how much is to much

[lucysmom]

good morning, my question today is how much rice is enough. i have discovered lucy likes plain cooked rice but dont want to over do it. ok another question, i was reading a blog yesterday and it stated that parakeets/budgies need grits everyday is that true?

 

[SilverSage]

Plain cooked white rice is a starch, basically pure carbs with no nutrients, so feed it as a special treat, not as an every day food.

No, budgies do not need grit. Hookbills remove the hull of the seed before eating it. Some birds, such as finches, eat the hull as well. The grit is important for THOSE birds because it helps remove the hull inside the body. Since your parakeet takes the hull off with his beak he does not need the grit.

 

[lucysmom]

thank you so she has had her treat of rice for a couple days cuz she got very little last nite to try and gave her a little more this morning with breakfast. thanks for the insight. i just love this site and members, always truthful and very very helpful

 

[Kiwibird]

Well, for a bird Kiwi's size, I always give a spoonful. Scaling that down for a little girl like Lucy, perhaps a teaspoon? Rice is fine as a treat, but as silversage said, not something you want to feed too much.

Have you tried her on a grains and brands mix? Something with an assortment?

Volkman Seed Company

Though I think a bag of this would last you FOREVER with your girl Perhaps getting some in the bulk department of your grocery store would be more appropriate

 

[labell]

Why not see if she likes quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) it is a much healthier alternative for her and you. It is ranked as one of the most nutritious grains on the planet and it is delicious!

 

[lucysmom]

i can do that since i eat it as myself and son are vegetarians . never thought of that

 

[kalypso123]

Is there a mix of grains and other healthy stuff for my tiel that I can eat as well? She will only eat things I do unless its treats or her pellets. Also I read that tiels should have some seed mixed in their diet. Is this true? She was on all seed but I converted her over to Zupreem pellets.

 

[SilverSage]

I would say that a few grains for a budgie is more appropriate than a teaspoon, they truly eat almost nothing. A teaspoon is almost a days worth of food.

My budgies love quinoa, especially sprouted!

Yes, cockatiels, budgies, and other species who naturally feed mostly on grass seeds in the wild do well with a small amount of dry seed in their diet at least three times a week, and SPROUTED seed is AMAZING. Please do try it