In the wild, a bird's diet consists of 20% animal food, and the remaining 80% is plant food: grains, fruits, vegetables, etc. At home, these proportions are adjusted with industrial feeds and additives.
As a rule, premium-level solutions contain all the vitamins and minerals necessary for the pet’s body. Whereas budget food offers only the base. That is, the bird has to be fed on its own. Let's find out whether it is possible to give budgies a boiled egg and how to do it correctly.
Should I include it in my diet?
The product acts as food of animal origin. it is imperative to include chicken eggs in your pet’s diet They can be given either in pure form or as part of additional food. It all depends on the age, health and taste preferences of the bird.
You should not overfeed birds with boiled eggs, especially those kept in well-equipped enclosures and not in small cages. Excessive saturation of an animal’s body with nutrients is just as harmful as a lack of them.
Is it possible to give parrots an egg, in what form and how much?
A properly selected diet for a parrot is the key to good health and a long life for the bird. When creating a menu for a feathered pet, it is important to focus on food that is healthy for your pet’s body. Under natural conditions, the diet of parrots consists of 80% food of plant origin and only 20% of protein products. Proteins are essential for poultry. All kinds of small insects act as a source of these substances for wild parrots, but how can a domestic bird meet the protein needs? Chicken eggs can be an excellent source of protein, but the question arises: is it possible to give eggs to parrots?
Do birds eat this kind of food?
A lot here depends on the pet’s personal preferences and its current diet. If it is varied enough, then the parrot may refuse the offered treat. The need of poultry for boiled eggs and the frequency of feeding is determined by a number of factors.
Feeding frequency:
once every 3-4 days during the mating season;- daily, immediately after the appearance of the young;
- during the molting period - once a week;
- after the chicks leave the nest - one egg in 4-5 days;
- the rest of the time - once a week.
Prohibited Products
When feeding your budgie, be sure to take into account the fact that its body is not designed for many of the foods we are accustomed to. After all, poultry digestion is mainly aimed at processing various grains. Here is a list of foods that should absolutely not be given to wavy pets due to their high content of harmful substances:
- milk (cream);
- cheese (especially salty);
- coffee;
- alcoholic drinks;
- potato;
- chocolate;
- fried foods;
- fatty foods;
- salty foods;
- sweet products;
- sausage (sausages);
- meat - in rare cases, you can give the parrot a piece of boiled chicken;
- fruits: avocado, mango, papaya, persimmon;
- spices;
- spinach;
- nuts;
- apple and pear seeds;
- onion;
- garlic;
- mushrooms.
What does your parrot like to eat?
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Benefit
An egg yolk is 70% organic and 28% protein. It contains vitamins A, D, E and K, as well as fats and other elements important for poultry, such as phosphorus, sodium, potassium and iodine. If you cook an egg correctly, it will still contain minerals: aluminum, bromine and boron.
The yolk is almost 90% liquid, while the rest is B vitamins. They are especially useful for young animals , so eggs must be included in the diet of chicks and weakened individuals.
Regular consumption of boiled eggs helps strengthen the birds' immunity and rapid plumage growth, which is very important during the molting period.
How much to give
Consumption of eggs is beneficial only if it does not exceed the established daily volume. Failure to comply with the standards will turn the consumption of the product into harm. It is important to consider that this is still far from the only component of a bird’s diet that contains the protein that parrots need. Birds also get this substance from low-fat dairy products:
Therefore, you should control not only the consumption of eggs, but also the amount of protein your pet receives from the diet in general.
Oversaturation of a parrot's body with protein threatens such health problems as:
- apathy;
- inactivity;
- metabolic disease;
- digestive problems;
- obesity;
- passivity.
As ornithologist veterinarians emphasize, in order not to exceed the permissible amount of protein intake and to extract the maximum benefit from eggs in the form of microelements, it is recommended to give parrots an egg not completely, but one quarter at a time (the maximum dosage is half an egg, but only if you are sure that the bird does not get protein from other foods).
Giving your feathered pet a boiled chicken egg is not only recommended, but even required. This product contains useful substances and microelements that a parrot needs to maintain health and well-being. But it is very important not to overdo it with the inclusion of this product in the bird’s diet. Exceeding the recommended intake will not bring any benefit; on the contrary, it will result in health problems. It is worth noting that for different stages of a parrot’s life, the established consumption standards differ, therefore, when drawing up a menu for a pet, it is important to coordinate it with the optimal consumption schedule drawn up by ornithologist veterinarians.
How to cook to give
Eggs must be hard-boiled. Budgerigars should not be given soft-boiled, bagged or fried foods. Raw eggs can contain ligaments that are dangerous for the bird, so they definitely cannot be used in feeding.
Breeders use two methods of preparing eggs, which depends on the goal. In the first scenario, the yolk and white are used as additional food, while in the second, the egg is given separately, regardless of the base.
In its purest form
Boil the egg hard and cut it together with the shell into 2-4 parts. Then we wait until it cools down completely. Then we place the finished product in the feeder. Egg shells will act as an additional source of minerals.
This preparation format facilitates long-term storage of the product. Sometimes parrots are cunning and eat the yolk and white without touching the shell. In such cases, it makes sense to crush it by first rolling the egg between your palms.
In the feed
It is more rational to give the product in the form of an egg mixture with the addition of third-party ingredients. The egg must be hard-boiled and cooled completely in cold water. It should be boiled for at least 8 minutes. As a result, the yolk should become crumbly.
If the shell has acquired a gray-green tint, then this is a sure sign of overcooking. Such products are much more difficult for an animal to digest and cause significant discomfort.
Afterwards you need to peel the egg and grate it. If we are talking about young animals, then you should additionally mash the yolk and white with a pestle or chop with a knife. Next, you need to add the crushed egg to the mixture.
If the individuals are young enough, then the latter should include beets, carrots and a couple of tablespoons of semolina. Instead of carrots, you can add apples. All ingredients must first pass through a grater.
Sexually mature birds are given bran or crushed crackers made from white bread . All elements are thoroughly mixed and the result is crumbly food. One teaspoon per day is more than enough for one pet. The frequency of consumption of the mixture depends on the physical condition of the bird: nursing birds need it every day, while others need it once a week.
One of the clear advantages of this method is the hassle-free accustoming of the parrot to new foods, as well as the ability to add medications. The bird will not notice any additional ingredients in the new composition. In this way, you can accustom your bird to bone and grass meal and vitamin supplements that are not the most pleasant to the taste.
In the winter months and early spring, when animals are preparing to feed young animals, experts recommend adding fish oil to the diet (a drop per spoon of feed). Birds do not like it, but in a combined mixture they will eat it without any problems.
But this method also has its drawbacks. The fact is that the abundance of fresh ingredients makes the product perishable, which is especially critical in hot weather. That is, you will have to prepare the combined composition several times a day, which is not very convenient for owners who spend a good half of the day at work.
It is also useful to read: How to germinate grain for budgies
Can parrots have a boiled egg?
The answer to the question of whether this product is allowed to be included in the parrot menu is very simple. It is not only possible, but also necessary, to give all parrots - both budgerigars and cockatiels - a boiled egg.
Such important indicators as:
Therefore, the main characteristics of your pet’s diet should be:
- right;
- utility;
- balance.
In order for the menu to meet these requirements, it is necessary to supplement plant foods with protein products. Chicken eggs are famous for their high content of this substance of animal origin. Feathered gourmets will love this healthy, nutritious and tasty product.
It is worth noting that it is given to the parrot exclusively boiled, and only hard-boiled. The correct cooking order is:
- Place the product in a saucepan with pre-filled and salted cold water.
- Place the saucepan on the fire and wait until the water boils.
- After 1 min. reduce heat and cook for another 7-8 minutes.
- After this, you can turn off the fire - the eggs for the parrot are cooked, all that remains is to cool, peel and serve to your feathered pet.
You can present them to the bird in their entirety, but in this way the pet may pinch off a piece that is too large for its neck and choke. Therefore, it is better to serve the product to your pet either finely chopped or grated.
It is recommended to prepare a special dish for the parrot. To prepare it, you just need to grind part of the product and mix it with one of the recommended ingredients, also ground. The latter include:
- greens (beet or carrot tops, lettuce, scalded nettle leaves, clover);
- zucchini;
- carrot;
- squash;
- pumpkin.
Your parrot will definitely like this light and tasty, healthy and nutritious salad.
What quantity is allowed
The amount of nutrients in the poultry diet must be kept under strict control. Excess protein immediately affects the pet’s condition: activity and appetite decrease. In difficult cases, the animal experiences apathy: it loses interest in what is happening around it, and, huddled in a corner of the cage, begins to pluck its feathers.
A significant amount of protein is contained in milk and cottage cheese. You cannot combine chicken eggs with such products: you should give one thing.
If the bird has reached sexual maturity, is absolutely healthy and is not preparing for laying or molting, then half of one egg per week is enough for her . In combined feeds, the proportion of yolk and protein can be reduced by 15-20%.
After an illness, during the nesting period or after severe stress, the bird should increase the dose and feed it eggs every day. In such cases, the abundance of protein will contribute to a kind of restart of the immune system, which will have a positive effect on the pet’s rehabilitation. The situation is similar with young animals. A growing body requires a lot of nutrients: vitamins, minerals and organic matter.
How often can complementary foods be given?
Experts advise feeding your pets a boiled egg at the following stages of life:
- During the period of preparation of the feathered pet for reproduction - twice or thrice a week. In the period from the laying of the first fetus to the birth of the chick, it is necessary to exclude this type of food from the diet so that the female does not become obese and is able to hatch the clutch freely.
- After the baby is born, you can feed your pet this type of food every day. After ten days from the birth of the youngest pet, you need to gradually reduce the amount of egg feeding. As a result, such food should be included in the diet three times a day. If the parrot owner wants to complete the nesting stage, a break in feeding is necessary.
- Young birds should consume the egg product once or twice weekly until they are four months old.
- During molting, winged friends are fed the white and yolk every fifteen days.
- In other periods of life, offering your pets boiled complementary foods twice a month is sufficient.
What to look for when choosing a poultry product
It is worth mentioning the choice of eggs themselves, because today’s market offers a lot of options, and not every product is suitable as food for a budgie. First of all, it’s worth dispelling some myths.
The most common is color. It really depends on the chicken itself. In black, red and variegated breeds they are brownish in color, while in light breeds they are white. The color of the product does not in any way affect the set of elements.
You can also find eggs in stores marked “Bio,” “Eco,” or “Pure Organic.” In Europe, there is a similar gradation indicating that the bird was free-range and/or fed on natural grains. But in Russia there is no such certification, as well as guarantees that these registrations correspond to reality.
It is also useful to read: Grass for a budgie
Some believe that a rough shell indicates a mediocre quality of the product: an incomplete set of vitamins, a brittle structure, etc. Research by Roskachestvo has revealed that there is no connection between the texture of an egg and its contents.
What you should pay attention to when choosing eggs for your feathered pet:
- Production time.
- Manufacturer.
- Storage.
- Shelf life.
- Shell integrity.
The production date must be clearly indicated on the packaging. If it is absent, then giving such a product to birds, as well as to people, is dangerous. Choosing a manufacturer is simple: the closer it is to the point of sale, the better.
Eggs should be stored in a dry and clean room , where there are no strong odors. The shell, like a sponge, absorbs all the aromas, so it’s a good idea to smell the product before purchasing. The same goes for packaging. The parrot will not touch the offered treat if it smells strongly of third-party products.
Can a parrot have yolk?
All parrots are exotic “guests” of your apartments. It is worth remembering this not only because they add zest to your home, but also when organizing the bird’s feeding. All reference books regarding nutrition say that birds in captivity must receive all the necessary elements included in the diet of birds living in natural conditions. Quite often the question is asked: can a parrot have cottage cheese?
We answer, according to data from Brazilian ornithologists, the basis of the diet of parrots is plant buds, but wild parrots do not eat the same dry grains that we feed them every day. Therefore, the question of parrot nutrition remains open to this day. As for cottage cheese, it is necessary as a source of protein, calcium and enzymes that have a beneficial effect on the intestines of poultry.
What should be included in a bird's diet that can satisfy all the natural needs of the bird? R. Lowe believes that 60% of the diet should be vegetables and fruits, the remaining 40 should be seeds and nuts.
In turn, professional breeders believe that the optimal ratio of elements necessary in a parrot’s diet is observed in professional feeds. However, many bird lovers have learned the opposite from their own experience, preferring to feed their pets foods enriched with a set of essential microelements. When thinking about diet, many bird lovers begin to ask questions:
Can parrots have eggs or can budgies have cottage cheese? After all, these are the products that are preferred in feeding any growing organism. Eggs are an important source of protein, so it is recommended to feed one chicken egg once a week. In addition, many breeders, concerned about whether it is possible to give a parrot an egg, prefer to feed their pet quail eggs, as they are more nutritious.
Cottage cheese and any fermented milk products are not only possible, but must be given to any bird, including budgies. An important condition is that they all must be low-fat. Fermented baked milk, kefir, and yogurt can be given no more than twice a week.
A parrot's diet must contain nuts, grains, fruits, vegetables, and herbs. The proportions of these products in the diet of each individual species of parrot are discussed in special reference books. All fruits and vegetables must be fresh.
In addition to the listed products, sprouted grains should be included in the poultry diet. To do this, ordinary grain is thoroughly washed and filled with water at room temperature for five hours. Then the water is drained, the grain is washed again and filled with water of the same temperature, but for 8-9 hours. During this time, the grain should hatch. Before feeding, the seedlings should be dried, since not all parrots do not like wet food.
It is not allowed to feed the bird: mango (fresh mango, according to veterinarians, contains toxic elements), persimmon, papaya, potatoes, herbs, candied fruits, boiled vegetables and table foods, as they contain large amounts of fat and salt, which are contraindicated for parrots . To avoid poisoning, do not give the bird seeds of berries containing hydrocyanic acid, meat, cheese, seafood, or fish.
What are the benefits of chicken eggs for parrots?
They are especially useful for birds during the nesting period and in winter. At this time, feathered friends are in dire need of a large supply of energy and strength. Therefore, it is recommended to give chicken eggs to domestic budgies.
How to properly give a boiled egg to a budgie
Such complementary foods are a rich source of natural animal protein that does not cause any harm to the pet’s body. Therefore, it is necessary to treat your parrot with this type of food.
Basic diet of budgerigars
It is known that the basis of a feathered pet’s diet is grain. However, it is important to diversify it with vegetables, fruits, and herbs. Do not forget that the “wavy”, like any other living creature, needs vitamins and minerals for normal life.
Grain feed
When purchasing a parrot, you should ask the breeder what kind of grain feed its parents ate. If the purchase was made at a pet store, it is enough to consult with a specialist to purchase a really good and nutritious product. It is important to consider that its main components may be:
- oat grains;
- millet grains;
- sunflower, flax, sesame seeds;
- seeds of meadow crops.
When choosing a feed mixture, you should pay attention to its expiration date. If it has expired, the food will be of poor quality and may negatively affect the health of the bird.
Sprouted feed
It is a known fact that sprouted grains saturate the bird’s body with energy. They are enriched with vitamins, minerals, and fiber. It is important to enrich your bird’s diet with such food in winter. It is best to germinate grains of crops such as:
The shelf life of sprouted feed is only two days. Storage location: refrigerator. For this reason, you should not prepare large quantities of grains. For germination, you will need a shallow dish in which they will be placed, wrapped in gauze. In order for the grains to germinate, they must be constantly moistened.
Is it possible to feed your pet cereal?
Wondering what can be fed to a budgie other than food, many wonder whether it is worth boiling porridge for the bird. There is no ban on their use in your pet’s diet, however, it is important to approach preparation wisely. Experts recommend mixing several cultures, boiling them until half cooked or fully cooked, and then serving the “wavy”. You need to prepare porridge from the following cereals:
- buckwheat;
- millet;
- wheat (crushed);
- pea;
- rice
The remains of porridge not eaten by birds can be frozen. It is important not to use the microwave during defrosting. Experts say that porridge can be enriched with chopped herbs, fruits, and vegetables.
Greens and branches in the diet of birds
The bird needs greens and twigs so that it can wear down its beak when eating them. Herbs and branches must be collected in ecologically clean areas, and the former are torn in small bunches and carefully examined for the presence of stems of poisonous plants in them. The following types are most often preferred:
- clover, burdock, plantain, nettle;
- oats, barley, wheat;
- spinach, lettuce, carrot and beet tops.
It is important to remember that before serving to the bird, the grass is carefully sorted, washed, and inspected for the presence of insects on it. Twigs should also be collected in areas that are ecologically clean. It is best to give preference to branches from trees such as:
It is important that there are no resin residues on the branches. Before serving them “to the table” of your feathered pet, you need to soak them in water for several hours and then scald them with boiling water. It is better not to give willow or willow branches, as in spring they are filled with toxic substances that are poisonous to your pet.
Is it acceptable for “wavy” animals to eat fruits and berries?
What else can you give budgies besides food? Fruits and berries are permitted products used to enrich the diet of “wavy animals”. It is best to give preference to the following crops:
- apricots;
- plums;
- peaches;
- melons;
- apples;
- pears;
- garden and forest berries;
- melons;
- watermelons;
- grapes;
- cherries;
- cherries;
- citrus;
- kiwi.
At one time, the bird is given a small amount of fruits and berries. They must be washed clean and peeled. “Volnistika” can be given both dried and fresh products.
