What do parakeets eat? Knowing about their feed should be a top priority if you plan to have pet bird parakeets.
Remember, Parakeets are granivorous and mainly live on seeds and nuts. In the wild, they eat nectar from flowers, insects, and larvae.
Many of them are ground feeders and feed on grass. Some parakeets love to forage on the forest floor and dig up to eat various food items. They eat fruits, bugs, tree seeds, nuts, and bark. But for their optimal health, they need an all-seed diet.
In this article, we will provide complete details regarding what do parakeets eat.
So, if you are conscious about what food is safe for parakeets, look at the article.
Parakeet Diet:
We have deeply observed the parakeet’s diet and their eating habits to answer the query of what do parakeets eat.
Parakeets eat a variety of fruits, some like seeds, while others like flowers. However, they can also eat all seeds, nuts, and insects.
Do you want to know what seeds, nuts, and insects parakeets eat?
If so, keep reading!
Parakeet Eat Seeds Like;
- Fruit seeds
- Pumpkin seeds
- Sunflower seeds
- Sprouted seeds
Parakeets Can Eat Nuts Like;
- Hazelnuts
- Brazil nuts
- Peanuts
- Walnuts
- Horse chestnuts
- Monkey nuts
- Pistachio
- Acorn
Types of Insects Parakeets Eat In The Wild
- Mealworms (live or dead)
Parakeets also like to eat grains/ pellets.
This is why every pet owner must combine both to make them healthy. You can also add fresh fruits and vegetables to boost their immune function because they provide enzymes without adding fats.
Quantity of Seeds/Grains Pet Parakeets Eat
People prefer to have parakeets as pets because they don’t eat much.
For example, you can give 1 or 1.5 teaspoons of seeds and pellets to small species and one tablespoon to larger ones.
Types of Vegetables and Fruits Parakeet Eat
Luckily, parakeets are granivorous, and almost every type of fresh vegetable or fruit parakeets are capable of eating.
However, you must spend time with them to understand their preferences and favourite fruits and veggies.
For example, you can hang a wide variety of fruits, like berries and twigs, near their cage to make the little one happy.
Vegetable Parakeets Like
- Carrots
- Bok choy
- Brussel sprouts
- Cucumber
- Celery and its leave
- Green lettuce
- Butternut squash
- Green beans
- Spinach
- Sweet corn
- Turnips
- Watercress
- Radish
- Sweet potato
Note: Always shred vegetables and fruits in small pieces as they have tiny beaks.
Fruits Parakeets Like
Some of the significant fruits for parakeets that you must add to their diet are as follows.
- Cherries
- Apricot
- Banana
- Mango
- Pineapple
- Apple
- Raspberries
- Strawberries
- Tomato
- Melon
- Oranges
- Pomegranate seeds
- Papaya
- Kiwi
- Lemon
- Nectarines
- Pear
- Plumps
- Watermelon
- Tangerines
Note: Always feed fruits in small quantities as they contain high sugar.
Dried Fruit Pellet For Parakeets:
A variety of dried fruits can also be added to a parakeet’s diet. However, to enjoy balanced nutrition, you should also be aware of how much to feed.
Fruits like apricots, apples, oranges, pears, bananas, or pineapples are ideally safe to feed a budgie.
Remember, the portion of dried fruit offered to a parrot or budgie must be small. With that, they must be free from added sugar or preservatives.
Types of Flower
In the wild, parakeets always love blossoms and flowers.
As a pet owner, you can also arrange flowers in your garden. But never use flowers from adult outlets as they contain chemicals that may harm your pet.
- Aster
- Bottlebrush
- African violets
- Hibiscus
- Honeysuckle
- Magnolias
- Pansies
- Marigold
- Roses
- Sunflowers
- Violets
- Daisies
- Gardeni
- Carnations
- Petunias
Occasional Treats for Parakeets:
So, Fortunately, there are different types of options to understand what do parakeets eat.
But you can also offer occasional treats to your parakeets?
For example, treats such as millet spray are a popular choice to feed as a treat. With that, you can also add “seeds-on-a-stick” to his diet, which can easily be bought from any popular pet store.
However, you must ensure not to feed more than once a week.
Other Things to Feed a Parakeet
You can also provide them with other food items as an occasional treat.
But always remember, never give these junks to toddlers as they adversely affect kidneys, liver, and other organs.
These items include:
- Bread
- Cakes
- Chillies
- Coconut
- Meat
- Pasta
- Parsley
- Toast
- White rice
How Often To Feed Parakeets?
You can also give them free meals like fruits or seeds twice daily.
If you plan to train your birds, feed them after the training as a reward.
Human Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Parakeet
Avoid following foods in your pet’s diet as they are toxic to birds and can increase the risk of infection. A few of them can also cause choking hazards.
- Coffee
- Caffeinated tea
- Salty foods
- Fried foods
- Avocado
- Chocolates
- Dairy Products
What Parakeets Drink?
Parakeets drink fresh water.
So, if you have parakeets in your home, supply them with fresh water daily.
Feeding Your Pet Parakeet – Made Easy!
To end, the discussion “what do parakeets eat?” we must say parakeets are independent birds.
They live in the wild and can eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, along with the nuts and bugs found in the jungle. It means they are also carnivores.
So, if you want to have them as your pet, add seeds, nuts, flowers, fresh fruits, and vegetables to their diet. You can also give them occasional treats to make them happy and healthy.