Are you worried that your budgie is overweight, do you know what an overweight budgie looks like?
Can budgies overeat? I will go through everything you need to know in this article
So, can a budgie be overweight? yes a budgie can be overweight an overweight budgie is more likely to suffer illnesses which could lead to a reduced lifespan for your budgie.
If your budgie is overweight I recommend you feed them Kaytee Forti-Diet Pro Health which you can purchase from Amazon For more information on feeding your budgie please read the next section.
Below I will cover what you need to look out for and what you can do to help your budgie
How do I Know if My Budgie is Overweight?
to test if your budgie is overweight is by running your fingers gently on their chest, if you can easily feel bone then your budgie is most likely not overweight.
If you can feel what seems to be a small layer of fat when your budgie is most likely overweight.
Other symptoms but you can look out for include
- Areas around the budgie without feathers
- Unwilling to Exercise
- Getting Out of Breath Easily
- Widened Appearance
- Egg Binding
If you think that your budgie is overweight you can try the following recommendations below.
Why is my Budgie Getting Fat
Just like us a budgie can easily put weight on if they don’t have an ideal diet and exercise regime.
The most likely reason your budgie is getting fat is because they have an endless supply of food and some budgies will typically over feed them self.
If your budgie is also not getting enough exercise this will also be a big factor of their weight gain.
How Do I Get My Budgie to Lose Weight?
if your budgie is overweight there are a few things that you can do to help them lose weight which include.
1. Reduce Food
Make sure that your budgie do not have access to an endless supply of food, give them between 15 to 16 grams of food everyday
2. Feed Healthy Food
You can also feed them diet or healthy food, I feed my budgies Kaytee Forti-Diet Pro Health which you can purchase from Amazon
3. Separate Food and Water Dishes
By separating your food and water dishes this will encourage your budgie to move around the cage more and get more exercise. You can even try placing one of the dishes up high which will force your budgie to climb or fly up there
4. Increase Exercise
Increasing exercise will not only improve their physical health but also their mental health as it will make them happier that they are not stuck in their cage.
5. Increase Cage Size
If your budgie lives in a small cage it is recommended to get them a larger cage so they can move around the cage and get more exercise.
6. Frequently Change Cage Layout
By changing the layout inside your budgies cage this will encourage them to explore the cage more which results in extra exercise for them.
What Should I Feed a Fat Budgie
If your budgie is overweight you should feed them healthy food such as kaytee forti diet pro health, this will give them a good balanced diet but we should also feed them additional foods which will give them different vitamins and nutrients.
Also make sure the food that you are feeding your budgie does not contain any added sugars or artificial flavors.
You should also feed your birds seeds once or twice a week, this is if they are not ready getting seeds in their daily feeding.
Fruits and vegetables are also a very important addition to any budgies diet, I recommend that you give your budgie fruit or vegetables every other day.
The fruits and vegetables I recommend are
- Apple
- Grapes
- Mango
- Pair
- Carrots
- Parsley
- Pumpkin
- Sweet Potato
How Often Should I Feed A Budgie
You should feed a budgie mixed bird food once a day by giving them 15 – 16 grams in the morning.
If in the morning when you feed your budgie they have left food over from the previous day do not give them an additional 15 to 16 g of food simply make sure they have access to 15 to 16 G and no more.
A bird food mixture will supply the bird with a good healthy and balanced diet but it is recommended to give them additional fruit and vegetables every other day.
How Do I Know if My Budgie is Healthy Weight?
The best way to see budgie is a healthy weight is to look at his breasts and if you can see a bone in the middle this indicates that they are a healthy weight.
If you cannot see phone clearly this is most likely a sign that they have additional fat there.
What weight should a budgie be? The average weight of an adult budgie is between 25 to 40 grams. this will of course vary depending on body size. Budgies are typically 5 to 10 in in size.
Check the below table to see what the average weight is for your budgies size
| Budgie Size | Average Weight |
|---|---|
| 5 Inches | 25 grams |
| 6 Inches | 28 grams |
| 7 Inches | 30 grams |
| 8 Inches | 33 grams |
| 9 Inches | 36 grams |
| 10 Inches | 40 grams |
You can weight your budgie using digital scales like in the picture below
Can a Budgie Overeat?
Typically a budgie will not overeat their food, They will stop eating if they start to feel full.
Even if you leave a dish full of food they will leave it alone if they are feeling full. They might pick at it every now and then and not eat food, they do this just out of curiosity.
It is recommended not to give a budgie access do more than 15 grams of food which is there recommended daily intake of food
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my budgie is skinny?
if you think your budgie is skinny you can try and run your finger down the front of their breast if you can feel a bony ridge that feels prominent your budgie could be skinny
What are budgies favourite food?
Typically a budgies favourite food will be fruits such as apples, grapes, blueberries, pear, mango. fruits should only be fed to a budgie every other day adding to a balanced diet because fruit times high levels of sugar which could cause your budgie to be overweight if they feed on fruit too frequently.
What do budgies eat for treats?
if you want to give your budgie a treat to eat you can feed them fruit such as apples, grapes, blueberries, pear, mango. fruits should only be fed to a budgie every other day adding to a balanced diet because fruit times high levels of sugar which could cause your budgie to be overweight if they feed on fruit too frequently.
How many times a day do you feed a budgie?
It is recommended to feed a budgie once a day in the morning by giving them bird seeds of no more than 15 grams