You must have seen your Budgie eating its own poop and you might be wondering why your pet is behaving like this? This behavior of your pet parakeet is so cringe and you wish to stop it, right?
Poop-eating behavior in captive animals is more common which is called Coprophagia. This is normal and is not a risk to your pet’s health but this should alert you about your parakeet’s diet, stress, and the environment.
Why is My Budgie Eating Poop?
Although as a pet owner, you can not accept them eating their poop, however, there is nothing you can do when they have already done that. Let us discuss and understand why your bird is acting like this then we will try to look for ways to stop it.
Your Budgie is looking for Nutrients in Poop
Generally, poop-eating behavior is developed in captive birds to fulfill the need for the nutrients that they are lacking. If you have been giving a specific seed diet to your budgie regularly without any change then your bird will lack other nutrients.
Captive Birds Thinks that Poop will Provide Nutrients
Captive birds are not able to search for other food or ask their owner to provide them with other nutrients to fulfill their body’s need for other vitamins and minerals therefore they start to eat their own poop which they think can fulfill the requirement but it does not.
All captive budgies are the responsibility of their owners and you should provide a properly varied diet to your budgies so they get all nutrients.
How to Change the Diet of Stubborn Budgies?
I have seen many pet owners complaining that their budgies are stubborn to change their feed and stick to seed only diet. Although, budgies are smart, however sometimes they do not understand what they require to remain healthy.
I have trained my birds to eat a variety of food to provide all important nutrients to them. An efficient way to let them feed on fruits, veggies, and other necessary seed mixes is to starve them for a day and then they will try what you will offer the other day.
This trick seems a bit harsh but this is for their own good. Do not let your love stop you from making them starve.
What Should You Feed Your Budgie?
You should keep an eye on the nutrients that you are offering to your budgies, here are some feed suggestions that you should offer to your parakeet.
- Budgie feed should be a mixture of different items such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, lentils, pallets, and other seeds.
- Feed proportion should be 60% – 80% of bird pallets and others will be your chosen fruits, vegetables, nuts, and other seeds.
- Offer them a variety of fruit, veggies, and others daily or once a day so that they do not stick to one food.
Unclean Cage
One more reason for budgies eating poop is an unclean cage. Parakeets like to chew and bite different things they find as a habit and if you do not clean their cage then they will start chewing their feces therefore clean the cages regularly.
Bored and Stressed Parakeets
Parakeets are social and playful birds and they like interactions, if you have not provided them their cage mates and they are alone. Furthermore, if you are not able to give them time then this will make them depressed.
Stressed and bored parakeets will stop chirping and start behaving differently such as eating their own poop.
How Do I Stop My Bird from Eating Poop?
You can easily stop your budgies from eating poop by following the below-mentioned instructions,
Maintain a Proper Diet for Your Budgie
Provide them with the proper diet as mentioned earlier, this will stop them to eat poop.
Clean their Cage More Often
You can make a habit of cleaning their cage more frequently so that they do not eat their poop as a hobby.
Adjust the Cage Surface Net or Tray
You need to adjust the cage surface net on the above levels so that they cannot reach the cage surface to eat their poop. Remember to clean the cage net every day as some droppings can stick to the net as well.
Offer Mineral Grit to your Bird
Put a mineral grit into the cage of your budgie within the reach of your bird. They love to chew mineral grit as it gives them a variety of nutrients and suffices their need for chewing.
Spend Time with Your Budgie
Interact with your budgie and spend some time with them as they require the attention of their owner.
Let the Budgie Come out of the Cage and Enjoy
Is it Bad if My Budgie Eats Bird Poop?
Well, Budgie’s own poop is not harmful if it eats it, however, if you let them do this regularly then they will start eating other bird’s poop as well.
Your budgie should not eat bird poop. Bird poop can contain harmful bacteria and parasites that can make your budgie sick. Moreover, the waste material in bird poop is not nutritionally beneficial for your budgie and can lead to digestive and other health problems.
Final Words
If your budgie has a habit of eating its poop then do not worry as it won’t harm, however, this should alert you about some important factors such as their diet, stress levels, and lack of interaction.
You should follow all the above tricks to stop your budgie from eating poop.
