Do budgies need cuttlebone? Can they safely eat boiled egg whites?

Hello, A well formulated pelleted diet, cuttlefish bone, and dark leafy greens are all good sources of calcium in the pet bird. Here is a link for more information on pet bird diets: https://www.petcoach.co/article/bird-nutrition-feeding-pet-birds-parrot-diets-and-nutrition/ I hope this helps! Thanks for using PetCoach.

Most birds will get curious over time and check items out, so he may just need a bit of time to take a look. Calcium is often more important in females that lay eggs as long as Gaucamole is on a balanced and nutritious diet already. If he doesn't like the cuttlebone at all, there are calcium supplements such as oyster shell and egg food that may be more interesting to him.

Birds require calcium for more than just egg laying. It strengthens bones, aids in enyzme and hormone function, muscle development, nerve transmission and certain metabolic processes among other biological functions. A cuttlebone or mineral block should always be available. Limit dehydrated fruits that can be high in sugar. Fresh fruits, vegetables and greens would be preferred. They should make up no more than 25% of the diet. Pellets should make up the majority of her diet at 75%. Fresh foods can make up the remaining 25%. Generally, anything good for you is good for her except for chocolate, caffeine, alcohol and avocado.

You should just continue to feed your budgie a balanced diet that is designed for budgies. While spinach is a great treat, it should not be used as the main diet. If you are concerned about your budgie getting enough nutrients, you can add in some crushed oyster shells or a cuttle bone for calcium, or include some egg-food (a treat found at most pet stores) to help boost nutrition post-egg laying.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I recommend providing both grain/seed mix or pelleted feed and fruits/veggies every day. It is not necessary to provide fruit and veggies daily as these are considered enrichment, and not necessary for nutritional requirements. Keep in mind that budgies tend to be neophobic, or do not like new things in their environments, so they may not respond well to new food items. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you may have!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I can see that Squeezy’s beak is overgrown and somewhat misshapen. It should be trimmed as soon as possible. In the future, I recommend getting a cuttlebone for her to use to keep her beak trimmed. You should also make sure that her diet is balanced - she should be eating a commercial diet formulated for budgies and occasional fruits and veggies as treats. I hope this helps and that all is well!

Cuttlebone should be fine to give as most birds will self-limit when chewing on it, and if she is actively laying eggs it will help ensure she has enough calcium to form and safely lay them. She should be fine with only the cuttlebone and a balanced lovebird diet without needing to add additional calcium supplements. A lot of the controversy comes with grit style calcium supplements, which can sometimes cause obstructions in the crop. If you do not wish to have her lay eggs, removing any nesting material can help stop this behavior. Otherwise, just removing any eggs that are laid is fine. Respiratory disease usually will present with signs and symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, discharge from the nose, lethargy, heavy breathing, etc. If you suspect this is a problem, first ensuring the cage is kept clean, well-ventilated and that any bedding isn't kicking up dust is best, as well as scheduling a veterinary exam to rule out any other health issues.