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Post by nettles on Aug 9, 2013 8:31:45 GMT
Hi,
Just wondering.. How much fresh fruit and veg do you give on a daily basis?
After reading other posts about the trouble people have getting their budgies to eat fresh food, I feel blessed that my two absolutely LOVE their fresh food!
The trouble is, i think they like it a bit too much! I've been putting two quite large florets of broccoli and two slices of apple on a kebab skewer every day and hanging it in their cage. Within a few hours they have devoured the lot! I also use broccoli as a reward when training them so they probably get another half a floret between them a day. They're still eating their seed and seem happy and healthy but last night I noticed a few slightly wetter poops and two pure green droppings!
Are they getting too much? I'd really like to give them more as they love it so much but worried in case too much fresh food will make them sick.. Any advice?
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Post by samwiseg on Aug 9, 2013 12:05:31 GMT
Hi nettles  I personally feed my lot fresh veg every other day but I don't know if there is a set dosage that they should have. As long as they are getting their vitamins I would assume that is the main thing. Do you feed them carrot as well? As it is very important that they get their vitamin A too Am sure other members will give more info than me soon |
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Post by nettles on Aug 9, 2013 13:09:13 GMT
Hi Samwiseg! Thanks for the reply I'm trying them with carrot at the minute but they're terrified of it lol. I've gradually been adding new veg/fruit to their kebab skewer and after a few weeks, they eventually tried some apple... Now they devour it in no time! I'll keep persisting with the carrot and hope they give in and at least try a bit! At the minute if I could get them to even look at it, it would be an improvement  |
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Post by samwiseg on Aug 9, 2013 15:36:17 GMT
Ah curiosity will get the better of them in no time I don't know why they say curiosity killed that cat, it should be the budgie! Its great if you can get them to eat fruit AND veg, mine just seem to be a veggie lot but then I did introduce that to them first  |
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Post by Hezz on Aug 10, 2013 2:13:03 GMT
I do remember one of our breeders on here recommending veggies every other day. From what you are saying, it seems to me they are getting a lot of only a couple of things ....... that isn't a good thing as they may be missing out on other essential vits and minerals and overloading on others. If you are able, the very best thing, and they will love you for it, are seeding grasses. It is their natural food, after all, but many of us seem to forget. I realise not everyone has access to grass that is allowed to seed or isn't contaminated by traffic pollution, but if you are near uncontaminated fields or quiet country roads with very little traffic go for a walk and see what you can find. Here are a couple of photos of mine enjoying their grass:   |
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Post by samwiseg on Aug 10, 2013 7:34:02 GMT
SMUDGIE! *Swoon* I love her!  when are you gonna get round to uploading some vids of the buds Hezz? Or perhaps a group photo? Have missed seeing your buddies |
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Post by Hezz on Aug 10, 2013 9:42:47 GMT
I have a confession to make, Sam......... new computer, IT know-it-all is OS ...... and I have no idea where the camera card goes in!!!! I had a look today ..... I cannot find a corresponding "space" for it to go.  Maybe another week or so ...... |
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Post by nettles on Aug 10, 2013 13:43:45 GMT
Wow!!! I didn't realise that's what seeding grasses are. Doh! I thought it was a type of special lawn grass lol. I don't need to look too far, my garden is full of these I know there are some growing in amongst my plants that I haven't pulled out yet so they won't have been contaminated by anything harmful. Are there any types of these grasses to avoid? Just worried that when I pull them, they'll all look very similar and I don't wanna give them something they're not allowed! I'm in the process of trying to introduce new fresh foods as at the minute they will only eat broccoli and in the last few days they eventually tried some apple. They'll only eat their fruit and veg off a skewer or if I hold it for them so they can pull chunks off. I've also been sticking to one or two new veggies at a time as they are terrified of anything new so I'm hoping if they see the same thing for a while, they'll realise it's not frightening. That theory worked with apple and millet but I've been trying to get them to try carrot for weeks now with no luck though  I'll keep trying though! I'm so pleased i can now tell people my weeds are actually there for my budgies and its not that I'm too lazy lol Thanks so much for the info! |
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Post by Hezz on Aug 11, 2013 1:01:39 GMT
I haven't come across anything that states any particular grass is a no-no. I give them anything I can find, and you will get to know that they do have favourites. Give them a decent amount of stalk as well; they tend to have a chew on everything; stalks, leaves and seedheads. I have had a couple of different types be rejected, but that doesn't mean there was anything wrong with them ........ they are probably just spoilt for choice. |
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Post by nettles on Aug 11, 2013 6:38:51 GMT
Thanks so much Hezz! I'll pop out to the garden and pick a selection of grasses later this morning. They really will be spoilt for choice lol. It'll probably take them a while to realise its nothing scary but once Marge gives them a try, Melman will soon follow suit |
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when are you gonna get round to uploading some vids of the buds 
Maybe another week or so ......
I'll keep trying though!