Birds
Bird Food for Budgies, Parrots & Canaries
Feathered friends, well looked after.
Choose a food made for your bird’s species: a budgie mix is the wrong size and balance for a parrot. Seed alone tends to be fatty and short of some vitamins, so many keepers use a complete pellet or a fortified mix and add fresh vegetables.
Everyday care for every bird.Our quick picks
In-stock options for different needs, with the practical reason we would choose each one.
Best complete food for small birds
Beaphar XtraVital Exotic Bird Complete Bird Food
Why we picked it
The weight-banded feeding guide matters more on birds this small, where getting the amount wrong by even a couple of grams is a bigger proportional error than it would be on a larger bird. A complete formulated food also avoids the pick-and-choose problem of a plain seed mix.
- In stock
- Tracked delivery: 3–9 working days
Best parrot mix
Johnston Jeff No 1 Parrot Food
Why we picked it
The ingredient list is unusually long for a seed mix, and that variety is the entire reason to choose it over a plainer blend — a parrot picking through a dozen different textures is a parrot with something to do. It's also a straightforward, no-surprises product to keep in stock for a bird that already does well on seed.
- In stock
- Tracked delivery: 3–9 working days
From £5.59See price, delivery & options
Best budgie treat
Johnson's Budgie Seed Bells
Why we picked it
It hangs, which matters more than it sounds — a budgie works at a suspended bell in a way it never works at food left in a dish. It's a small, individually wrapped treat, so it's easy to keep a couple spare rather than buying one at a time.
- In stock
- Tracked delivery: 3–9 working days
Find their favourites
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Shop bird food for budgies, parrots & canaries
Little essentials. Lots of love.
A little guidance
Choosing a bird food
| Bird | Start with | Add |
|---|---|---|
| Budgie | A budgie seed mix or pellet | Fresh greens and a seed bell now and then. |
| Canary or finch | A canary or finch mix | Fresh greens, and egg food in the breeding season. |
| Cockatiel or lovebird | A mix made for that size of bird | Vegetables, and a little fruit. |
| Parrot | A parrot food or complete pellet | Plenty of vegetables and foraging toys. |
Seed is not a complete diet on its own
Many cage birds prefer seed and will pick out their favourites, which can leave the diet short of vitamins and high in fat. A complete pellet, or a fortified mix plus fresh food, gives a better balance.
If you switch a seed-eating bird to pellets, do it slowly, mixing the two, and check the bird is actually eating. Weigh small birds if you can.
Fresh food and what to avoid
Leafy greens and vegetables add variety and nutrients. Wash them, offer small pieces and remove anything uneaten before it spoils.
Avocado is toxic to birds, and chocolate, caffeine, alcohol and salty food should never be given. Ask your vet if you are unsure about a food.
Grit, cuttlefish and water
Seed-eating birds such as budgies and canaries are often given grit and a cuttlefish bone or mineral block for calcium. Follow your vet’s advice for your species.
Change water daily and clean bowls often. Seed husks pile up in the dish and can hide an empty bowl, so blow them off or refill rather than topping up.
Keep food fresh
Store seed somewhere cool and dry in a sealed container. Seed that smells musty or shows webbing should be thrown away.
Buy a size you will use within a few weeks of opening. A bird that suddenly eats less, fluffs up or sits on the cage floor should see an avian vet promptly.
Everything here is chosen to be genuinely useful in everyday life with your pet — quality-checked, fairly priced and shipped tracked across the UK. For any health concern, your vet is always the best first port of call.
Common questions
Is seed enough for a budgie?
Seed alone tends to be fatty and short of some vitamins. Add a complete pellet or fortified mix and fresh greens.
What should birds never eat?
Avocado, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol and salty foods.
Do budgies need grit?
Many keepers provide grit and a cuttlefish bone for calcium. Ask an avian vet for advice for your bird.
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