Foods You Shouldn’t Give to Your Pet Parakeet

Let’s talk about common Foods You Shouldn’t Give to Your Pet Parakeet because they are toxic.

Wild birds feed in flocks of hundreds to even thousands in the wild because they are social eaters. Just as wild birds, pet birds such as budgerigars like to share mealtime with their flock-mates – either other birds in the house or their human caretakers.

Humans love some food and there is every tendency of offering it to their pets. Some of this food should never be offered to budgerigar pets because of potential toxicity.

Avocado

Persin is one of the components of avocado leaves, it is a fatty acid-like substance that kills fungus in the plant. This substance may cause heart damage, respiratory difficulty, weakness, and even sudden death when ingested by budgerigar. Some bird species can safely consume certain types of avocado.

Vegetables are generally good for your budgerigar pet but never feed your pet with avocado this is because it is hard to know which type of avocado will affect which species of budgerigar. The amount of avocado your pet would have to consume before it will be affected is also unclear.

It’s best simply to avoid feeding avocado and avocado-containing foods (such as guacamole) to your budgerigar, given the potential consequences. You should always give your budgerigar carrots, peapod and some good vegetables instead of avocado.

Caffeine

Caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea, and soft drinks, have great taste, stimulate us, and wake us up. You shouldn’t think of giving these tasty beverages to our pet parakeet because even a sip or two of these drinks can be toxic to our feathered companions.

It can induce arrhythmias, increase heart rate and hyperactivity, and even cause cardiac arrest in the parakeet. You should opt for water or an occasional taste of fruit juice for your thirsty bird and make sure you avoid caffeinated products.

Chocolate

Budgerigar pets have a hard time resisting chocolate or chocolate-containing foods. Chocolate can, however, be toxic to pet parakeet, even in a very small amount. This is because it contains theobromine and caffeine. These constituents can cause vomiting and diarrhea, increase heart rate, resulting in hyperactivity, induce tremors and seizures, and even cause death in budgerigar pets.

Offer your pet with a piece of sugary fruit like mango, papaya or grape instead of chocolate the next time you are tempted to share a Hershey’s kiss with your pet parakeet buddy.

Salt

We usually add salt to all sorts of foods without thinking. When we consume too much salt, it isn’t good for us, it is also not good for our pet parakeet, and even a little bit is potentially toxic to a budgerigar pet.

The electrolyte and fluid balance in your budgie’s tiny body can be upset even by one salty chip or pretzel leading to excessive thirst, dehydration, kidney failure, and death. Choose a bite of low-salt cracker, the next time you want to offer your bird a salty treat.

Fat

High-fat foods, such as butter, oil, fatty meats, and nuts can result in the build-up of cholesterol deposits in the walls of our arteries (known as atherosclerosis), predisposing to heart disease and stroke. Consuming this food excessively can lead to obesity and all the health problems that accompany this condition. Budgerigar pets are prone to developing high cholesterol and triglyceride levels and subsequent coronary artery disease when they consume these foods.

Budgerigar should not be offered heaping quantities of these fat-filled items, especially if they are small relative to the portion size. Instead, your pet can have One walnut or a few silver of almond every day for a medium-sized budgie is good. Stacked with heart-sound monounsaturated fats, nutrient E, and omega 3 unsaturated fats, the pecan is a solid treat your parakeet will be crazy about.

Apple seeds and fruit pits

Fruits containing seeds such as apples and pits such as cherries, apricots, peaches, nectarines, and plums should not be offered to your budgerigar pet without removing the seeds and pits, this is because these seeds and pits contain small amounts of a cardiac-toxic cyanide compound.

These fruits are completely safe for your pet parakeet to consume without the seeds and pits you can feed your pet with the seeds from other products such as berries and pumpkin

Garlic and onion.

Just like other vegetables, many people expect that onions and garlic are healthy for their budgerigar. They have heart benefits in man whether fed raw or cooked but are toxic to budgerigar pet and almost all species of birds, cats, and dogs. Onion can irritate the lining of your pet’s mouth and crop, causing ulcers. It can also induce the rupture of red blood cells resulting in anemia. Allicin is another chemical that is contained in garlic and can cause anemia and weakness in budgerigar pets. With a small piece of vitamin A-rich hot pepper, you can spice up your budgie’s life.

Xylitol

This can be found in sugarless gum and many diet foods. It causes hypoglycemia, liver damage, and possible death in budgerigars. Budgies have a faster metabolism than many other species and might. They are very sensitive to the toxic effects of even tiny amounts of this chemical.

You’d be doing your pet parakeet some good by avoiding xylitol altogether. Your pet should not be given chewing gum, this is because it can stick to the feathers and if your pet is overweighed. Pet Parakeet should be fed with low-fat fruits and vegetables, rather than diet products containing xylitol to help lose weight. Xylitol should be avoided in your budgie’s diet even when it is a sweet option in your weight loss plan.

If you want to know what foods are great for your Budgerigar, read here