Have you ever run out of pellet food only to turn around and see your hungry budgie staring back at you?
Perhaps you know that budgies can eat a number of things like fruits and raw veggies but when you open your fridge, you find that all you have are eggs.
Maybe it’s the perfect time to introduce something new into your budgie’s diet.
So, should you feed your budgie eggs? This article will give you the scoop.
Can Budgies Eat Eggs?
Eggs are a great way to provide budgies with the nutrients they might lack—nutrients they are missing and attempting to supplement by consuming their own eggs.
But does the thought of feeding your budgie an egg feel strange—a bit like feeding it one of its own kind? Don’t worry.
We aren’t talking about feeding budgies fertilized eggs. Giving your budgie an occasional unfertilized chicken egg is totally fine.
The same eggs many of us eat for breakfast every morning have health benefits for budgies, too. When it comes to feeding your pet budgie an occasional egg, the good news is that it’s absolutely okay and even nutritious.
Budgies can eat cooked eggs as well as raw eggs and, best of all, many budgies really enjoy them.
Is Egg Good for Budgies?
Budgies benefit from eating the entire egg. Eggs contain vitamins that are good for budgies, including:
- Calcium
- Protein
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin D3
- Vitamin B12
The eggshell is a wonderful source of calcium that is great for budgies’ health.
Unfortunately, many budgies don’t get enough calcium through seeds alone.
Moreover, when birds don’t get enough exposure to sunlight, they can become deficient in Vitamin D, which can compound a deficiency in calcium.
A calcium deficiency is one reason why a budgie might eat her own eggs, which contain a good amount of this vital mineral.
Budgies that don’t get enough calcium in their diet might show symptoms such as:
- Weakness
- Depression
- Fractures
- Laying eggs with thin shells
The yellow part of the egg, called the yolk, contains a significant amount of protein.
Budgies must get enough protein in their diet, and an egg is packed with more protein than birdseed alone.
Budgies need protein in addition to calcium because it helps them maintain:
- Strong feathers
- Strong bones
- Healthy hormone production
- Strong muscles
- A sufficient supply of energy
Eggs are a great food option for budgies for other reasons, including:
- Aiding in digestion
- Nutritious without excess carbohydrates or sugar
- A good food option that leaves no waste
Too much sugar is bad for the budgie’s sensitive digestive system because of the difficult time it has digesting sucrose.
If your budgie consumes too much sugar, it might get diarrhea. That’s not fun for anyone.
Thankfully, eggs do not contain any sugar.
A Note on Eggshells
There are several ways to feed the shell part of an egg to your budgie, including:
- Crushed up
- Ground
- Baked
Keep in mind that before giving your budgie eggshell to eat, you must sterilize the egg in boiling water.
Boil an egg for approximately 30 minutes and then allow it to dry off and cool.
After that, you can crush or grind the shell and sprinkle it in your budgie’s birdseed for an extra bit of crunch.
Additionally, you could bake the eggshell pieces for your budgie. Simply lay several eggshells onto a cookie sheet and set the oven to about 250 degrees.
Pop the cookie sheet into the oven and bake the eggshells for about 10 minutes without letting them turn brown.
After that, you can crush them up and give your budgie a nice dose of calcium.
Providing sufficient amounts of calcium is one of the primary benefits of feeding your budgie eggshells.
Also, eggshells are great to give budgies during nesting season to replenish the calcium they might lose from laying eggs. Calcium boosts the reproductive health of budgies while promoting normal nerve and brain health. It’s a win-win!
Can Budgies Eat Boiled Eggs?
Yes, budgies can absolutely eat boiled eggs. Because budgies can eat every part of the egg, including the shell, yolk, and albumen (the white part), it’s easy to feed them boiled eggs.
When you feed a hard-boiled egg to your budgie, make sure to crush the shell a bit with a fork so that the bird can more easily break and consume it.
Even better, you can cut the hard-boiled egg into halves or fourths before giving it to your budgie.
The smaller pieces will be easier for your budgie to hold onto and nibble.
Or, you might prefer to add the pieces of boiled egg to your budgie’s birdseeds, allowing them to grab it at their leisure.
Can Budgies Eat Scrambled Eggs?
Yes, budgies can eat scrambled eggs.
Scrambled eggs are a great way to make eggs more exciting for budgies by letting them experience a novel food texture.
However, you must not add extra ingredients when scrambling eggs for your budgie.
In other words, when cooking scrambled eggs for your parakeet, make them plain. Avoid using salt and pepper, as even a little bit can upset the electrolytes in a budgie’s system.
You may, however, use a bit of olive oil as long as you cook the scrambled eggs at a low temperature.
When cooking olive oil at a higher temperature, you run the risk of overheating it, which can release harmful compounds.
It’s best to avoid the risk.
How do you safely scramble eggs for budgies?
Scrambled eggs are perfectly safe for budgies to eat as long as you take a few precautions, including:
- Proper use of ingredients
- Safe method of preparation
While I like some garlic or onions when I prepare scrambled eggs for myself, these ingredients may not be well suited for budgies and are therefore best avoided.
Avoid using toxic cookware (non-stick pans).
If you decide to scramble eggs for your budgie, it’s paramount to avoid using pans of the non-stick variety.
Non-stick pans contain a material called polytetrafluoroethylene, or Teflon, which is the material that prevents food from sticking to non-stick pans.
When non-stick cookware heats up to high temperatures on a stove-top, it releases gas fumes that are highly toxic to birds and may lead to death.
Sadly, it’s rare for birds to survive Teflon poisoning.
While Teflon is arguably safe for humans, it should never be used to prepare food for budgies.
The safe way to prepare scrambled eggs for your pet bird is to use ceramic cookware.
How Often Can Budgies Eat Eggs?
Feed eggs to your budgie in moderation—about one or two times a week is a good rule of thumb. The best way to prepare an egg for your budgie is boiled, especially if you like to pre-plan and measure out your budgie’s diet and portions.
For instance, you can give your budgie half of a whole hard-boiled egg at the beginning of the week and save the other half for later in the week.
Boiled eggs are easy to cut in half and can be stored in the refrigerator for later use.
Plus, the shell is still attached to a boiled egg for easy feeding, which makes for a happy and healthy budgie.
More to read:
My name is Niels Joensen, and I’m the creator of Wings and Beaks. I got my first two budgies at the age of 13, and right away, I fell in love with these beautiful tiny birds. Wings and Beaks is where I share my knowledge and passion for budgies with other bird owners.
