Can Budgies Eat Strawberries?

Everyone wants their budgie to be happy and healthy. Of course, part of this is having a good diet. A lot of owners want to feed their little bird friend some strawberries since they are brightly colored and taste good.

But can budgies eat strawberries? The short answer to this question is – yes, budgies can enjoy strawberries as part of their diet. But they do contain some fructose and salicylic acid, which can be bad for their health if they’re fed too much and even could be toxic. This means that budgies should only have some strawberries as a treat, which is once or twice a week.

Let’s find out more about what you should know before feeding your budgie strawberries.

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Budgies and Strawberries

We all enjoy having strawberries and know they’re healthy for us. Indeed, they also have some health benefits for budgies, such as being hydrating and full of vitamins. But they still contain fructose, which is another word for sugar.

Strawberries don’t have as much sugar in them as other fruits, but they still do contain it. So, it’s best to limit the amount of strawberries you feed your budgie. Think about them as a treat for your little bird friend.

After all, they are very small and a little amount of sugar for us is still much more for them. Too much sugar can be bad for their digestive system and this can make your budgie sick, as well as cause obesity.

Another thing to know about strawberries is that they contain salicylic acid. This can be poisonous to your little feathery friend if they eat too much of it. This is another reason why strawberries should be limited for your budgie’s diet.

It’s also important to remember that some birds are afraid of the color red. This means that it might take some time for your budgie to try to eat the strawberries you provide them with.

In the animal kingdom, red is often a color that is about warning and danger.

For example, there are wild birds that have red on their wings that becomes visible when they fly away, acting as a warning for other birds. So, take your time when introducing your budgie to this new fruit so they aren’t scared of it.

Benefits of Strawberries for Budgies

Not only will your budgie enjoy the taste of fresh fruit like strawberries, there is also a lot of health benefits too. Strawberries are full of good vitamins for your budgie that can keep them healthy and happy.

While it is possible to get the same goodness of a seed mix, it’s also good for your budgie to try new things. In addition, strawberries contain water, which will keep your little feathery friend hydrated.

Plus, budgies love to play with their food and trying something new can be exciting for them. They smell new, have a different texture and will make your budgie curious.

Of course, this is if they can gain the confidence and pick up the courage to come near something that is red!

Just be sure to keep strawberries for once or twice a week as a treat. While there are benefits, there are also the downsides that have been discussed. To get the good without the bad, limit the amount of strawberries you feed your budgie.

Also, if you want to get to know more treats for budgies, read our article on that here. We show you 12 awesome, inexpensive treats for budgies there!

How to Serve Strawberries to Your Budgie

So, you want to know how to serve strawberries for your budgie? Well, the once or twice a week you buy some fresh fruit for your little bird friend, there are a few steps you can follow to make sure they’re happy and enjoy the fruit.

Wash off Pesticides

Of course, you will feed your budgie the same strawberries that you will eat. So, this means that it’s important to wash them well before you serve them to your budgie.

All kinds of fruit and vegetables can be sprayed with pesticides, and this is something that won’t be good for your little friend.

Cut into Small Pieces

Budgies only have a small beak. So, make sure that the strawberries are cut into small pieces of them. This will make it easier for them to eat, as well as more enjoyable for your little bird friend.

Also, cutting into small pieces may help your budgie if they are scared of the color red.

Serve with Greens

We’ve discussed that budgies can be afraid of the color red. This might mean that you have to get creative in how you serve them! One good way to try and overcome this fear of the color red is to simply disguise the strawberries in their dish.

This can be done easily with greens and fresh vegetables such as broccoli, parsley, cucumber, and savoy cabbage.

Especially cucumber is pretty good for budgies. Here is why:

Why cucumber is so healthy for budgies!

Take it Slowly

There is the possibility that your budgie won’t mind you putting strawberries into their cage straight away. But read their body language and if they seem distressed and scared, remove the strawberries and try them again later.

You can perhaps reduce the serving size or even trying to hand-feed your budgie to begin with. The most important thing to do is not rush them. Eventually, your budgie will become curious on their own.

Don’t Panic

It’s not unusual for your budgie’s droppings to change color after having fruits like strawberries. So, don’t start to worry if you notice a red color in their droppings after serving up fruit. This is normal and not something to panic about.

Remove at the End of the Day

If your budgie has not eaten some of the strawberries, make sure that you remove them from the cage at the end of the day.

While it can be tempting to leave them there in case your budgie gets hungry, the fruit will go off after a while in the open air.

There is the possibility that bacteria can grow due to the sugar and this can make your budgie sick if they consume it. So, it’s better to be safe rather than sorry!

Can budgies eat…

You might have a couple of more questions about other foods you want to feed your budgie. We are sure that the articles below will help you:

Beak Craze