Treats for a budgie

[mesmerred]

I'm looking after a friend's budgie which gets a bit neglected in the family and it only seems to have millet to eat. I used to have one but it is a long time ago and I have forgotten what they eat. I bought some treat sticks for it but they are mainly millet too. What can I give it to widen it's diet? I gave it some chick weed and it enjoyed that. What else please?

[wildwood]

Any of the green veggies, but only a little bit. It is not used to it and may scour. Corn, peas, broccoli, cauliflower, dandelion seed heads, in fact any seeding grass head, but again... a little bit at the time. Mix a little bit of canary seed in the millet, and perhaps a very little bit of oats.

Tie the veggies or seed heads to the top of the cage, it will force the bird into a bit of exercise. It should really have a daily fly around the room to stop it getting too fat, but that may be a bit too demanding for a lodger.

The standard cuttlefish bone, oystergrit and fresh water is always available ofcourse.

[mesmerred]

Thanks for this advice wildwood. She's the smallest budgie I have seen, more like a blue tit. (Unless mine was a monster!) I only have her for a week this time, so will take it easy with the diet changes, but I think I will be having her again as she has settled in well, so now have ideas for the future. She also doesn't seem to bathe (there is no bird bath) so that's another thing.

At home they did allow her to fly, but something spooked her and she doesn't come out so much. I would be happy to let her fly here but I have a couple of African Greys so need to keep them all at a safe distance. Another time I can work something out with her in a different room.

By the way, what about fruits, orange, apple, grape? Thanks again.

[wildwood]

All fruits except passionfruit is ok. Although I've found budgies are not keen on fruit except the odd bit of apple.

Funnily enough, I now distinctly remember my grandfather a looooooooong time ago - he had a budgie and an african grey and they were together in the same cage and when out they stuck to each other like glue. Not saying you should try that though, especially with someone else's bird. Funny how animals pick their friends eh?

[mesmerred]

She likes a little grape too. She's very brave and thought she was biting me, but it was the grape, which she decided was very tasty!

As you say, with someone else's bird you can't take the chance, but unlikely friends can arise. One of my Greys and the cat like eachother. They will sit quite happily close to each other, though not in contact, but that might develop if they met more often. That Grey was curious about the budgie too. The other Grey chases the cat and he's the one

[Solarjunkie]

Our old budgie (lived to over 13!) loved a bit of groundsel. Used to wedge it into the door so he could nibble at the seeds and nip at the leaves.
You sound very caring, lucky bird!

[lankeela]

You can buy honey/seed/fruit bars or bells which you hang n the cage.

[mesmerred]

My last posting was meant to finish "he's the one which might go after her."

I don't know what grounsel is but will look it up. Am thinking of getting a budgie myself now, cos I'm getting attached to her. Thanks to all for your help.