Seeds are one of the favorite foods of budgies that are mature enough to feed on many foods that fit into their beaks. But baby budgies are selective in their diet because of their age as they are not able to eat all the foods that adult budgies can easily eat. So, can baby budgies eat seeds?
Baby budgies can eat seeds without hesitation whenever you feed them in a proper way so that they can consume the seeds easily without getting choked. But it would be best if you keep in mind that they can eat seeds after 4 to 5 weeks.
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Are Seeds Safe For Baby Budgies?
Yes, seeds are safe for baby budgies. Seed shells are not digestible by baby birds unless they have been softened by soaking in water, which is why it is safer to feed them whole rather than crushed.
Seeds provide a wide variety of benefits apart from just nutritional value. Also, they add interest and novelty to the diet and encourage exploration, exercise, and mental stimulation.
When Can Baby Budgies Start Eating Seeds?
Baby budgies can start eating seeds from a young age, such as crinkle-cut canary seeds. However, some birds need to wait until they reach 6 to 8 weeks of life before eating seeds on their own.
It varies by species, but it is important to give your bird enough time to learn how to use its beak and chew not to hurt themselves when they are still learning to swallow properly.
What Type of Seeds Can Baby Budgies Eat?
Below is the list of seeds that you can serve to baby budgies can eat.
- Millet seeds
Baby budgies eat millet seeds during the initial seed-eating weeks.
- Canary seeds
Canary seeds should not be offered to baby budgies until they are old enough.
- Sunflower seeds
Baby budgies should have access to sunflower seeds but introduce them to these seeds when they are older and able to eat them without getting sick. They can eat sunflower seeds when their beak is strong enough to chew them.
- Niger seed
Niger seed is important for baby budgies to have access to it because it contains omega-3 fatty acids essential to their building and growth.
- Pumpkin seeds
Baby budgies should have access to pumpkin seeds. But they should eat pumpkins only after the fourth week of life when they are old enough to take care of them in the cage.
- Safflower seeds
Safflower seeds should not be given to baby budgies until the 3rd week of their life. Additionally, they can be poisoned if fed to them before the age of 4 weeks because the toxins in the seed can build up in your baby budgie’s body and cause a condition called hepatic lipidosis.
- Cornflower seed
Baby budgies should eat cornflower seeds by the fourth week of their life because it is one of the essential seeds.
- Wheat grain
Wheat grain is a very important seed for baby budgies, especially because it contains essential vitamins necessary for the growth and development of your pet’s body.
Other seeds (Like peanut and sunflower seeds) have a high protein content and prevent diarrhea in baby budgies.
Suppose a baby budgie gets diarrheal while eating other seeds. In that case, you need to stop feeding the bird that seed until it gets better.
How To Feed Seeds To Baby Budgies?
You can feed seeds to baby budgies by following steps:
- Put a handful of seeds in a dish and crack them up with a fork.
- Add some water to the dish until it is moist enough for the seeds to swell in size but not too wet where they will rot.
- Add a few drops of sugar on top of the water and stir them around so that sugar mixes into it.
- After about 15-30 seconds, you can then serve this mixture to your baby budgies by taking some on your finger and putting it inside their beaks.
- Be careful not to let too many seeds go into their beak, or they might choke on them!
- After a while, when the baby budgies are full of seeds (let them go back to their cage quietly), you can rinse off the dish, clean it, and repeat steps 1 to 6.
Be careful not to give baby budgies too much as it can cause them to choke or get sick. Also, you can feed them vegetables such as green beans or other leafy veggies.
Another way is to make sure that you let your baby budgies fly around the house and search for their food by themselves.
How often & How Much To Feed Baby Budgies Seeds?
Baby budgies can eat seeds daily. Feed them only seeds during their first few weeks, and then switch to soft foods such as chopped-up veggies and fruits, bread crumbs, crushed crackers, and bits of honey.
They should be fed several times a day. If you are thinking of raising budgies on your own or if you have a large group at home, start with the basics. Seed-eating birds need lots of variety so feed them some dry food from time to time.
Budgies can eat 1 tablespoon of seeds easily in just a day. You should feed baby budgies various seeds because they will often stop eating after only one feeding. After a day or two, you can increase the number of seeds to 2 tablespoons per feeding.
Can Baby Budgies Eat Sunflower Seeds?
Yes, baby budgies can eat sunflower seeds, but they will need to be ground up first because of their size. It can be done by placing sunflower seeds in a food processor or coffee grinder.
It is especially good food for them during the winter when their natural diet would not provide enough calories to grow.
Last Words
Baby budgies are sensitive to any foods as they are not capable of eating the foods that adult budgies can eat and consume. Also, you can serve seeds after a specific age, and baby budgies can eat seeds if you feed them properly.
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