Where can I find safflower seeds? And are they ok for a budgie's diet for a week?

Question

I can't have certain ingredients in my home, such as wheat, over Passover, and I read that parakeets can eat safflower seeds instead of their usual mix. This would be for only 8 days or so, and of course supplemented with fruits and vegetables, and spray millet. Is safflower seed ok?

Also, I can'd find any stores that carry just plain safflower seed. I called Trader Joe's, and they don't have it either.. I'm in Chicago...anyone know where I can find some? Thanks!

I said SAFFLOWER seeds not SUNFLOWER!

Answer 1

Other responders seem to have missed the part of your post that says the seed will be in addition to fruits, veggies and spray millet!

Absolutely- millet and safflour will be fine along with his other fruits and veggies, but start getting him used to them BEFORE Passover by mixing small amounts into his food with a bit more each day. Budgies don't adapt well to sudden changes in their diets unless they've always been used to eating a variety of foods.

Why not get a millet mix rather than plain safflour?

Good luck!

Answer 2

I understand Passover. What I don't understand is the concern you seem to have for wheat for budgies anyway? Maybe it's a local thing near you, but I've seldom, if ever, seen wheat as part of a budgie mix anyway.

Unprocessed grains are considered kosher anyway. Usually in a budgie mix, there's millet, maybe oat groats, canary seed, etc.,

Why not just look for a mix that doesn't have what you can't have around? I wouldn't let them go with just the safflower for a week.

If you are in Chicago, check your yellow pages for a feed store, not a supermarket. You can always purchase individual seeds there to make your own mix for the week if you must.

Here are two possibilities for you to start with.

Belmont Feed & Seed
[phone]
3036 W Belmont Ave
Chicago, IL Map

Liam Ventures
[phone]
233 S Wacker Dr
Chicago, IL Map

Answer 3

Safflower is a great choice. The seed is a little big for a budgie but I'm sure they can handle it. It has a lot less fat than sunflower seed and is very nutritious.

Answer 4

You can buy safflower seeds at feed stores or even at a Walmart. I don't think a budgie's beak is strong enough to break up a safflower seed even if it were willing to eat them.
Having it stay at a friend's house for the duration of the holiday is probably the best bet

Answer 5

This diet can be ok, but there are feeds that use safflower seed instead of sunflower seeds. You can also contact the audubon to find info.
Chicago Audubon Society [phone]

http://www.windycityparrot.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=31502151029&Category_Code=lavian

Answer 6

OMG- NO NO NO NO NO NO! Birds need a varied diet. As a matter of fact your budgie shouldn't even be eating all seeds. It can lead to liver problems. You should be feeding him a pelleted diet like Harrison's. With only about 25% seed in his diet. DO NOT feed him Safflowers for a week straight. It would be like feeding you french fries for a week straight.
Poor budgie.

Answer 7

I hate to say it, but I don't think you should feed budgies such a limited diet for more than a day or two. I suggest you find a friend who isn't Jewish to take care of your little birds over Passover, and send a sack of their normal seed with them. Then you don't have to make any dramatic changes to their diet at all.

Answer 8

Budgies don't eat safflower seed. It is too big for them to eat. Shame on you! For not feeding your bird properly! Your faith should not be heaped on a innocent animal! He is the one eating it NOT you!

Answer 9

no do not feed any to your budgie you will kill the poor thing sunflower seeds are for bigger birds and regular ones do have some salt on them which is bad for birds and they could be processed with cemicals!

Answer 10

the bird may not eat a suddenly new food, birds are very picky. and as mentioned before this probally wouldn;t be good for the bird.