Budgerigars require a well-balanced diet of pellets created specifically for them, along with fresh fruits and vegetables. Commercial seed mixes tend to be high in fat while lacking in protein content.
Budgies need greens in their daily diet; 20-25% should consist of greens. Romaine lettuce can be fed, while iceberg provides minimal nutrition value.
Fruit
Budgies should consume pellets designed for them as well as fresh fruits and vegetables from time to time, including any edible plants which provide essential vitamins and minerals in nature.
Captive birds should consume primarily seed mixes for nutrition. You can purchase ready-made mixes, or create one yourself.
Budgies should only eat fruit that is safe, such as strawberries (not regularly though), apples, bananas and oranges. When feeding citrus fruits to your bird beware that these contain high concentrations of Vitamin C which could potentially cause digestive upset - in particular tangerines which contain citric acid as well as seeds which could become choking hazards.
Vegetables
Budgies can consume various vegetables, such as dandelion, chickweed and milk thistle which contain high concentrations of vitamin A in their leaves and flowers. Furthermore, they may eat leafy greens such as spinach.
Vegetables should not form the basis of your budgie's diet as they contain too much sugar. Instead, offer small portions as treats or snacks.
Pellets provide more healthful options than seed mixes for your budgie as they contain seeds, vegetables and grains enriched with the necessary vitamins and minerals that they require to thrive. It may take your bird a few weeks to adapt to a pelleted diet though.
Seeds
Budgie diets should consist mainly of fruits and vegetables for optimal nutrition. Sprouted grains offer additional vitamins, minerals and sugars while being easier for their digestive systems to process.
Pome fruits and papayas are excellent sources of vitamin C. Furthermore, they contain little sodium, fat or cholesterol compared to other fruits.
Avocado flesh, seeds and stems can be toxic to budgies and lead to respiratory failure. Pregnant birds should avoid avocado as persin compounds found there can damage red blood cells as well as cause irritation of their throat and esophagus linings.
Eggs
Budgie diets must provide various sources of nutrition beyond just seeds; an exclusive seed diet can lead to malnutrition and other health problems, including calcium deficiencies that result in eggshell consumption or other sources of calcium in nature. To stay healthy, these creatures need access to various sources of calcium such as egg shells or rocks in nature in order to ensure optimal skeletal development.
All parts of an egg are safe for consumption by budgies (yolk, white and shell), making boiled eggs an easy option that's easily digested by their digestive systems. Eggs should only be fed occasionally because they add extra protein that cannot be found elsewhere in their diet such as pellets.
Grains
Budgies should consume around 75-80 percent of their diet as seed mixes or pellets, with the remainder coming from fresh fruits and vegetables. Fresh produce provides essential nutrients often lacking from commercial seed mixes; onions, mushrooms and garlic contain sulfur compounds which could lower red blood cell count which in turn could cause clotting issues and other health concerns for your bird.
Fried foods, salty snacks such as chips and pretzels, popcorn and chocolate as well as products containing caffeine (coffee, tea or soda) should only be fed sparingly to birds as these items can be harmful.
Honey Sticks
Budgies in the wild consume approximately 50% grasses and grains for sustenance; commercial seed mixes tend to contain high levels of fat while providing minimal nutritional benefits.
Grass is vitally important to your budgie's wellbeing and should be provided alongside commercial seed mixes. Quinoa, rye and buckwheat grains may also provide essential nourishment.
Budgies enjoy small portions of lean cooked meat, fish or eggs as treats; others may enjoy digestive sweet biscuits as treats. Very salty foods, crisps, chocolate and products with caffeine (coffee, tea and soda) should be avoided at all costs; cheese should also be limited due to its high level of fat and salt.