how to introduce food other than seed?

[mishky]

Hello budgie lovers! 

I'm new on here - we've had two young (about 6 months old i think) male budgies for a month - they will only eat the seeds provided by the breeder.  They won't eat millet (which is making it hard to train them) and won't eat any of the fruit or vegetables i've offered them. I've also tried them on some high nutrient budgie pellets which they've ignored.

Any advice would be welcome - I should add they do seem rather nervous and ignore the cage toys. (to reassure, they are in a lovely large cage with natural perches and interest and are allowed out the cage every day for a few hours and we talk to them gently etc).

Any advice would be most appreciated.

Thank you for your time.

Michelle

[mona]

Sometimes budgies take some time to get used to toys.. mine have taken months to accidentally encounter it and then destroy it!😍


If they are already nervous, I would let them adjust to the current environment and be comfy, before introducing another big change in their life. Once they are comfy enough, they will try out things at their own will & happiness. Don't rush into diet conversion, just with the intent of training them. That's how I feel ❤

You could just keep veggies chopped/hung/bigger pieces in their cage during this time for them to try. Don't be disheartened if they don't.


Regarding diet conversion, you need to be patient and find out how they like their veggies and fruits. Fruits, however, as per my knowledge should be provided in limits, due to sugar content. Mine like the leafy veggies hung here and there on the cage. Few veggies they like chopped and mixed with the sprouts. Again, different seed sprouts from different sprout stages.. Some like to dig into the bigger veggie pieces to rip it apart and play/eat them.

You just need to experiment it, as you would do with a little baby. You have to be consistent as well. They might not touch new food for many days or months, but might try it out one day, out of curiosity. Mine didn't like mint leaves in the earlier days..now they relish it, whenever provided, in limits - it being a herb. They used to just nibble on coriander, now they totally love it. It has taken months for me to add more items to their diet..

Also, please take care not to stop their existing seed diet all of a sudden. Sudden diet change doesn't suit budgies! You would want to add tissue paper to the cage bottom to check for their poop changes during diet conversion! ❤