sunny spots in the home and feeding

[aronya31]

Hi my baby budgie Muffin is getting used to me a bit more now but I'm wondering just what sort of healthy tit-bits might be good for a 10 week old baby, just how much millet a day (or do I just hang a bit in the cage) and I live on the seafront so we get a fair amount of sun coming into the lounge so do budgies like being in the warm sunshine? Any good budgie books anyone can recommend? Thank you again - really grateful for the advice so far

[OP]

OoooH I like muffins. Books!! there are mountains of books. I only have a couple and at the moment they are propping up the wonky table. There is more, much more and better advice to be had on this forum, seriously. I have learnt more from here than I read in the books. Sunshine, budgies love sunshine. Be aware though that sunshine streaming through a window can get very hot, but unfortunately all the good UV rays have been filtered out by the window glass. So though it makes us and them feel good that's about all it does. Summer weather, when we have some, you could put the cage in the sunshine and get all the goodness of the rays. Just beware of predators. Keep the cage and Muffin out of draughts. Fresh air is fine but a draught will kill him. I'm sure others will be along with more, much more advice as and when you ask for it.

[Hezz]

If Muffin likes/loves millet, use this as a training tool only. If he doesn't know what to do with it, hand a small piece in the cage until he discovers it and starts to eat. Once he is eating it, only use as a training tool with the odd exception as a treat. Most budgies love millet and will eat their millet spray before their regular seed mix, which also contains millet, usually different varieties, but also a mix of other seeds. While millet makes up part of their diet, it shouldn't make up all of their diet. It would be a bit like feeding a child on bread only - while it is good food, it is only one good food and this limits the uptake of proteins, vitamins, minerals, trace elements etc and doesn't supply the body with the diversity required for optimum health.

As OP has said, sunlight through glass, or perspex for that matter, contains none of the necessary UVB rays but if you are able to open windows or doors up to the outside and let the sunlight stream in uninhibited and pop the cage in the sun, this would be great. Make sure that one end is shady, so he can escape the warmth if needed, and make sure the cage is securely locked so there is no worry of escape. Never leave a budgie outside in its cage on its own, as cats and raptors will think lunch has come early.

[Hezz]

Sorry that was supposed to say "hang a piece in the cage until he discovers it and starts to eat."