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Post by criswell on Aug 26, 2023 11:55:55 GMT
It's really hard to know what is best to feed our budgies, and finding a healthy seed mixes is even harder. Should we feed seed at all? Are pellets the best for our birds?
Lots of really great information has been shared on different threads recently and I thought it would be helpful to have a dedicated diet and nutrition thread so we can share information, research and articles, to help us provide the best diet for our budgies.
I'm finding it really difficult to decide what's best to feed Dexter. I need to reduce the fat content of his diet but I'm still undecided on the best way to do that.
To start the thread rolling I'm adding the link that Hezz shared yesterday which I've foud very interesting.
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Post by Loz on Aug 26, 2023 12:30:00 GMT
An approach I am using at the moment is to provide a lot of veggies, a small amount of fruit and sprouties. Occasional treats, usually millet and always with a view towards training or some other useful goal.
I also supply a small amount of seeds. Not enough to provide full sustenance for the flock but rather a proportion of it. I am using pellets as an insurance policy against malnutrition. If the birds are in danger of going hungry, the solution is there for them.
That's the theory. Hopefully, also the practice. I monitor weights closely so I hope to be alerted to any issues fairly quickly.
Fine tuning the actual seed and veg mixes is desirable and a thread like this could prove invaluable.
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Post by criswell on Aug 26, 2023 12:46:07 GMT
What veggies do your flock like loz? Do they prefer them whole or chopped up? And what herbs do they like in their herb garden?
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Post by Loz on Aug 26, 2023 12:57:17 GMT
What veggies do your flock like loz ? Do they prefer them whole or chopped up? And what herbs do they like in their herb garden? I don't chop the veggies, I've never had success with that. The birbs all seem to prefer intact leaves and stems that they can chew and tear off/into. Regular veggies are broccoli, spinach, sugar snaps (or mange tout), bell pepper (strips and tops), cavolo nero, babycorn (more for the shredding than the eating). Sweetcorn nibblets (no sugar/salt added, rinsed thoroughly and towelled dry) Sprouted seeds & lentils (salad toppers from the supermarket). I provide sliced apple, more for Chocobo's benefit than otherwise but some of the budgies like to shred it. Herbs are basil, Greek basil, rosemary, thyme and mint. Sometimes dill. I've tried other herbs, veggies and fruits, not much success thus far. I know some folk swear by carrot but I've never had anyone take it up.
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Post by criswell on Aug 26, 2023 13:00:11 GMT
Thanks loz. It's good to know what veggies are popular with other birds
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Post by Ira on Aug 26, 2023 13:35:10 GMT
Mine aren't fond of carrot for the most part. But there's more bioavailability of beta carotene in a squash than a carrot, because the root is harder to digest than the fruit.
The general recommendation for veggies is to focus on oranges and dark greens as containing the nutrition lacking in the base diet.
I tend to have more success with chop mixes. Leaves and pepper tops and broccoli are much loved for at least shredding though.
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Post by criswell on Aug 26, 2023 13:43:28 GMT
I really must try pepper tops. I currently put them in the compost. How do you present them to your birds loz and Ira?
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Post by criswell on Aug 26, 2023 13:45:24 GMT
Ira I know you've done loads of research into budgie diets. Are there any good articles or websites that you can share links to? Can you share an example of the daily diet of your flock?
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Post by Ira on Aug 26, 2023 13:46:55 GMT
Usually on a skewer that either screws into the perch or a wooden block. But just flat on a surface could work too. My lot mainly like to chew the seeds. So sometimes I give them a whole pepper with windows cut out in the hope they'll chew their way in to the seeds.
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Post by Ira on Aug 26, 2023 13:55:03 GMT
Ira I know you've done loads of research into budgie diets. Are there any good articles or websites that you can share links to? Can you share an example of the daily diet of your flock? I'll look through the articles and see what I can link up. My lot are a bit of a mess currently. But what I'm aiming for is something like: 1tbsp per bird of chop (a grain base with various veggies, usually things they won't eat whole) given first for a few hours as a breakfast to fill up on during morning foraging. Currently trying Roudybush pellets as their base food. 50:50 or 60:40 chop to pellets. 1/2 a square of avicake each (as the supplement is in the pellet not the seeds, and they will pick it out) 1 nutriberry (if unwell and being fussy they can just have these as base food) These make rewarding foods to forage for in toys. Millet for training rewards. Haven't worked out how much is alright as a maximum.
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Post by Ira on Aug 26, 2023 13:56:01 GMT
I took notes about which combinations of grains make good grain bases. I'll need to type that up.
And I need to watch the deep dive about fresh mixes still. Haven't had chance.
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Oct 6, 2011 7:41:27 GMT
Marianne Marlow
Administrator
George, Daisy, Iris, Billy, Peter, Chipper, Dinku, Barney, Ayla and Rocky
Posts: 28,784
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Post by Marianne Marlow on Aug 26, 2023 14:03:07 GMT
Thanks for starting this criswell, it looks like it'll be really useful. I have made it a sticky as requested. I try and give mine veg every other day. They like Basil, Dill (but I am having trouble sourcing dill that is not squashed or manky), carrot, baby corn, mange tout. Occasionally thyme. When I offered shredded carrot there were no takers. If I clip it to the cage in a little disc they will shred it themselves! I have used many seed mixes over the years, more recently budgie bravo which had too many oats, so I switched to tip top which it turns out has given Max too many nyger seeds So I'll be ordering the Johnston and Jeff 50% canary seed with mixed millets as recommended by skysmum and yourself My gang usually have a vitamin and mineral regime in their water consisting of (on different days iodine, milk thistle, avipro and calcium. But currently they are just having milk thistle for a few weeks, to help Max with his issues. I may sprinkle some vitamin powder (avipro) on their food or seed though.
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Post by Ira on Aug 26, 2023 14:13:11 GMT
My recommendation would be to go easy on the calcium. Budgies don't need all that much calcium at all, demonstrated through experiments of how many eggs they can lay before the shells become poor, and excess has to be filtered out by the kidneys. A breeding bird on an all seed diet may need supplementation, but dark leafy greens are quite rich in calcium.
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Oct 6, 2011 7:41:27 GMT
Marianne Marlow
Administrator
George, Daisy, Iris, Billy, Peter, Chipper, Dinku, Barney, Ayla and Rocky
Posts: 28,784
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Post by Marianne Marlow on Aug 26, 2023 14:18:49 GMT
They only get it once a week 5ml of calcivet in their water (500ml) Do you think this is unnecessary Ira? The birdcare company told me that lack of calcium could be responsible for seizures when my Jerry passed away all those years ago, so I have given it to my budgies once a week ever since. My recommendation would be to go easy on the calcium. Budgies don't need all that much calcium at all, demonstrated through experiments of how many eggs they can lay before the shells become poor, and excess has to be filtered out by the kidneys. A breeding bird on an all seed diet may need supplementation, but dark leafy greens are quite rich in calcium.
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Post by Ira on Aug 26, 2023 14:23:24 GMT
Grains: Right, a lot of grains I haven't even looked for yet because I haven't had chance. These notes are a month or so old, sorry.
Quinoa and Amaranth provide methianine
Amaranth and Buckwheat together make a complete protein base. They should always be cooked.
Buckwheat provides lycine.
Spelt and teff are also good grains.
Wheatgerm can be sprinkled on cooked grains.
Veggies: Greens and oranges Broccoli Cayliflower Chillis Kale Cavolo nero Spinach (but not too often) Carrot Squashes (beta carotene easier to access than in carrots) Zuccini I quite like small amounts of sweet potato mash
Peas/Beans: Peas Green beans Sugar snap, mange tout etc Edamame beans (cook) Mung beans (cook or sprout - 3 days to get the little leaf) Adzuki beans, chickpeas, and lentils can be fed raw
Flavouring: Herbs - thyme, rosemary, basil, dill, parsley, coriander Spices - cayenne, paprika, cumin, ginger Be careful with cinnamon (easy to have too much, even for humans)
Roughly 50:50 veg/grains, or 60:40 veg to grains.
Kidney issues: Be careful with oxilates Be careful with calcium Watch protein level
High water, low calorie food can be freely fed.
Book recommendation (I need to check out) - Comparative Avian Nutrition
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