What do budgies eat? The budgie diet and exercise guide
First Published: 07/11/2019
Last Updated: 22/01/2024
As with humans and their mammalian friends, it’s very important to make sure your budgies are fed a healthy, well-balanced diet and that they get a lot of exercise.
So, what do budgies eat? Let’s take a look at the best budgie diet tips, the fruit budgies can eat and how to help them stay in great shape.
What to feed budgies?
The ideal budgie diet will consist of:
- Feeding pellets, containing all the right nutrients
- Specialised bird grit to help grind down the pellets in their digestive system
- Plenty of vitamins
- A small amount of fruit or vegetables
- Fresh, clean water, which should be readily available at all times
Read more: Find your nearest bird vet
Feeding guidelines
Make sure you clean your budgies’ cage out regularly. If you come across unfinished pellets or water at the end of the day, exchange it for fresh food and water. When choosing your budgies’ pellets, always opt for a high-quality feed and stick to the recommended dosage when you’re putting it out for your bird.
Steer clear of seeds and seed-based diets – these might do as a treat for your budgies, but they’re too high in fat to be a staple of their diet. Likewise, keep sugary treats to a minimum.
Your vet will be able to advise further on the best types of vitamins for your budgie.
Need to make a change? Make it gradually
If you need to make a change to your budgies’ diet, be sure to do it gradually. If you suddenly change their food source without warning or time for the birds to adapt, they could become poorly.
Instead, aim for the change to your budgies’ diet to take place over a minimum of 1 week.
Read more: Read our handy tips on visiting the vet
What fruit can budgies eat?
Fruit and vegetables can be a delicious snack for budgies, although they’re very high in sugar so should never form the basis of your budgies’ diet. Feed fruit and vegetables as snacks/treats only.
Budgies can enjoy:
- Cut-up apple
- Grapes
- Mango
- Papaya
- Broccoli
- Cut-up carrot
- Sweet potato
- Spinach and cress
- Parsley
Making sure your budgie gets their exercise
A correct diet does half the job, but you’ll also need to make sure your budgies get their exercise.
Whether your budgies live in a spacious aviary outside or in an indoor cage, they’ll need plenty of time to fly. If you plan to let your budgie fly in the house, make sure you keep your doors and windows closed. It also helps if you turn off any harmful electrical appliances such as ceiling fans or paper shredders, and if you keep other pets well out of reach of your birds.
Need more info?
For more expert advice on what to feed your budgie, have a chat with your local exotic/avian vet today.
Find your nearest vet using our Find a Vet page, or speak to a vet online using Online Vets.