What does a parakeet eat?

Mostly bird seed, but if fed exclusively bird seed your parakeet will be sure to develop malnutrition and not have a very long lifespan.

In the wild, a parakeet has a much more balanced diet. You can mix it up by also giving your parakeet any of the following: bird pellets, cooked beans, whole wheat bread, rice & pasta (cooked or uncooked), fresh vegetables such as (broccoli, boiled carrots, boiled yams, spinach, lettuce), fresh fruits such as apples, oranges, and pears, hard boiled eggs (without the shell, of course), tuna (packed in water, not oil), and mealy worms or dandelion greens (if you can find them).

Be sure to dice up items into tiny pieces and consider using a cheese grater. Your parakeet will also love millet sprigs or "sprays", but make this a rare treat, as it is fattening and sometimes leads to tumor growth (you can get millet sprays here at Pet Food Direct).

Note that parakeets are ALLERGIC to chocolate and avocados and should NEVER be given either.

Other questions in 'Feeding Your Parakeet'

1. What does a parakeet eat?
2. What does a parakeet drink? Can I give my parakeet tap water?
3. How often should I give water to my parakeet?
4. What should I NOT, never, ever feed my parakeet?
5. How often should I feed my parakeet?
6. How much bird seed should a parakeet eat?
7. How much will bird seed cost me?
8. Where can I buy bird seed?
9. Where can I buy bird seed online?
10. Are there any drawbacks to buying bird seed online?
11. Where can I buy Millet Sprigs or Sprays online?
12. Should I add vitamins to my parakeet's water?

Browse Other Frequently Asked Questions