Which Foods Are Safe for Parakeets to Eat?
Parakeets are tropical birds, and they sure can eat like it. They need a wide variety of foods in their diet to stay healthy. It's a lot of fun to offer your bird a tasty variety of things to eat. You will find that your parakeet has his own taste preferences! Learn what he likes, what he doesn't like, and what his very favorites are. Here is a list of foods that are safe to feed to your parakeet.
Veggies
Vegetables are actually a very important part of a parakeets diet. They contain many necessary nutrients that may not be available in a typical store-bought seed diet. Some veggies that are safe to feed to parakeets are:
- Lettuce
- Broccoli
- Carrot (shredded, preferably)
- Corn
- Peas
- Spinach
- Celery
Bite-Size is Best
Anything you feed to your parakeet should be cut up into small, bite-size pieces. Otherwise, he will have trouble breaking chunks off by himself.
Fruits
Parakeets love fruits. However, just like in a human's diet, these should be fed to your parakeet in moderation. Fruits are high in natural sugars that can be bad for your parakeet when consumed in large quantities. Some fruits that parakeets enjoy most are:
- Apples
- Oranges
- Bananas
- Pineapple
- Grapes
- Mango
- Coconut
Keep It Fresh
While all of these foods are safe for a parakeet to eat, you should only feed your bird fresh fruits and veggies. Dried or packaged fruits especially may have added ingredients that are bad for your feathery friend.
Nuts
Parakeets love to eat all different kinds of nuts! They are tasty, and full of nutrients that your parakeet probably isn't getting anywhere else. Some of their favorites are:
- Almonds
- Pistachios
- Peanuts
- Walnuts
- Pecans
Make sure that any nuts that you give your parakeet are chopped. Parakeets cannot eat them whole. Also, any shells should not be included. Your parakeet won't bother with those.
Bread
Your parakeet will enjoy eating whole grain breads, broken up into small bits. Try to stick to simple whole grain breads, though. Sweet breads and other varieties may contain ingredients that are harmful to parakeets.
Comments
This is a handy list. It is so important to feed our birds healthy foods.
Thank you for this list. I'm thinking about getting a parakeet and this list really helped me a lot.
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.
- Author
Great idea for a hub! Thanks for suggesting that!
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. :-)
thinkyou
thanks a lot
If you feed sweet potatos do cook first or feed it raw?
i am getting 2 parakeets and this list will be very helpful i can not wait to try it out
That is so helpful. Thanks so much
I am now going to get a parakeet soon I will have 2 and this list helps a lot
Really helpful!Thanks!
Is it ok for my budgies to grape seeds?
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?
I love it .it is so handy.
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.
- 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.
- 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!
What about sunflower. What every can they can eat
Okay to feed canned cut yams in light syrup
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