My budgies aren't eating. Are they sick or just messy eaters?

Just like people- birds can become picky eaters. We love to eat potato chips over our veggies, and many birds will enjoy millet over their regular diet! You may need to remove all the 'extras' to see if it will encourage Pepper to start eating his diet again, or mix a little millet in to his regular food (however some birds will pick out their favorites). If he's acting ill in addition to not wanting to eat his regular food, and isn't still improving as you mentioned, or he absolutely refuses even if all millet is removed, seeking vet care is always a good idea to rule out an illness or something such as GI upset that could be causing his preferences to be changed. Until you can get to the vet, keeping him warm, in a separated hospital cage, and with easy access to food and water can help.

I would not remove his food if that is all he is eating. Undigested seeds can happen sometimes, or you may also be seeing seed hulls that are dropped to the floor and land in the stool. If you are concerned about his nutrition, continuing to offer a variety of foods is best. Most birds are very picky and will refuse food several times until they finally give it a try and decide they like it. Continuing to add in foods, especially in a variety of ways such as hanging the fruit, cutting it differently, placing it in another section of the cage or in a dish, etc may encourage The Little to start eating those. If you start seeing lots of seeds in his stool, he has rapid weight change, doesn't want to eat or drink, or becomes listless or seems ill, then it could indicate something else going on which should be checked out by a vet in person.

In the second image, she definitely looks unthrifty and ill. Without a physical exam though, it is difficult to say for sure what is going on with her. If you can, transition from an all seed diet to a pelleted diet which is more balanced. Brands include Harrison's, Lafeber, Pretty Bird or KayTee Exact. You can still offer a small amount of a fortified seed mix as well as fresh fruits and vegetables to round out the diet.

It may be due to curiosity or boredom. Provide a variety of foods (pelleted diet, some seed, fresh fruit and vegetables) as well as a variety of toys to keep them engaged. A grate at the bottom will prevent them from reaching the droppings.

If his behavior is unusual or any symptoms (such as changes to the stool and lethargic behavior) are worsening, seeking a vet visit in person is always best to rule out issues such as GI upset, illness, etc. Adding a little grit to the diet may also help better breakdown seeds in his food and allow him to digest/pass them more easily. Sometimes, parasites can look like seeds in the stool, so having a vet take a look and checking for any parasites may also be a good idea. As for fresh fruits and veggies, birds can sometimes be picky about what they eat. The best rule of thumb is to keep offering them until your bird finally gets curious enough to try it. He may find a new favorite!

If Mithu is refusing to eat at all I would be concerned that he is ill. It would be best to bring him to a local vet for an exam to rule out issues such as illness, infection, parasites, nutritional issues, etc that could be causing him to feel ill and not want to eat. If he checks out healthy and just doesn't like his food, a balanced seed and pellet diet is a good base diet that provides plenty of nutrients. You can then add in fruits and veggies as treats to help add some variety and balance things out. Visit the Petco website for some [parakeet foods](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/category/bird/bird-food-and-treats#facet:43057809711497107101101116&productBeginIndex:0&orderBy:&pageView:grid&minPrice:&maxPrice:&pageSize:&) we offer so you can get a feel for what to feed.

Potential causes include infection (bacterial, fungal or parasites), trauma/injury, toxicity or malnutrition. It is critical to have the underlying cause(s) diagnosed before an effective treatment can be administered. Until you do that, you're simply guessing and possibly wasting time. Millie needs to be physically examined by your veterinarian or an experienced avian veterinarian as soon as possible. In the meantime, keep her warm and as stress free as possible. Use a hand feeding formula and warm water to make a mash or paste that she may eat. You can also soak a pelleted diet in a small amount of apple juice to stimulate the appetite. Discuss payment plans or alternative financing options, such as CareCredit ( www.carecredit.com ), with the veterinarian or office manager. Ask friends and family to assist you financially if possible.