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Is honey safe to use to encourage my budgie to eat his food?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Bird | Unknown - Bird | Male

Can I use little honey to make my budgie's food more visible to him? To make it look like a treat but it'll be a stick of his gourmet food held together by honey.

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Rebeccah Wood

Licensed Veterinary Technician, Registered Laboratory Animal Technologist

Published on August 6th, 2017

Hello there! A little bit of honey isn't harmful for budgies, however I don't recommend using it as an everyday trick for getting him to eat his regular food. Honey is high in sugars (fructose and glucose), which is not good for birds in large amounts. If your budgie isn't interested in his regular food, there are many different brands that make all sorts of shapes, colors, and flavors to entice Zachary to eat (I recommend higher-quality brands like Zupreem, Harrison's, and Lafeber's). I would, of course, involved an avian vet if he doesn't seem hungry at all, as this could indicate an underlying medical issue. Making sure Zachary has access to fresh fruits and veggies is also a good idea. Good luck, and I hope that Zachary decides that pellets are yummy!

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4Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Other Answers

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    Answered By Daniel Fonza, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    Hello and thank you for posting your question! In regards to adding honey to the food, I would certainly refrain from doing so. Giving honey to your budgie will be extremely messy and difficult to clean from his beak and wings. I would suggest trying different feeding bowls or getting the food that is already on a string from a pet store. Presentation of the food might need improvement so getting a new feeder may help.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Image profile

    Answered By Daniel Fonza, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on August 6th, 2017

    Hello and thank you for posting your question! In regards to adding honey to the food, I would certainly refrain from doing so. Giving honey to your budgie will be extremely messy and difficult to clean from his beak and wings. I would suggest trying different feeding bowls or getting the food that is already on a string from a pet store. Presentation of the food might need improvement so getting a new feeder may help. Feel free to contact me with any other questions / concerns you may have.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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