I've been giving my budgies the regular good ole' budgie seed. It's what was recommended to me by the pet store worker. I also give them fruits and veggies (their favorite being dried apricots because they get to tear it up and make a mess of my room)
The more I learn about bird care, the more I realize that the plain budgie seed might not be the /best/ option. The seed I give them says it has added minerals and vitamins, but it just looks so plain. I know they get enough calcium (they love to chip away on their cuttle bone). But I'm sure there's plenty of other options that could be better.
For my cockatiel, I got a "starter kit". This came with this kind of seed : http://www.hagen.com/canada/english/bir ... 4020010101
Einstein LOVES it. It is bright because of the variety of fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts. I love that it offers him actual pieces of dried fruit. I feel a lot better giving him this, then I feel giving the budgies their seed.
My question is, would it be good to give this to my budgies as well? The package says it is good for lovebirds, parrotlets, and rosellas. I can't see why it wouldn't also be good for the budgies. Whenever all the birds are out at the same time, I take their dishes out of their cages and place them on the table (so they can have a little snack as they play). The budgies will, either out of jealousy or curiosity will ALWAYS go to Einstein's food dish. Einstein doesn't really mind sharing his food (he only gets mad when the budgies eat his millet spray).
I also know that the same brand makes a budgie formula: http://www.hagen.com/canada/english/bir ... 3400010101
Looking at both contents, it appears that the cockatiel blend offers /more/.
Personally, I'd prefer to have my birds sharing the same food, because it would be cheaper and more convenient for me. I would also feel that my budgies are getting an equal chance of a long and healthy life. (I also have a fear of Bonnie going into egg binding, I do not encourage mating, as there is no nesting box, and I have never seen them doing anything which would suggest they are mating. But if she ever feels the need to lay an egg, at least she will have enough nutrients to prevent a harmful laying.)
Also, does anyone else use this blend? I'm always reading the boards, and it seems everyone gives their birds the bland looking pellets. They don't seem attractive for me, and I know my birds would probably avoid it.
I know this is a lengthy post, but I just want to be thorough for the birds
