Ideal menu for 1?

[dawn23]

Hello, I have been looking at several of the posts in this forum and found LOTS of interesting information. My problem is knowing how best to use it. I will happily sprout seed, provide fresh veg and/or chop etc. and maybe pellets (but there are some pellets in the mix I have at the moment and my chap won't eat them).Trouble is I only have the one bird and am concerned about freshness (as well as wasting money). I want to make sure he gets what he needs but don't want to have loads of stuff spoiling and having to be thrown away. I would love some suggestions about what an ideal menu would be for him .My key questions are;

1) Is it ok to feed sprouts daily using the three day system and, if so, should I also offer other veg. I guess some days a sprig of something tasty might be a nice treat but do I need to make sure he gets something other than the sprouts regularly?

2) What seed mix is best for the seed dish and what is best for sprouting? I know I could buy separate seeds and mix but because I only have the one bird I would prefer to buy ready mixed.

3) Other than millet, what is the best high value treat to use for rewards without upping sugar/fat too much?

Any guidance would be appreciated as I have a memory issue so trying to remember everything I've read and amalgamate it is a real challenge.

[Loz]

Interesting questions for which I can be no help. I am interested in any replies though.

I will say this - some of my buds prefer their "fresh fruit/veg" a little less than fresh. I've noticed this with sweetcorn, they all seem to prefer it to have dried out a little. This can also be the case with apple and spinach as well. I refresh the fruit & veg (but not the sweetcorn) most days but when I haven't done so for some reason, I find out who likes their fresh food slightly "weathered".

[tweetiepiesmom]

It would help us to make recommendations if you'd tell us what country you live in. What is available varies from country to country.

I feed my two guys sprouts everyday which I sprout myself. I make enough for about 3-4 days and store them in the fridge. I buy a sprouting mix made for budgies and small birds. Look at the package label - some mixes are for small birds and some are for large birds.

I also feed them spinach leaves which they love. I buy a package at the store and it stays fresh for a week. I then cook it up in a meal for myself.

I grow wheat grass. They love that! When it goes to seed, I give them the seed heads as a treat which they also love. Where I live, its easy to grow year round.

I also make them a cooked mash which has lentils, brown rice and a couple other things which my vet recommended. I make a batch, portion it out into what they'll eat in a week. I store a week's worth in my fridge and put the other containers in the freezer.

I'm sure others will be along with ideas based on what they feed their budgies. Did I mention I only have 2 budgies?

[dawn23]

Many thanks for taking the time to give such a full reply. Sorry I didn't mention where I am located previously. I'm in the UK and, as I am disabled without transport, reliant on internet shopping. I find shopping on the internet offers a wide market place but a very confusing one if you are unsure what you are looking for. 

At present I am feeding  Bucktons Budgie Food with Spirulina seed mix 1-2 tsp daily and offering bits of spinach,parsley, mint, sorrel dandylion, green bean, tomato as available.  for treats i have red millet and some parakeet fruit cocktail mix .

I intend to do sprouts and was hoping it would be ok to feed these daily, from what you say that will be fine.  I should also be able to offer small amounts of greens as we have a range growing and always some veg in the fridge.

The cooked food you mention sounds interesting, I'd be very interested in the recipe you use if you wouldn't mind sharing.  Also some idea of the quantity you give them.

I also like the idea of growing them some grass but think I may need to wait until the weather warms , Hubby is a little alarmed at the way budgie bits seem to have taken over the house , trays of grass might be a step too far at the moment. Along similar lines I read how someone had planted her unused sprouts and let them mature I guess that would make a good occasional treat.  Although this will probably be more of a warm season thing as well.

I am a complete budgie novice and not sure how each of the suggested items fit into a diet plan, Do you reduce the dry seed offering if you are feeding sprout?  What impact does the cooked food have on what else you offer

So many questions == if you have a minute and can answer any that will be super but please dont feel obliged. I am more than grateful for the information you have shared already.  

[Hezz]

The more fresh food you can feed your bird, the better. One of TPM’s budgies has a health issue and it has been recommended that he has very little seed and it doesn’t hurt the other to be on the same diet. The pellet discussion can become controversial with vets from different countries promoting them much more than others, cynical me thinks they probably get a kick-back for doing so. Whereas previously a lot of vets would advocate for pellets making up the majority of a budgie’s diet, the consensus does seem to be moving more to more fresh food, at least half being ideal (no more than 50% pellets at most) and the other 50% seed and pellets. I would increase that fresh food component, reduce the seed and use pellets only as a foraging tool - if they eat it, fine, if not, also fine.

My guys get a big bunch of fresh mixed seeding grass every morning. That’s their main food for the day. In the afternoon, late, they get some seed mixed into pellets and that is all the seed they get. They also get extra veg such as snow peas, carrot, corn etc. I have found with all the grass they have available they can be a bit fussy with what veg they will eat - they prefer their grass to anything else. I live in the tropics so seeding grass is very easy to source whereas I’ve had limited success with sprouts - keeping anything moist in a humid environment tends to lead to mould.

Budgies should not be fed too much in the way of fruits. The occasional treat is fine, half a grape, a small chunk of apple, but they are prone to obesity anyway and the extra sugar from fruit is an unwanted extra in their diet. Stick to veg and sprouts, rather than fruit.

[dawn23]

Many thanks for responding, It sounds like I am going to be making drastic but gradual changes to what Pip is eating. As i don't have reliable access to seeding grass I think sprouts has got to be my first change.  He is not tremendously interested in the fresh stuff he is getting at the moment, but I will keep offering that as well in the hopes he develops more of a taste for it.

Until I can see he  is eating the above I will still offer the seed, as now, but maybe cut back on what millet he is getting to try and nudge him towards the fresh.  At present I have been trying to vary the fresh foods offered in the hopes of finding some he likes.  Do you think that's the way to go or is it best to keep with one till he becomes familiar with it?

[Hezz]

I think a lot depends on whether he is a bird that is open to new things. If he takes a week to go anywhere near a new toy, then stick with just a small (known to him) pot for fresh food. Also try different ways of presenting it - some like “chop”, others prefer big chunks. I think again this comes down to the individual bird with the timid not being so put off by a small bowl of mixed veg chopped up relatively fine as they may be with a kebab of large chunks of carrot, a round of corn, a small tree of broccoli etc.

[dawn23]

Thanks Hez, He is quite hesitant with new toys. I think maybe I will continue to put in leafy stuff as leaves, he is starting to take a peck or two at those, Maybe will also put a small bowl of chop in too to see if he will try that. Both are just bits from what we would be buying anyway so if it gets thrown there is no real loss. Hubby has just ordered him a bigger cage so there should be plenty of room to offer a range without crowding him out.

[Hezz]

Leafy greens are about the closest you can get to their natural food of seeding grasses and is often what is more easily recognised as food, so yes, a good place to start.

[dawn23]

Just a quick update, Pip is now happily eating sprouted mix (Buckwheat, Lentils, Brown Rice, Mung Beans, Pumpkin Seed, Oats) alongside his seed mix. He is also getting a bit braver and having a peck or two from fresh offerings. I will continue to offer sprouts daily with bits of whatever other veg we have (or parsley etc from the garden). He seems content with what he is getting so guess the balance is ok. Many thanks to you all for taking the time to reply with your helpful suggestions and tips.

[Hezz]

That s good news, and he has made it sound easy. He will be happy and healthier for it.

[ladybird]

Where do you buy the mixed sprouting mix in the UK…….Buddy is good at eating most greens but it can be expensive to buy for one budgie, so I would prefer to use the mix as well……

[dawn23]

Same with me, I've only got the one and buying seperates just didn't seem practical. I got mine from Northern Parrots. I went for this one because it said it is specifically mixed for small birds. it is sold as Sprouting Mix for Parrots. I have found it easy to use and Pip seems to enjoy it. I soak about one and a half tablespoons and start feeding it from the second day. I continue sprouting for 4-5 days , then vinigar rinse what is left and put it in the fridge to cover until the next is ready. At least, this is what I have been doing so far but guess I may need to change it a bit as the weather warms, just feeling my way as i go along.

[rozenda]

What vinegar do you use to rinse it ?

[dawn23]

so sorry for delay Rozenda, hadn't seen your post till now. I use cider apple vinigar to rinse , just a teaspoon to the jar of water. then drain and rinse again with clear water. I hope this is the right thing to do - used to use this method to "clean" food for other small animals years ago.