FAQ: Treats for birds

They are different millet varieties that differ in seed colour and slightly in size. Their nutritional value is similar, so people usually choose whichever their bird prefers.

Spray millet is often used when a young bird is learning to eat on its own or moving to a new home, as it is easy to husk and appealing. Once the bird is eating its regular food, the amount of millet should be reduced.

Yes, millet seed suits most small seed-eating birds, including finches and canaries. You can hang the spray in the cage or strip the seeds into the food dish.

Keep it somewhere dry, in an airtight container or pack, away from kitchen steam. Check it before feeding — damp, clumped or odd-smelling sprays are not fit for a bird.

Yes, spray millet is often used for taming, as most small parrots really want it. Hold it in your hand so the bird gets used to approaching you, and do not hang it in the cage at other times.

Seeds can be infested by storage pests such as pantry moths, especially when kept somewhere warm for a long time. Throw such sprays away and keep new ones tightly sealed in a cool place.

Vets sometimes suggest offering favourite seeds to a bird that is eating poorly so it does not go hungry. But if a bird has stopped eating, that is a sign to see a vet straight away, not to try to fix it with treats.

Honey is used as a binder in many bird treats, and given in moderation such treats usually do a healthy bird no harm. They are high in sugar, though, so they should not become everyday food.

They are bars or rings of seeds, grains or fruit pieces bound with honey and sometimes baked. They hang in the cage or are wedged between the bars, and the bird nibbles them bit by bit.

For an overweight or inactive bird it is better to strictly limit sweet and fatty treats or drop them for a while. How to change the diet and what weight is right is worth discussing with a vet who knows birds.

Honey draws in moisture, so in a warm or humid room a bar can soften and get sticky. Wipe such leftovers off the bars and perches, as dirt collects on them and mould can grow.

Pure honey is almost all sugar, so birds do not need it on its own. If you want a sweeter treat, choose a product made for birds, where the amount of honey is already balanced.

Baked bars are usually harder, keep longer and crumble less, so they suit parrots that like to chew. Unbaked ones are mostly softer and eaten faster, but more sensitive to damp.

There are honey treats for small birds, with seeds that match the size of their beaks. Because these birds are so small, even a little piece of a sweet treat is a sizeable share of their diet, so give it rarely.

In heat and humidity honey softens, and bars can clump together or go mouldy. Keep them in a sealed pack in a cool, dark place and hang only as much in the cage as the bird will eat in a day or two.

Most pet birds can have apple without seeds, pear, banana, berries, grapes, melon or orange in small amounts. Wash the fruit, cut it into small pieces and remove seeds and stones.

Avocado is considered poisonous to many birds, so it must not be given. Apple seeds and the stones of cherries, plums, apricots and peaches also have to be removed, as they contain harmful substances.

Avocado contains a substance called persin, which can be toxic to many bird species and harm the heart and breathing. That is why vets advise never giving birds avocado at all — neither the fruit nor the leaves.

Fruit is high in sugar, so a small piece about the size of a fingertip a few times a week is enough for a budgie. Vegetables can be given more often and in larger amounts than fruit.

First wash the fruit well to remove any spray residue. Citrus and thick-skinned fruits are best peeled, while apple or pear skin is usually fine if the fruit is clean.