Health and life expectancy depend, among other things, on the right diet. Budgerigars are fed special budgie food, which is usually a mixture of different types of millet and other cereals. You should look for good quality budgie food; lower quality food brands often contain added sugar to make the grains more palatable.
A budgie should be given fresh fruit or vegetables every day, but they must not be overfed. A budgie can eat green leafy vegetables such as lettuce or spinach, as well as carrots, kohlrabi, apples, pears, bananas and sweet cherries. Cut a piece of fruit or vegetable into pieces that are not too small and stick it between the bars next to a perch so that the bird can nibble on it.
Budgerigars are omnivores and can therefore tolerate animal protein in moderation. An occasional piece of poultry or a hard-boiled egg without salt is perfectly adequate.
A mineral stone or cuttlebone provides budgerigars with all the other minerals they need. These can simply be hung in the cage, where the bird can nibble on them until they are used up.
Fresh branches from fruit trees with buds or leaves provide budgerigars with new and interesting perches and healthy treats. The birds love to nibble the bark off the branches.
Of course, budgies should always have a bowl of fresh water available, which should be cleaned regularly. As they like to bathe, they need a bath house or a bird bath.
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