank
Can parakeets eat hard boiled eggs? And I played parakeet sounds and my parakeet started to talk back so is that bad because I only have the one parakeet?
Can birds eat meat? If so what tipe?
Many of my friend's birds have eaten peanut butter and nothing happened to them.So I think it's fine for them to eat it.Also,I don't feel comfortable sharing my name so I am putting my initials.
oof peanuts are bad
My parakeet is always moulting. It's only a week, two tops between moultings. He always gets new feathers and is healthy but he's already 2 yrs.10 mos. old. Should he still moult this often?
ca sweet potatoes or yams be fed to a budgie
I am going to get two girl budgies. I read somewhere that if you get two budgies at a time,they will bind with each other and not me. Is that true?
Actually, peanuts are highly toxic to budgies in any amount because their tiny hearts cannot handle the caffeine that peanuts offer, please do not feed peanuts to your precious budgies. (This isnt some random fact i am making up, my local avain vet told me this tid bit of info
We have had two parakeets for two months and they r still terrified of us, breaks my heart, any suggestions?
I don't like giving my name but my Parakeet just ate a leaf. Is that ok Kristen or anyone
Is kiwano okay for parakeets?
is sourdough bread bad for parakeets?
My parakeet is constantly scratching all over. Has been doing this for about a week and a half. I've contacted the bird shop and asked if I should be concerned about It because he seems so uncomfortable. I'm told it's natural for this to happen when their feathers are coming out, that the process is itchy for them not to worry it will dissipate within 2 to 6 weeks? I feel sorry for my bird, anything you can suggest to help him?
What happends to your parakeets if you only feed them seeds is this bad?Your list made me change the diet I'm really concerned you really helped
Do they like bananna chips and if so, do i break them up?
Is red chard safe for birds?
Hello, can someone please answer my question? My pet budgie parakeet died recently due to an unexpected cause. But she did escape out of her cage and flew into the dog`s cage while I was taking him [the dog] for a walk. I came home and saw her eating some of the dog kibble, and put her back in her cage. The next morning, she sadly passed away in the cage. Could the dog kibble be the cause of her death? She had perfect living conditions with food and water, so i am very confused of how this happened. If I could find out this information it would help me avoid future problems with other parakeets. Thank you.
can they eat rat treats
Can I feed them raspberries?
Okay to feed canned cut yams in light syrup
What about sunflower. What every can they can eat
- AUTHOR
Hi Elle.
I appreciate your concern! That comment was complete SPAM. Someone was just trying to get a rise out of people. I've removed it, I won't put up with that. Thank you for your comment... and you're totally right about asking for help with training! So important!
- AUTHOR
It should be fine that they're eating that, but make sure they have access to a seed blend that's made specifically for parakeets. Seed blends for other kinds of birds may not have the same nutrients that should be in a diet specific to parakeets.
HELP...Please, will the author of this article try to respond to the posted comment re: a budgie, a cat and one of those two animals getting SHOT!!!! Oh my GOSH, I'm hoping this was a typo????
Please, readers.... NEVER PUNISH or HARM your pet!!!!! Ask for help with Training your pet if things are not going the way you would like.
I love it .it is so handy.
Can I feed my paraketts gamebird feed? I have a large pen with quail in the bottom. My paraketts stay at their feeder eating this feed rather than their feeder full of seeds. Is it ok for them to eat?
Is it ok for my budgies to grape seeds?
Really helpful!Thanks!
I am now going to get a parakeet soon I will have 2 and this list helps a lot
That is so helpful. Thanks so much
i am getting 2 parakeets and this list will be very helpful i can not wait to try it out
If you feed sweet potatos do cook first or feed it raw?
thanks a lot
I have 2 parakeets and i feed them mixed veggis and a side disd of fruit ,like blueberries, grapes cherries, oranges and ect. they been eating them since they where young ,they ar 3 1/2 yrs old now and brandy sings to songs on the radio and chis just listens LOL. They are both males i got lucky :-) when i want to give them something else i go on the internet to make shore they can have it. Everything is chopped up small for them.They also get there seeds every day and treats now and then.I love my guys i hope they live a long time. So look on the internet to find out what they can't eat and what they can.....Good luck. :-)
- AUTHOR
Great idea for a hub! Thanks for suggesting that!
This is good, but how about a list of things parakeets cannot eat, and why? I feed my bird all sorts of things, and am always curious if there is something I should avoid, like grapes in dogs.
Thank you for this list. I'm thinking about getting a parakeet and this list really helped me a lot.
This is a handy list. It is so important to feed our birds healthy foods.
41