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Why are there undigested seeds in my budgie's poop? He only eats seeds.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Bird | Unknown - Bird | Male | 11 months and 22 days old

Lately, I have observed some undigested seeds in my budgie droppings. Not all droppings are the same, most of them are normal in my opinion, but some of them contain 1-2 seeds. I wasn't able to get him to eat anything else but seeds. I bought complete food, but he selects only the seeds. He doesn't eat fruits, vegetables, egg. I also tried to give him charcoal and grit, but he doesn't try them. Is it ok to remove the seeds for several hours and provide only vegetables/fruits? Thank you!

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Jessica Desrosiers

Answered By Jessica Desrosiers

Veterinary Technician

Published on August 23rd, 2018

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.
Vote Icon2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on July 10th, 2018

    Seeds in the poop happen when your bird's stomach is not grinding up the seeds properly. Budgies and other psittacines do not usually need grit to help with grinding up seeds, they usually shell seeds. I suggest you get a commercially available budgie food for your bird, which will have the correct type of seeds for her to digest properly. If she still has seeds in her poop after feeding commercial food to her for a few days, she needs to be seen by an avian veterinarian for an exam. There are quite a few avian veterinarians in Chandigarh.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Answered By Jessica Desrosiers

    Veterinary Technician

    Published on July 12th, 2018

    Unfortunately, without an exam it would be hard to recommend a treatment plan. Trying to figure out the cause of her having seeds in her stool is best so that the right treatment can begin. If she is having trouble digesting food, switching to a softer diet of pellets or even adding in a little rehydrated baby bird food may help with some minor stomach upset, however other causes such as illness, GI upset, parasites, etc can also cause food to move too quickly through the body and leave it undigested in the stool.

    If you suspect this is the case, having a vet look at her in person and provide antibiotics, dewormers, or other medication is needed. Making sure she is on a balanced diet, and has plenty of access to clean water may also help.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Food & Nutrition
My bird's stool has seeds, he's quiet & sleeping low. What's wrong?
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!
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
Why is my bird passing whole seeds in its droppings? Is it serious?
Thank you for reaching out about Zucchini. Undigested seeds in the droppings can be due to numerous intestinal problems, including bacterial infections and viruses. It can cause rapid weight loss due to the bird being unable to absorb nutrients from the undigested food, which is concerning in a bird the size of Zucchini. I would recommend having him evaluated by a veterinarian. They can perform a thorough physical examination to see if they can appreciate any abnormalities when feeling the crop and intestines. They may recommend diagnostics to look at the feces themselves, so if you can bring a few fresh droppings with you to the veterinary visit, that may be helpful. They will look at them under the microscope and see if there are abnormal populations of bacteria present. They can then provide treatment recommendations and medications. Please do not give Zucchini any human medications, as many of these are harmful to birds. I hope this gives you a place to start, and that Zucchini feels better very soon.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Food & Nutrition
Why did my budgie's poop change color after switching to a new diet?
Diet changes can affect the stool, and if you're feeding any extras in addition to the diet change, this could be causing the change you are seeing. It is also possible that his current diet is causing some minor GI upset if it changes immediately after eating and then returns to normal. Other issues such as internal parasites can also cause stool changes, so ruling out and treating for any parasites may be a good idea. Removing any extras such as fruit and veggies and providing only his balanced diet for a few days may also help him adjust and his stool return to normal. If the problem persists, or you see any other symptoms or changes such as reduced eating/drinking, lethargy, etc, then seeking vet care in person to rule out any more serious issues is best.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
My budgie has green, watery poop, sleeps, and eats only seeds. Why?
Thanks for reaching out about Meow. Possibly this is not an infectious problem, so antibiotics and anti-fungal might not help. With an all seed or heavy seed diet, fatty liver disease is possible which will not respond to the medications. Increasing protein and vitamins in the diet could help, as could an increase in dietary fiber. An avian veterinary visit is still recommended. Good luck.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Training & Behavior
My budgies aren't eating. Are they sick or just messy eaters?
It could be that they are tossing the seed hulls (which may look like whole food) as birds will hull the seed in their beak and then toss the hull and eat the insides. If this is the case, this is normal behavior. If none of your birds are eating, however, I would be concerned there is some sort of illness going on, or there is something wrong with the food. If you haven't already, trying a different seed and pellet mix that is brand new may determine if it is the food freshness itself or the birds. If the birds are showing any signs of illness in addition to not eating such as lethargy, staying fluffed up, etc, then it is best to schedule a vet exam and have them all examined.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
My budgie only eats seeds. Can he be healthy without fresh produce?
He can survive but an all seed diet is not good for them. They get fatty liver and some other nutritional problems. Just keep trying to give him other foods. If you offer him less seeds he may start to get more interested in other foods. Try fruits like melon, kiwi, apples, pears, oranges, and grapes. Leafy greens like kale, spinach, parsley and cabbage. Other vegetables he might enjoy include carrots and celery.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Food & Nutrition
Why is my bird's poop bright green and watery after eating seeds?
Thanks for reaching out about Diablo and including photos. Green stool can be normal depending on recent food ingested. The picture shows a well formed feces, appropriate amount of urine/urates. If Diablo is preferentially eating the green pellets, the feces can be more green. Fat should be kept minimal, and with the 10% fat in the pellets and seed, the seed should be limited if not eliminated. Parrots are not exposed to many seeds in the wild, but nuts yes. A wide variety of vegetables are important, as is a protein source such as beans or legumes. Good luck.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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