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• To step
• Part 1 of 2: Choosing the right foods
• Part 2 of 2: Feeding your budgie the right way

Every parakeet owner will want their pet, aka budgerigar, to have the best life possible. A healthy diet is the best way to a happy and lively budgie. A well-balanced diet will ensure that he is getting the nutrients he needs every day. Improper feeding can lead to an unbalanced diet and ultimately illness and, in extreme cases, death. But if you learn how to feed him properly, he will live a happy and healthy life.

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Part 1 of 2: Choosing the right foods

1. Try seeds. A good way to feed parakeets is with seeds. But you shouldn't just feed your budgie with seeds, as this can shorten a bird's life expectancy. This is because most seed mixes do not provide enough nutrients for your bird's needs and can cause cancer, obesity and other health problems.
   • Seeds should make up no more than 1/6 of your parakeet's diet.
2. Buy pellets. One of the staples of a parakeet's diet is pellets. You can purchase suitable pellets for parakeets from your local pet store. The pellets are the best way to provide your parakeet with a well-balanced diet, as they contain a lot of nutrients for the bird.
   • When you buy the pellets, make sure they do not contain preservatives, added sugars, artificial colors or artificial flavors.
3. Use fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are a very important part of your parakeet's diet. Dark green or yellow vegetables should be fed daily. Try fruits and vegetables such as apples, pumpkin, grapes, carrot, parsley, broccoli, mango, sweet potato, and spinach. Feed the fruits and vegetables raw to your parakeet, as cooking removes important nutrients from them.
   • You can serve them however your parakeet likes, diced, shaved, chopped, mashed, or whole. Try different ways until you find which way your budgie likes best.
   • Remove what your budgie hasn't eaten after two hours, as chopped, raw vegetables spoil quickly.
   • There are some fruits and vegetables that you can never give to your bird as they are poisonous to it. These include avocado, the kernels and seeds of fruit, chocolate, mushrooms, uncooked beans, rhubarb, and the leaves and stems of tomatoes.
4. Feed him grains. Many owners and breeders feed a mixture of soaked grains, called soft foods, as an added treat for the bird. You can use any grain you want, including quinoa, brown rice, broken wheat, or barley. You can also add organic natural honey, fruits or vegetables to the grains to make it even more delicious.
   • Pour the grains into a bowl and moisten with water. After they have swollen, you can mix them with anything.
5. Give hard-boiled eggs and grated cheese. While this may sound unusual for a budgie, it adds a good source of protein for your budgie. It also provides some variety in its diet, which is always a good thing. It's not absolutely necessary or required for your budgie to live a happy life, but it can be good for him.
   • Make sure to limit these special treats. You shouldn't give him more than half a teaspoon at a time.

Part 2 of 2: Feeding your budgie the right way

1. Keep it fresh and varied. Your budgie should have several foods to choose from every day. As a general rule, feed your budgie with seeds and pellets every day. Fruit, vegetables and soft food should be fed to him every other day. Egg or cheese should be fed once a week or even once every two weeks.
   • In addition to varying the food, you should also replace the food every day, and provide fresh food in his bowl. Always remove the old food before adding new food.
2. Use a suitable food bowl. Your budgie should always have access to his food whenever he wants. A parakeet can get very sick if it is not fed for 24 hours, so it should always have access to its food. The bowl should not be too deep so that the budgie doesn't have to dig too deep to get the food. It should also be in a spot close to his water so he can eat and drink at the same time.
3. Give a squid shell and a mineral block. Squid shells and mineral blocks are necessary for your parakeet. They contain necessary minerals and nutrients that your bird may not be getting in any other way. The squid shell should be placed in the cage so that the soft side is facing the bird so that it can scrape off the bone.
   • If either gets soiled with stool or gets wet, throw it away and give a fresh one.
   • They are also a toy for the bird. Parakeets like to sit on them and sometimes tear them apart. Let him do whatever he wants with them as long as they stay clean and dry. He knows when he needs them, so don't worry if he doesn't touch them for a while. It may be that his food provides him with enough nutrients for the moment.
4. Prevent obesity. Your bird needs plenty of cage space or room in your home to move around. You should also pay attention to your bird's daily eating habits to prevent it from overeating. This can lead to obesity. An obese bird will lose its sleek appearance and may become lethargic and develop health problems.
   • An experienced bird veterinarian can help you determine if your budgie is overweight and help you decide how to help him if he is.
5. Keep the food balanced. Parakeets have very sensitive systems. Changes to his diet should be made gradually over a longer period of time. If you want to change his seed mix, add a little more of the new mix every day, and take away a little more of the old mix every day until it is completely transferred to the new food.
   • Your parakeet's diet should be balanced throughout the day, not all in one meal. Don't give him all the different foods at once. Follow general feeding guidelines and vary his feed over time. Feeding him all at once can lead to overeating and make your bird unhappy or sick.
6. Let him eat. Your budgie may not want to eat, for example because of the presentation of the foods or what you feed him. If he doesn't want to eat the fresh food, cut the fruits and vegetables into pieces and put them in an empty food bowl.Hang this container in the cage, with a few leaves of leafy greens or another beloved treat pinned above it.
   • Do this every day until your budgie is finally convinced and eats all of his different foods.
7. Watch for illness. You need to check the consistency of your budgie bowel movements. This can indicate whether he is getting too many fresh foods. If his stool becomes loose and watery, reduce the amount of fresh food for one or two days. He may be taking in too much fluid with this, which can cause these kinds of problems.
   • If the diarrhea persists, see your vet to find other causes.
8. Clean the water daily. All birds need water in a clean water bowl throughout the day. To keep it clean and fresh, you have to replace the water bowl with a fresh one every day. Clean the water container with only vinegar and water. Never use soap or chemicals to clean it. The vinegar will help prevent bacteria from growing in the container.
   • Never put vitamins in the water, this can lead to infection. The only things you can put in the water are medications, such as antibiotics, as instructed by your vet.