Parakeet owners — did you know there are certain foods you should never feed your bird? These eight foods can be dangerous if consumed, so be sure not to feed them to your bird or leave them where your bird can reach them.
All About Parakeets
Parakeets are beautiful animals that come in a variety of colors. They are sweet and playful birds, also known as budgies or conures, and are popular pets. They resemble miniature parrots and can even learn to mimic words.
Parakeets need a variety of fresh foods for a well-rounded diet.
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These birds are considered granivores, which means they eat mostly grains, seeds, fruits, nuts, flowers, and occasional insects. When kept as pets, parakeets need a varied diet to stay healthy and meet all of their nutritional needs.
What to Feed Your Parakeet
According to Best Friends Animal Society, a parakeet’s diet should be a mix of high-quality pellets and fresh foods. This includes raw or steamed vegetables, cooked whole grains, soaked and cooked or sprouted nuts and seeds, and raw fruit.
Not providing your parakeet with a wide variety of nutrients is detrimental to their health. “Budgies are vulnerable to obesity, iodine deficiencies, and other nutrition-related problems. A well-balanced and varied diet must be maintained for these birds to stay healthy,” stated the VCA Animal Hospitals.
Keep in mind that commercial seed mixes tend to be high in fat and carbohydrates and low in protein, without the essential vitamins that parakeets need. However, VCA Animal Hospitals recommends offering a diet of approximately 60-80 percent made up of pellets, which you can spread out over a flat surface for your bird to walk through and pick up, ground into a fine powder on top of moist food, or mixed with seeds.
Fruits, vegetables, and greens should make up the remaining 20-25 percent of your parakeet’s diet. Use your thumbnail to measure portions, as a small amount of food for a parakeet is comparable to a full dinner plate for a human.
Foods That Are Good for a Parakeet
Healthy and nutritious foods your parakeet can eat include:
Bananas are on the list of healthy foods for your parakeet.
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- Apples
- Dates
- Peppers
- Apricots
- Dandelion Leaves
- Pineapple
- Asparagus
- Dates
- Plum
- Banana
- Endive
- Pomegranate
- Cooked Beans
- Fig
- Potatoes
- Beets
- Grapes
- Pumpkin
- Blueberry
- Grapefruit
- Rapini
- Broccoli
- Kale
- Raspberry
- Brussels Sprouts
- Kiwi
- Brown Rice
- Cabbage
- Melons
- Romaine Lettuce
- Cantaloupe
- Mango
- Spinach
- Carrot
- Nectarines
- Sprouted Seeds
- Carrot Tops
- Orange
- Squash
- Cherries (without pit)
- Papaya
- Strawberry
- Bok Choy
- Parsnip
- Sweet Potato
- Coconut
- Peaches
- Tomato
- Corn
- Pear
- Zucchini
- Cucumber
- Peas
Avoid These Foods
Foods you should never feed your parakeet, as they are toxic:
- Alcohol
- Avocado
- Caffeine
- Dairy products
- Onion
- Meat
- Mushrooms
- Chocolate
Talk to Your Vet
If you suspect your bird has eaten an unhealthy food or has been poisoned, call your vet right away. Signs of poisoning include sudden behavioral changes, respiratory distress, digestive issues, or neurological signs.
