Budgies are fascinating little creatures, aren’t they?
They have a bright, colorful appearance, are easy to care for, and can talk your socks off when they want.
What’s not to love about that?
It’s no wonder then that budgies rank supreme as the ‘most’ popular’ avian pet worldwide.
That’s also why the internet is teeming with questions from budgie parents who want to give their feathery pal the best in life.
Today, we’re going to discuss a popular query among parakeet parents – can budgies eat yogurt?
The answer to this question is yes; budgies can eat yogurt, but only in minimal quantities.
Additionally, budgies generally derive no benefit from eating yogurt and can end up facing health concerns like an upset stomach.
If you’re looking for more in-depth info about budgies and yogurt – you’ve come to the right place.
Stick with us as we walk you through why it’s best if you keep your budgster away from curd and other related substances
What Is Yogurt?
Before we get to discussing why yogurt isn’t the best snack for your pretty parakeet, let’s talk a little about what yogurt is.
Obviously, we all know that yogurt is a milk by-product that’s stocked to the brin with gut-friendly microorganisms.
However, did you also know that the process that turns milk into yogurt is called ‘Lactic Acid Fermentation,’ and it occurs because of the natural sugars present in milk? In fact, lactic acid is what gives yogurt its unique flavor.
As healthy as yogurt is for your digestive system, some yogurt types aren’t tolerated well by the lactose intolerant because of the lactase present in yogurt.
Humans can avoid this roadblock by opting for Greek Yogurt because of its considerably low lactase count.
Why Budgies Shouldn’t Have Yogurt
Yes I know, I did say budgies can eat yogurt in small quantity and now I’m saying why they shouldn’t
Here’s the thing.
We made it a point to discuss yogurt and the fact that it includes lactase, which is difficult for some humans to digest – because there’s a huge difference between avian and mammalian physiology.
Humans lose their ability to tackle lactose over a period of time.
On the other hand, birds don’t have what it takes to break down lactose simply because their diet doesn’t involve dairy – ever.
See what we’re getting at?
Budgies are typically ground-feeders that require a diet of seeds, nuts, vegetation, fruits, and berries.
Feeding them something as complex as yogurt may be asking too much of their digestive system and can lead to problems like diarrhea and dehydration.
There are other type of yogurts out there too
Such as greek yogurt or dairy-free
So can your budgie eat those type of yogurts?
Carry on reading to find out..
What About Greek Yogurt or Dairy-free Yogurt?
If your budgie has a unique personality and likes the taste of yogurt, you can get safely get away with feeding it greek yogurt and dairy-free yogurt.
Greek Yogurt
Greek Yogurt has minimal milk sugar.
So, the straining process involved in making greek yogurt eliminates most of the lactose in it.
Hence, your budgie that’s intolerant to lactose will not have much of a problem having tiny bits of yogurt now and then which backs up why I said at the beginning of the article about budgies can eat yogurt
Moreover, there are even options of lactose-free Greek yogurt.
Therefore, your budgie can enjoy its weekend strawberry smoothie without fear of any ill-effects.
Dairy-free Yogurt
When you only for vegan alternatives for yogurt, you’ll come across various products that work as healthy choices for budgies.
You see, vegan yogurt isn’t made from cow’s milk.
These dairy-free yogurts are formulated from nondairy plant sources such as almonds, peas, coconut, and cashew nuts.
As you may know, all of these choices are wholesome and prove to have no toxics that affects birds.
So, you know that your budgie will be a happy bird having its favorite treats without suffering from digestive problems.
Other Healthy Budgie Treats
Yet, there are budgie parents who like to err on the side of caution and steer clear of feeding their budgies yogurt at all. In such circumstances, you need not worry that your feathered friend will have no yummy treats to munch on.
You see, your budgie does love the pellets you feed it. If your pet loves variety, you can provide many food items that include fruits, vegetables, and eggs.
Fruits
Budgies can have many fruits that are both delicious as well as nutritious.
Some even fall under the super food category.
Here’s a list of delightful fruity treats your budgie can have:
- Apples
- Bananas – Check out my article Can budgies eat bananas?
- Pears – Check out my article Can budgies eat pears?
- Cherries
- Berries
- Melons
- Plum
You have to remember to rinse the fruit thoroughly, remove the pits and stones, and dice the fruit into tiny pieces.
Also, never overfeed your budgie, as your adorable budgie can grow obese.
Vegetables
Yes, your budgie can have veggies too.
These must be served raw or boiled, chopped into tiny pieces to avoid choking hazards.
But, make extra sure to rinse the veggies right before you feed your beloved pet.
Let’s look at some of the crunchy, munchy greens your budgie can eat:
- Green beans
- Peas
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Celery
Eggs
You can go with scrambled or boiled eggs.
Just remember to keep it oil-free and serve it only once the eggs have cooled down.
You can have a read of my article to find out more in detail about budgies eating eggs
Can budgies eat scrambled eggs?
Conclusion
Having a pet budgie in your life is only going to make it richer and happier.
But, to ensure that your budgie lives a long and healthy life, too, you have to be extra careful about its dietary needs.
Especially when it comes to adding new type of foods to their diets or you want to give your budgie a treat
Regarding yogurt – yes your budgie can eat it but in very small quantity
As I always mention – it’s best to go over the finer points with an avian vet to know about what to stay away from, you won’t have much trouble keeping your birds chirping all day long.
Remember a happy bird is a healthy bird!
