Can Budgies Eat Cucumbers? The Shocking Truth About This Treat!
Last updated on November 10th, 2023 at 12:38 am
Written by Isra P
Can budgies eat cucumbers? That’s an interesting question. Although it is well-known that birds have to consume a good amount of fruits and vegetables regularly, a few could be poisonous to them. So it’s always crucial to consult with a vet before drastically changing our feathered companions’ diet. Fortunately, cucumbers are not a threat.
Indeed, budgies can eat cucumbers. They have a significant concentration of water that can keep our beloved pets well hydrated. Moreover, cucumbers contain silicic acid, which aids in the development of strong and beautiful feathers. Remember, though, that there are certain caveats you must consider when feeding cucumbers to budgies.
When giving cucumbers to budgies, you have to consider a few factors. For example, most fruits and vegetables are invaluable sources of nutrients. Still, when consumed in excess, they may trigger health issues. So here is what you should do if you want to offer your pet cucumbers.
Are Cucumbers Safe for Budgies?
Generally, cucumbers are safe for budgies. However, like anything in life, you shouldn’t overdo it. You see, cucumbers have a lot of water in them (reference). In fact, they are around 90% water, which may mean lots of watery poop.
So remember that if your budgies eat them all the time, that excess water can saturate your pet’s digestive system leading to diarrhea.
Diarrhea is a big problem since it can lead to dehydration. The last thing you want is to cause your bird to lose a significant amount of water as you feed it. The idea is to make your budgie healthier, not sicker.
Another issue that could arise as you provide cucumbers to your budgies is the hazard of pesticides. The fruit is known to be one of the top crops containing a harmful concentration of dangerous chemicals.
Amygdalin, a cyanogenic compound present in the seeds of cucumbers, may also be a threat when feeding your budgies. Although it’s present in low amounts, it is better to avoid it to be on the safe side.
Now, don’t despair, as there are a few ways around these tricky challenges.
Benefits of Cucumbers
There are a lot of benefits associated with cucumbers. First, they pack a lot of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin K, vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, and manganese, which boost a budgie’s immune system (facts).
Additionally, these nutrients allow your pet to heal from any wound faster. Due to their high water content, they are also ideal for keeping budgies regular if they get constipated and refreshed when summer days become too hot.
Furthermore, unlike most fruits, cucumbers are low in sugar, which means your pet will not get a load of calories from them. In other words, the risk of your budgie getting overweight due to eating this food is extremely low.
Can Budgies eat raw Cucumbers?
Budgies can definitely eat raw cucumbers. As a matter of fact, that’s the preferred way of offering the fruits to them. Think about it. In the wilds, budgies approach fruits and eat them in their natural state, so that’s ideal.
In addition to removing nutrients, cooking cucumbers may affect your pet’s digestive tract leading to an upset stomach, which we don’t want.
Can Budgies eat Cucumbers with Skin?
Budgies don’t have a problem eating cucumbers with the skin on. Interestingly enough, a lot of nutrients are found inside the peel of this wonderful fruit. However, there are a few drawbacks to doing so.
The skin can give your pets a hard time as they try to break through it. Moreover, it can upset their stomachs as its thickness might make it difficult to digest.
Pesticides are also a big issue when dealing with peels. Cucumbers are known to be sprayed with these chemicals that could endanger your friends’ well-being. Remember that Budgies are small, so even tiny amounts of pesticides can cause significant damage.
Organic produce is an effective way to deal with this problem. You may also wash the cucumber and remove the skin to be on the safe side. That way, you will have one worry less, and your friend will remain OK.
Can Budgies eat Cucumbers' Seeds?
While budgies may able to eat cucumber seeds, it’s better to remove them because they contain small amounts of a substance called amygdalin which can be poisonous.
Now, there is no need to panic if you have given your budgies seeds before, as only consuming copious amounts of them can hurt your pet. However, it is essential to discard them from now on to keep them safe.
In the following video, you can see a budgie having a great time while eating a piece of cucumber:
How do you Feed Budgies Cucumbers?
You must understand that serving cucumbers in the right way can reduce threats to your dear friends. Furthermore, following the procedure will ensure your budgies a delicious, healthy snack that will make them like you even more.
Get rid of Pesticides
Before offering the snack, you have to be sure your budgies won’t get hurt by it. So to guarantee their safety, you must avoid chemicals that could endanger them (source).
In other words, your options are growing your own cucumbers, buying organic, or, if you don’t have any other choice, getting regular ones but be sure to wash them and remove the skin, as you will see in the following steps.
Wash Carefully
Once you have acquired the cucumbers, it’s time to wash them. Even if you bought the organic type, it’s a good idea to rinse them to take care of any hidden threats, such as pathogens that may be lurking on the surface.
Remove the Skin
Peeling off the outer layer of the cucumbers it’s not a bad idea if you want to avoid upsetting the stomach of your pets. The skin by itself is not dangerous, but again, you don’t want to take unnecessary risks.
Deseed the Cucumber
As mentioned before, pulling the seeds out is a must to preserve the health of our pets. The poison inside them is not lethal in small doses, so you don’t have to be concerned if you forget the first few times.
Get Ready to Serve
As you prepare to offer your budgies their future favorite snack, let it get to room temperature first if you got it from the fridge. Keep in mind that in their natural state, they feed from fruits at a temperature much higher than the one inside your refrigerator.
Once ready, you may proceed to cut the cucumber into slices and serve them on a plate. If they ignore the cucumber, you may also pick a piece and offer it to them directly. Of course, they may also run from you as you attempt it, so leave a few slices inside their cage hanging from a food clip in case everything else fails.
If you want cut the slices into smaller pieces.
Show Them
Initially, your budgies might be hesitant to grab a bite of that delicious cucumber hanging in their cage. So what you must do is lead by example. First, grab a few slices and eat them before your pets. That will make them curious, and eventually will take a nip to see what is so great about them.
Take Your Time
It might take some time before your budgies accept a new food. If they resist, offer it from time to time without being too pushy. Eventually, they will go for it.
Throw Away the Leftovers
If your budgie doesn’t eat the piece at the end of the day, discard it to prevent bacteria and other microorganisms from growing on the food and making your pet sick.
How Often Should Budgies eat Cucumbers?
Generally, you want veggies and fruits to be nearly 20% of your birds’ diet. So, at most, you may provide cucumber to your budgies two times a week. Anything more than that, and they might get watery poop.
Once ready, you may proceed to chop the cucumber into slices and serve them on a plate. If they ignore the cucumber, you may also pick a piece and offer it to them directly. Of course, they may also run from you as you attempt it, so leave a few slices inside their cage hanging from a food clip in case everything else fails.
As you can see, cucumbers are good for budgies. Providing that you follow all the steps outlined above to minimize the dangers, they will enjoy a nutritious treat that will enhance the quality of their lives. So give it a chance, and let your pets enjoy their new refreshments!
