Treats for budgies
Budgie treats such as millet sprays and seed bells are a genuine favourite with most budgies, but they are calorie-dense compared with a proper seed or pellet mix, so the main thing to manage is quantity rather than which specific treat to choose. A budgie's main diet should still come from a proper seed or pellet mix and fresh greens, with treats as the occasional extra.
Why budgies love millet so much
Millet spray is close to irresistible to most budgies, which is exactly why it needs managing rather than left available all the time — a budgie given constant access to millet will often eat little else, filling up on a treat rather than the balanced mix that actually meets its nutritional needs.
That strong appeal is also useful: millet is one of the most reliable rewards for taming a nervous or new budgie, or for training basic handling, precisely because most budgies find it so motivating.
Using treats without unbalancing the diet
Offer millet and similar treats a few times a week rather than daily, and remove a millet spray once your budgie has had a reasonable amount rather than leaving a whole spray in the cage permanently. This keeps the treat special and stops it displacing the main diet.
Seed bells and honey sticks work the same way — genuinely enjoyed, but calorie-dense, so best used as an occasional extra or a training reward rather than a daily addition to an already-complete diet.
What a budgie's everyday diet should look like
The bulk of a budgie's diet should be a good-quality seed or pellet mix formulated for the species, with fresh leafy greens offered regularly and clean water always available. Treats are a small addition on top of that foundation, not a substitute for any part of it.
If your budgie seems to be picking treats over its main food, cutting back on treat frequency for a while usually re-establishes a healthier balance, since a hungry budgie will generally return to its regular mix.
What we stock
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Peckish Complete Seed
A husk-free garden bird seed mix with Peckish's own added vitamin pellet
From£3.00
Peckish Winter Warmer Extra Energy Seed Mix
A 1KG winter seed mix with 9 ingredients and 20% oil for extra energy
£3.99
Peckish Complete Seed and Nut No Mess Wild Bird Seed Mix
A no-mess seed and nut mix for the garden, built from 12 ingredients for up to 16 bird species
£20.99
Peckish Sunflower Hearts
Sunflower hearts for wild birds, a husk-free, high-energy straight for feeder or table
£5.39
Peckish Extra Goodness Energy Balls
A 6-plus-6-free pack of energy balls with peanuts, sunflower seed and beef tallow
£3.99
Peckish Complete Ready to Use Bird Feeder
A pre-filled, refillable wild bird feeder, ready to hang straight out of the packaging
£5.99
Peckish Robin Seed Mix
A 1KG insect-added seed mix from Peckish, marketed specifically at robins
£3.75
Peckish No Grow Seed Mix
A weed-free wild bird seed mix, husk-free and treated so it won't sprout in the garden below
From£5.49
Peckish Suet & Peanut Feeder
A perforated stainless steel feeder that takes either suet pellets or peanuts
£12.99
Peckish Extra Goodness Crumble Mix
A 1KG crumble-texture treat mix for garden birds, with added vitamins
£4.99
Peckish Winter Warmer High Energy Wild Bird Seed Mix
A high-energy winter seed mix for garden birds, feeder or table
£24.99
Common questions
- How often can I give my budgie millet spray?
- A few times a week is a sensible frequency for most budgies, rather than leaving it available constantly. Millet is calorie-dense and highly appealing, so unrestricted access can lead to a budgie filling up on it and neglecting its main seed or pellet mix.
- Are seed bells bad for budgies?
- Not bad as such, but like millet spray they are calorie-dense compared with a balanced everyday mix, so they work best as an occasional treat rather than a permanent fixture in the cage. Offer them periodically rather than continuously to keep the overall diet balanced.
- Can treats be used to tame a budgie?
- Yes, millet in particular is one of the most effective rewards for gently taming a nervous or new budgie, since most budgies find it highly motivating. Use small amounts offered by hand, patiently and consistently, rather than a whole spray at once.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.