When To Feed Budgies (And Why It Matters)

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Published: September 4, 2021      Written by Nicholas Burns      Fact Checked:

Last modified: July 12th, 2022
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As a pet owner, you want to make sure your little buddies are getting fed the proper amount of food to maintain their health. While it may be a daily task, when to feed budgies requires a specific schedule that needs to be followed when providing healthy foods for your budgies.

Budgies are high-energy birds that can live for a long time but need a balanced nutritional diet to thrive. It’s also important to feed your pet bird at the right time of day.

Where and When to Feed Budgies

It is best to feed your budgie when it’s in the cage. Your budgie will find its own food in your house that it can eat, and if you’re in the habit of feeding your budgie in the cage, you’ll need to clean the cage more often.

It’s best to feed your budgie when it’s least active.

When To Feed Budgies (And Why It Matters)
When To Feed Budgies (And Why It Matters)

How Often Should You Feed a Budgie?

Budgies are pretty needy when it comes to food, so you’ll want to make sure you’re feeding them often enough. They eat roughly every three hours in the wild, and that’s not very different in captivity.

It’s important to feed your budgie during these intervals because they’re most energetic when they’re eating properly. Once they stop eating, their energy levels drop.

Budgies can also get depressed when they don’t have food.

Tips On How to Feed a Budgie

Budgies are among the easiest birds to care for. They prefer to eat fresh fruit and veggies rather than seeds but you need to keep the fruits and vegetables to just about a quarter of their daily food, so it will be up to you to ensure they are getting enough seeds and not just holding out for the sweeter goodies.

  • Fresh fruit and veggies should be given in small amounts throughout the day to maintain a variety.
  • Offer food in different places in the cage to make it more interesting.
  • Avoid feeding large quantities of food.
  • Always make sure the food is fresh and not moldy.
  • Budgies don’t need to eat as much as you think. If you give them a little bit of food every couple of hours, they’ll be fine.

To get your budgie to eat more, try this:

  • Choose more colorful foods.
  • Offer it in different locations of the cage so they have to search for it.
  • Make it seem like there’s more than one of whatever treat you’re offering.
  • Many budgies are impulsive eaters so be patient.
How to Feed Budgies | Choosing the Right Foods - ReEdit

What Should You Feed Your Budgie?

As a pet owner, you need to know how to feed your budgie. If you’re not sure what to give them or when don’t worry. You have plenty of options.

First, it is essential to understand what type of food to offer. Many owners feed their budgies seed, vegetables, fresh fruits, and sprouts. Budgies are also known to be fond of millet, black oil sunflower seeds, and alfalfa.

What Fruits Can Budgies Eat?

Remember to only give your budgies small amounts of fruits at any time, and you should always remove any seeds or pits the fruit may contain before feeding it to your bird.

  • Apples
  • Cherries
  • Peaches
  • Pears
  • Bananas
  • Berries
  • Citrus fruits
  • Apricots
  • Grapes
  • Figs
  • Dates
  • Watermelon
  • Kiwi
  • Mangoes
  • Nectarines
  • Papaya
  • Pineapple
  • Pomegranate
  • Strawberries
  • Tangerines

What Vegetables Can Budgies Eat?

Like with fruits, vegetables should only make up a small portion of the budgie’s daily food, so only feed them veggies in small amounts as a “flavor treat” added to their seed, pellet, and millet mixture or between other feedings.

  • Cucumber
  • Kale
  • Squash
  • Celery (stalks only)
  • Cabbage
  • Broccoli
  • Pumpkin
  • Spinach
  • Podded Peas
  • Carrots
  • Beetroot
  • Egg Plant (without stalk)
  • Brussels Sprouts
  • Cauliflower
  • Sweet Corn
  • Tomato (ripe only)

How Much Should You Feed a Budgie?

How much should you feed a budgie for a healthy and happy life? When it comes to feeding your budgie, not too much and not too little is the name of the game.

You should always watch your bird carefully, if they seem hungry then it’s time to break out the seed. However, be careful about how much you feed them.

Too much can lead to obesity and other health problems. Consider adding small amounts of fruits and vegetables to their diet as well. A general rule of thumb is that fruits and vegetables should account for about 20% to 25% of their diet.

Learn more about the nutritional needs of budgies here.

nick 1

Nicholas Burns – Veterinary Technician, amateur Ornithologist

Nick has volunteered at bird rescues since he was a teenager and worked as a veterinary technician for almost two decades. He has extensive experience with animal care and a special love for birds, especially his African Grey, Scrooge (who knows all the bad words!).


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