A lot of pet owners know that budgies should enjoy a varied diet and this is why they can feed their budgie vegetables. In particular, green vegetables are often recommended for our little feathered friends. This includes cucumbers.
But is it healthy for your budgie to eat cucumbers? Well, the answer to this question is yes. Budgies are allowed to enjoy some fresh vegetables in their diet such as cucumber. It’s got silicic acid in it that can be fantastic for feathering, and it’s hydrating for your budgie. However, it should only be enjoyed a couple of times per week and not every day to avoid runny droppings.
Think about it as a cool treat!
So, let’s find out what you need to know about feeding your budgie cucumber and why it can be beneficial for your feathered friend.
What You Need to Know About Budgies and Cucumber
Everyone knows that cucumbers are a healthy vegetable. They can also have a lot of benefits for your budgie that should be considered to include in their diet. For example, cucumbers contain a lot of vitamins that will keep your feathered friend healthy.
This includes vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin K. In addition, cucumbers contain the minerals potassium and magnesium. Cucumber can help your budgie get all of the vitamins and minerals that he or she needs to live a long and happy life.
Cucumbers are also known to contain silicic acid. There is a connection between silicic acid and beautiful feathers, which may mean that your budgie will look beautiful all year round.
Certainly, cucumbers contain water, which will help to hydrate your budgie and this will also contribute to beautiful and colorful feathers. Plus, budgies enjoy new treats and cucumbers are a refreshing treat for your feathered friend if it’s hot outside.
However, this doesn’t mean that you should feed your budgie unlimited pieces of cucumber. In fact, it can be bad for your feathered friend if they eat a lot of it.
One common side effect of feeding your budgie too much cucumber is runny droppings. This is because cucumbers are full of water.
While a little water is good for your budgie, having too much will cause them to dehydrate after suffering from runny droppings. This is the last thing that you want for your pet as budgies can’t survive long without having enough water in their bodies. We explain that in this article!
Therefore, it’s best to serve cucumber as a treat to your budgie so that they can get the goodness but avoid the side effects.
It’s recommended to make vegetables around 20 percent of your budgie’s diet. So, you can offer some fresh cucumber to your feathered friend a couple of times through the week as a treat.
If you need a more detailed explanation of how much budgies should eat in general, have a look at our article on that here!
Can Budgies eat Cucumber Seeds?
While pet owners may think that it’s not a problem to feet their budgie cucumber seeds, this is not something you want to do. While budgies do eat seeds in their diet, cucumber seeds aren’t safe for your feathered friend.
They contain amygdalin, which can be poisonous to your budgie. Before you serve cucumber to your feathered friend, it’s recommended that you remove the seeds. This way your budgie can enjoy a healthy treat without becoming sick.
Can Budgies eat Cucumber Skin?
Another popular question that owners have when they want to offer their budgies cucumber is whether they should keep the skin on or not.
There doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with the skin and this can actually be where we can get vitamins from.
However, budgies may find the skin tough to break through and may enjoy having cucumbers peels for them to enjoy. Some budgies may even find the skin difficult to digest.
The only concern about cucumber skin is that it may contain pesticides. These chemicals can be harmful to your budgie.
While you can wash them off thoroughly, if you’re worried about them, you can always peel the cucumber and remove the skin. This will give you peace of mind and know that your budgie is safe.
How to Feed Your Budgie Some Cucumber
As we’ve said, it’s safe to feed your budgie cucumber as a treat a few times a week. But do you want to know the best way to serve it up to your budgie? We’ll we’ve outlined a few steps below to make sure that your budgie loves their new food.
Consider Organic Vegetables
Pesticides can be very harmful to budgies. One way that you can avoid worrying about cucumbers containing pesticides is to try and purchase organic cucumbers.
These vegetables won’t be grown using pesticides and should be safe for your feathered friend to enjoy as a snack.
Wash the Cucumber Thoroughly
Whether your cucumbers are the normal ones you bought from the store or organic cucumbers, it’s always recommended to wash them thoroughly before you serve them to your budgie.
This will make sure that they’re clean and there is nothing on them that can make them sick.
Peel the Cucumbers
As we have already discussed the skin of cucumbers may not be the best for your feathered friend. It is best to peel and remove this skin before letting your budgie eat the cucumber.
Simply take a knife and cut off the skin to reveal the watery and light green part of the cucumber.
Remove the Seeds
Don’t forget what we’ve already talked about; the seeds in cucumbers can be harmful to your budgie. So, before you offer them to your pet, make sure that you remove them.
They are usually found in the middle of the cucumber and they should be easy to remove when you’re cutting them up.
Serve in a Dish or on a Clip
There are two ways that you can serve up cucumber to your budgie. First of all, you can chop it into small pieces and put it into a small dish so they can choose when they want to eat it.
Another way to make them more interested in the cucumber is to make it into a game. You can try using a food clip on the cage to attach the cucumber and let them nibble it like it’s a wheel.
Introduce Cucumber Slowly
It’s important to remember that not all budgies get excited about new things. In fact, some budgies hate change! So, be sure to introduce cucumber slowly to your feathered friend.
If they seem scared by it being in their cage, make sure you remove it. You can always try it again later. You can also try hand feeding your budgie and they may try to eat it if they trust you. Again, don’t rush your budgie; they will try the cucumber in their own time.
Remove the Leftovers
If your budgie leaves some of the cucumbers, it’s recommended that you remove the leftovers at the end of the day. Bacteria can grow on vegetables that are left out in the open air for too long.
This may make your budgie sick. So, simply put in some fresh cucumber on the next day they have it as a treat.
Related Questions
What other vegetables can budgies eat? There are lots of other vegetables you can feed your budgie and experiment with. This includes carrots, celery, cauliflower, and broccoli. Just make sure that you are sticking to having vegetables 20 percent of your budgie’s diet and they can stay happy and healthy.
Can I feed budgies fruit? It’s safe to feed your budgie fruit, but it’s important to limit them to a treat. Fruit contains a lot of fructose, which is another word for sugar. This can make your budgie feel sick if they eat too much. So, budgies should only consume fruit once or twice a week and in very small proportions. This can include fruit like melon, strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries.
