HOW TO GROW MILLET BUDGIE’S FAVORITE FOOD

Budgies are the cutest pets to have in a home. Apart from companionship, they offer a strong friendship and provide delightful entertainment at home. This type of parrot is fussy when it comes to what they feed. So, if you want to maintain pure blood between you and them, you have to give in to their demands and provide what they want.

Millet is every budgie’s favorite food, which means that you must add it to your bird’s diet. Buying it can be costly considering it’s a can’t-miss food for your pet. Therefore, it’s wise to have your millet provider reduce the costs. This article will explain everything, starting from scratch on how you can grow millet for your buddy.

Why is millet important to a budgie?

You probably wonder why you should bother yourself looking for millet when you can go for other feeding alternatives for your pet. Everyone, even you, loves when you eat your favorite meal. You’ll eat while in a happy mood and feel appreciated by the person who knows you well enough to offer you the food. Likewise, a budgie feels good when eating millet and will love you more when you give it.

It has a lovable taste that birds crave. Furthermore, birds are naturally jumpy and enjoy searching for their food. Millet is the most fabulous way that a budgie can acquire the freedom to work for the grasp of its food and keep itself busy. In other words, if you want your bird’s happiness to last forever, grow millet for its sake.

What is the recommended amount of millet to give a budgie?

Anything too much isn’t right, no matter how convenient it is. Too much millet poses a threat to your budgie’s health. To be safe, only give it one teaspoon a day, even if it asks for more. Your buddy can get mad at you for a while after denying him more of millet, but don’t give in. You don’t want your bird to get fat or any other health issue caused by poor feeding habits.
It’s not good to give it every day. It’s safer to feed it twice a week.

Which is the best millet for my budgie?

There are two main types of millet—white and red variety. White millet, also referred to as Proso, is the most preferred choice. Wild birds mostly appreciate red millet due to its rough husks. It’ll be quite unpleasant for your bird if you present a red millet.

When is it appropriate to feed your budgie millet?

It becomes annoying when you consume something you love frequently. It’s more appreciative when you can only get hold of it once in a while. Let your buddy earn the taste of its favorite stuff. Give it as a treat on its well-behaved days. Make the moment fun by placing it in a hard-to-access position to make it struggle before reaching it. Preferably put it at the top of the cage. It’ll be inspiring to see your friend sweating hard to get their much-desired snack!

Which is the best way to feed your budgie millet?

The last thing you want is to overfeed your budgie. To make a safe measurement of the portion, cut the millet spray into pieces instead of placing the whole branch inside the cage. Doing so ensures you give a controlled and well-portioned amount to your bird.

How do you sweeten your budgie’s millet?

It’s annoying to eat the same type of food in a similar way over and over again. The best way to spice your budgie’s grain is by soaking them in water for a while to make it smooth. Put the millet in a small dish, add water to it and serve your bird. However, this style reduces the bird’s excitement to eat since it denies them the chance to jump around.

Factors to consider before growing millet

Growing millet is a project that needs some consideration before embarking on it. Like any other agricultural project, you must prepare for it if you want a successful harvest.

• The first thing to consider is the urgency to grow it. Admittedly, it’s unrealistic to trouble yourself with millet growing, yet buying the grain is more convenient and satisfying for your one-owned bird. Although planting millet is the right decision, it’s not always the best option to settle for. Ensure having your source is cheaper and more fitting in your case.
• The number of budgies. These species are well off when they are in a group, that’s why most owners keep more than one. If you have many of them, grow a more substantial portion of millet. It should be big enough to feed your birds without starving them. If you have a few, save yourself the trouble and plant a tiny portion.

• The source of your seeds. There are various sources of millet seeds. It’s hard to tell the right seed, especially if you are not familiar with the millet varieties. To be safe, buy from exclusively birds feeding distributers. Feel free to ask them to help you pick the right grain. You can find the sellers online, but make sure they are qualified resources. Being careful will prevent you from buying ungrowable seeds. You wouldn’t want to plant seeds only to wait for years without them bearing a single piece of millet.
• How ready are you? You are used to purchasing ready-made stuff for yourself and your bird. And growing is a new line of feeding system. You should be willing to go through the little trouble when growing millet. Be ready to be on the watch out for other birds waiting for your millet to mature before they ambush it and swim in your bird’s favorite food. However, don’t think it’s a dangerous contract you are signing into. It’s quite a piece of work, but it’s not as hard as you think.

Things you’ll need to grow your millet

• Potting soil
• A well-draining pot
• Millet
• sunlight

How do you grow millet budgie?

Growing millet is not a terrifying farming project like other plants. It only requires a little space to place the seeds and relax as you wait for the results. It is a warm-season crop, typically planted in late spring/early summer to ensure adequate yield.

You can grow the millet in your compound garden or pots. The pots alternative is a better choice since you can place it on the kitchen window still or behind your door, anywhere convenient.

Plant the millet seeds in fertile soil containing some sand for proper drainage. There is no need to plant them deeply in the land. Millets are quick-to-sprout species. Spreading them on loam and covering them with soil as you sow is enough. Ensure you water them from time to time. But don’t overdo it, millets grow poorly in water clogged soil.

How do you make millet grow faster and come out best?

How you treat the plant as it grows determines the final harvest, you’ll get. As it grows, you’ll have to thin out the seedlings. Birds love to bite on the immature green millet shoots. So, don’t discard these nutritional leaves as you thin out the millet plant. This process creates room for a fresher and bigger crop by increasing the growth rate.

When do you harvest your millet?

It takes 2-3 months for millet to grow from seeds. The time varies. But usually, the first signs of growth become noticeable within two weeks. Don’t harvest it until it turns brown.

What is the best soil to use?

A well-drained soil filled with organic or nitrogen fertilizer is the recommended type.

What is the right length of millet to grow?

Knowing the appropriate growth length will help you identify whether or not the crop is making any progress. Most grow in the range of 18-24 inches in height. Some can reach up to 5 feet high or even more.

How to grow a millet that pays you with impressive results in the end

Go for organic millet

Organic millet seeds are the best to opt for if you are planting a bird’s seeds. Ensure it’s 100% free from pesticides or any other chemicals. This way, you’ll grow a health-suiting product for your budgie.

Plant the seeds at the right time

The best planting hours is at the beginning of springs or any other time before the last section of the year. Probably start to plant 6-8 weeks before the last cold seasons of the year. This way your crop will get enough time to mature and be ready by the time growing season arrives.

Prepare the soil in advance

Proper planning prevents poor performance. If you are aren’t fully ready, you can buy seed starter soil and mix with organic compost. If that sounds unnecessary to you, get soil from your garden and set it in a seed-appropriate pot.

Ensure the seeds are in a warm place with enough penetration of indirect light

It takes days for seedlings to start sprouting. Most millet varieties grow well in warm climates and bright-indirect sunlight. The right temperature is 26 degrees. However, some millet packages come with otherwise instructions. Follow the directions if the distributer states so.

Water them reasonably

Water the seeds as soon as you plant them. Ensure you sprinkle water on them anytime the soil appears dry. But the seeds should not soak in water at any cost; millet does not grow well in such an environment.

Warm the seedlings

Once the weather starts to warm up, transfer the seedlings into the outdoor pots or to the garden. But don’t change the soil, and try to plant them in the same depth as previously. They should be fully protected from strong winds.

Apply the right harvesting method

The time taken by millet to mature depends on the climate. A seed pot is the greatest determinant of when the crop is ready for harvest. Break the pod and study the colour of the seed inside. If it’s brown or black, collect it. You can cut off the whole stalk or harvest individually. Expect the plant to die after producing seeds since it’s an annual crop.

Why opt for growing millet instead of buying a ready-made package?

You won’t know the effectiveness until you begin to use your home-planted millet. It saves you a lot more than just the buying costs. The most significant impact is that it’s cheaper and more convenient, especially if you have many budgies in your home.
It also blindly trains you to be a good farmer. You can take advantage and start to grow millet for you and your family’s consumption. With millet in your home, you can make delightful foodstuff for your household.

Things to be aware of and always remember:

Don’t forget other diets

It’s easy to dwell so much on millet and forget other foods due to its accessibility. Feeding on millet all the time will make it turn from the favorite food to the most-hated meal. Millet lacks some essential vitamins and nutrients. For a healthier bird, mix the diet with fruits and other seeds.

Don’t allow it to get addicted

A budgie can get addicted to millet if you allow it. To prevent such a situation, don’t make it always available to the bird regardless of the easy accessibility.

Use it to train your bird

While growing up, your parents used your likable item to bribe you or appreciate any good trait you did. Millet too can do the magic on your bird. Sometimes the budgie can get insecure or mad at you and starts avoiding you. You can use the millet to win it over. Also, it can be a good way of finger-training your buddy while burning the extra fat since it’s high-content carbohydrate stuff.

The Bottom Line

Budgies are lovely creatures that deserve your love. As the owner, you have to provide it with all the requirements for a comfortable lifestyle. Apart from a well-balanced diet, you should offer friendship, a calm, and a secure environment. Millet is an excellent way of making your budgie happy and satisfied. To save the costs, plant it in your home and see how much it contributes to your minimality in budgeting. The article has provided everything you need to know. It’s now your turn to make a move and grow your budgie’s millet!