Can Budgies Eat Sesame Seeds? (Good And Bad Explained)

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Seeds and nuts are common foods for most birds. So, when preparing your budgies’ diet, you may consider including sesame seeds. But can budgies eat sesame seeds?

Budgies can eat sesame seeds as they are healthy for them. But it should be combined with other foods in the diet. Also, feeding the seeds too often is not a safe choice. It will make the birds overweight and mess with their digestive tract.

Read the article to learn the pros and cons of feeding your budgies sesame seeds.

Can Budgies Eat Sesame Seeds?

Budgies actually love eating sesame seeds. And you can give them the food because it is rich in antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins. That helps your birds stay healthy in many ways.

However, you cannot give them the seeds in plenty. Since the seeds have a high content of fat, they will fatten up budgies and cause physical sickness. Do not keep it in their diet more than 3 to 4 times a month. Whenever you do include it, keep the amount decent.

Here I include a table to show you the upsides and downsides of sesame seeds.

Advantages	Disadvantages
Strengthened immune system	Overweight issues
Better bone health	Activation of anti-nutrients
Lower inflammation	Allergy
Protection against infection	Diarrhea and stomachache

Let’s look at the benefits first.

Strengthened Immune System

Rich in selenium, sesame seeds can improve your budgies’ immune system. Plus, there are other minerals, i.e., zinc, that create white blood cells to combat bad microbes.

Better Bone Health

These seeds have just the right components to build the bones of your budgies. For one, it has calcium and manganese to develop and maintain bones. Then, there is magnesium to create bone density. It also aids in decreasing the chances of osteoporosis and fractures.

Finally, zinc contributes to the growth of bones. It has the qualities to regenerate them.

Lower Inflammation

Sesame seeds benefit budgies with kidney or obesity problems, as they suffer significantly from inflammation. Mixing sesame seeds with other seeds has been found to lower inflammation by 79%.

Protection Against Infection

Your budgies will get higher protection against infection due to the sesamolin and lignans sesamin antioxidants in sesame seeds. It will enhance their blood’s antioxidant capacity while improving your budgies’ gastrointestinal health. Besides, the seeds have vitamin E to provide safety against heart diseases.

There are so many benefits, yet I suggest against the regular inclusion of sesame seeds. Here are my reasons.

Overweight Issues

Remember that sesame seeds, being oil seeds, have fat in high quantities. Although fat is vital for budgies, regularly eating this food will increase their weight. It will also raise the risk of other complications in their health, such as a fatty liver.

Activation Of Anti-Nutrients

Despite having many nutrients, sesame seeds also contain phytates and oxalates, aka anti-nutrients. They do not allow budgies to take in nutrients.

So, when you overfeed your birds, the seeds will set the anti-nutrients in motion. As a result, they will become sluggish, dull, and sick. A continued diet of sesame seeds can even severely damage their health.

Diarrhea And Stomachache

As long as your budgies get a limited amount of sesame seeds, their digestive tract will stay healthy due to the high fiber content. On the contrary, overfeeding will cause them diarrhea and stomachache.

Allergy

Sesame seeds often cause allergies in budgies. The signs are troubled breathing, swelling, etc.

How Should I Prepare Sesame Seeds For My Budgies?

Preparing sesame seeds for your budgies is no big deal, but it requires you to be careful during the process. Follow the steps to ensure your birds’ safety.

• Purchase high-quality, raw, and organic sesame seeds from a pet shop. I prefer them because they have the ideal size, taste, and texture.

• Wash the seeds with cold water and remove dust. Afterward, let them dry well. It will prevent mold.

• Again, controlling the quantity is important. The seeds should consist of a tiny part of the diet. Take a pinch, and that will be enough. Each budgie should get a few sesame seeds.

• Mix the seeds with their regular pellets, chopped veggies, chopped fruits, or seed mix. It will be a balanced diet with different nutrients.

• Remove the uneaten seeds from the cage. Be mindful of it because bacteria and mold will grow and cause problems if they stay in the cage.

How Do I Know If I Should Continue Giving The Seeds?

When giving sesame seeds the first time, monitor the reactions of your budgies. See if they show digestive discomfort. Look for changes in their appetite, droppings, and overall behavior.

If there is an allergic reaction or other signs, do not feed them sesame seeds anymore. Otherwise, continue, but do not make it a daily supplement. The seeds should be their treats. Monthly, 3 to 4 times will be fine.

Can I Give Salted Sesame Seeds To My Budgies?

No, you must not give your budgies salted sesame seeds. Fresh and raw sesame seeds without processing are good and safe for your budgies in moderate amounts. However, if it has salt or is processed with other ingredients, do not put it in their diet.

Salt is unhealthy for all birds. Even if the quantity seems negligible, do not give it to your budgerigars. If you want to roast them without salt and oil, you can do it. Your budgies will love the crunchiness.

Some of you might also want to bake, soak, or boil the sesame seeds. But that is really not necessary. They are not unsafe but will make the seeds soft and less enjoyable for your birds.

What Can I Do If Sesame Seeds Do Not Suit My Budgies?

In that case, you can replace sesame seeds with the following healthy options.

Alternatives	What They Contain
Millet	High-quality protein, iron, and zinc
Quinoa	Amino acids (Plus, it is gluten-free)
Sunflower seeds	Healthy fats and vitamin E
Flaxseeds	Fiber and omega-3 fatty acids
Pumpkin seeds	Fatty acids, protein, and fiber
Chia seeds	Fiber, antioxidants, and  omega-3 fatty acids