Kibble and Pellets for your Parakeet - Budgie
Just like most people feed their cats and dogs "kibble" (processed pellets) instead of their natural foods (rabbits, rats, etc.) some people also feed their parakeets "kibble". Parakeet kibble is nutritionally balanced and a great way to meet all of the parakeet's food requirements easily. It is fortified with vitamins, nicely crunchy/chewy and comes in a variety of flavors.
Some parakeets love kibble, just like some cats love dried cat food. However, other parakeets are convinced they want to eat "real food" with a variety of textures, flavors, and taste sensations. Think of this in your own life. What if you were only fed crunchy, dried pellets for food 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Wouldn't you get bored of it after a while?
Lisa's Reasons for Avoiding Pellet Diets
I have to admit that I've never converted any of my parakeets to a kibble-only diet. I've tried a number of times. They way you do it is by mixing it in slowly. If you just take out the old food and only put in kibble, your parakeets won't know what to make of it - and they could have serious malnutrition issues if they stop eating for a while during the conversion process. So instead, most brands recommend:
* First week - 3/4 the old food, 1/4 the new kibble, mixed together.
* Second week - 1/2 the old food, 1/2 the new kibble, mixed together.
* Third week - 1/4 the old food, 3/4 the new kibble, mixed together.
* Fourth week - only new kibble.
Most kibbles recommend around 2 Tbsp kibble per bird, per day. In genearl parakeets will not overeat so it's usually safer to put out more than necessary to ensure they get enough food.
Whichever way you go, be sure to give your parakeet a diet that is balanced and healthy. If you feed kibble, supplement with a few fruits and vegetables so at least the bird gets some variety in his diet. If you feed seed, be sure to also include the fruits, vegetables, and other grains that make up a balanced parakeet diet.
Index of Healthy Food and Water for Parakeets
Cat / Parakeet Info Homepage
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