Can Budgies Eat Pumpkin Seeds?

It was 2 years ago, I was at my friend’s house and saw that he was feeding pumpkin seeds to his budgies, I asked can budgies eat pumpkin seeds, and if it is safe for them.

I searched on the internet, talked with many people, and found that yes, budgies can eat pumpkin seeds. It’s been 2 years now, I have been feeding seeds to my budgies and till now there’s been no problem.

So, in short, Yes, budgies can eat pumpkin seeds. It is packed with many nutrients like protein, fiber, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium.

Are pumpkin seeds safe for budgies to eat?

Yes, pumpkin seeds are safe for budgies to eat. In many countries, pumpkin seeds are sold in the market as wafers. You should not feed the same salted pumpkin seeds to your budgies.

Always prefer to feed them fresh pumpkin seeds without adding any seasonal salt. Budgies can eat pumpkin seeds but it doesn’t mean giving them every day, any nutritional food feeding in excess will give some side effects. So, if you are feeding your parakeets pumpkin seeds in moderation, it is safe for them.

are pumpkin seeds good for budgies?

Yes, pumpkin seeds are good for budgies, they contain protein and lots of minerals that can benefit their health.

According to the research of Researchgate, regular intake of pumpkin seeds can reduce the risk of cancer.

Benefits of feeding pumpkin seeds to budgies

It is a good source of Protein

As per the U.S. Department of Agriculture, every 100gm of pumpkin seeds contains 29.9gm of protein. Protein helps in carrying oxygen throughout the body’s blood, it also builds antibodies in the body that fight against illness and infections. It also plays a big role in building strong muscles.

Fiber

Pumpkin seeds contain fiber that plays an important role in maintaining a healthy digestive system. It will keep your budgie’s blood cholesterol level low. It also prevents constipation and helps maintain healthy bowel movements.

Phosphorus

Phosphorus is a mineral that is found in many foods including pumpkin seeds. It helps regulate the normal function of the heart, nerves, and muscles.

 Potassium

Pumpkin seeds are a good source of potassium. It will help your budgies maintain normal blood pressure. The main role of potassium is to maintain normal fluid levels inside the cells. You can also get potassium from fruits, some fruits like kiwi, pomegranate, pineapple, grapes, cherries, strawberries are bananas are great sources of potassium.

Do Budgies Like Pumpkin Seeds?

Yes, most of the budgies like pumpkin seeds. Budgies are seed lovers and there is a high chance that your budgies will like pumpkin seeds. My friend’s budgerigar don’t like me but when I put pumpkin seeds into my hands, they fly to me to eat pumpkin seeds.

You can use these seeds to tame your parakeets. Some budgies may dislike pumpkin seeds, of course, like us they also have their personal choice.

In that case, you should try at least giving them 5 to 6 times, every time serve differently. If they don’t eat even after that then don’t force them much. There are many nutritious foods available, you can try those.

How Much & How Often Can Budgies Eat Pumpkin Seeds?

Budgie’s staple diet contains 60% to 80% of pellets and 20 to 25% of fruits and vegetables. Even pumpkin seeds are not a part of their regular seed mix. So, it shows you should not give them every day and should be offered as an occasional treat.

Pumpkin seeds are nutritious but overeating can upset their stomach. I have seen many people feeding their budgies pumpkin seed as a one-time meal, I asked the avian veterinarian, and he said no, you should give this as snacks, not a full-time meal.

So, you should feed 2 to 3 seeds to your budgies once or twice a week.

How To Feed Pumpkin Seeds To Your Budgies?

There is no preparation needed in feeding pumpkin to budgies. You can simply give them in a bowl, they will eat on their own. Preparation is needed if you want to give them baked or soaked.

There are many ways to feed your feathered friends pumpkin seeds, you can give them dry, baked, or soaked. If you are looking to give them soaked, soak the seeds for 5 to 10 minutes before offering them to your budgies.

You can also bake the seeds and give them as a snack, but make sure to not add any seasonal salt. If you don’t have an oven, don’t worry, put the seeds in a dish and place them outside on a sunny day.

If your budgies don’t like pumpkin seeds, one thing you can do is cut the seeds and mix them with their favorite fruits & vegetables or seed mix. Whether you are giving baked, dried, or soaked, I recommend you to try to hand-feed them.

There are many benefits of hand-feeding, this will create less mess, less wastage, and also improve your bonding with your budgies.

can budgies eat raw pumpkin seeds?

Yes, budgets can eat raw pumpkin seeds and even I recommend you give them raw. It contains more nutrients than cooked or baked, cooking or baking takes out some of the nutrients.

If your budgies don’t like to eat raw pumpkin seeds then you can give them baked but don’t add any spices.

FAQ’s

Q. Can budgies eat salted pumpkin seeds?

Ans. No, you should not give your budgies salted pumpkin seeds, it can upset their stomach.

Can Budgies Eat Pumpkin Seeds? – Final Thought

Two years before I was also confused about whether can budgies eat pumpkin seeds or not, so I can relate to you. To give you a brief answer, yes, budgies can eat pumpkin seeds. You can feed them raw or baked once or twice a week.