The holidays mean guests, candles, rich food, decorations and noise, and every one of those can be a problem for a small bird. The good news is that a few simple rules cover most of the risk. Use this guide before Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year.
Quick answer: keep your budgie away from holiday food scraps, chocolate, alcohol and avocado, avoid candles and scented products, keep tinsel and cords out of reach, give your bird a quiet room, and make sure that guests never open windows or doors while the bird is out.
Holiday foods: what is safe and what is not
Budgies do not need a holiday meal. A few plain treats are plenty. Check our full list of safe and toxic foods for budgies.
Foods to avoid
- Chocolate and cocoa, which are toxic
- Avocado, which can be fatal
- Alcohol and caffeine, which are dangerous even in small amounts
- Onion and garlic, often present in stuffing and gravy
- Salty, fatty or sugary foods, including gravy, roast skin, cookies and pastries
- Fruit pits and apple seeds, which contain cyanide compounds
- Xylitol (a sweetener found in some baked goods and sugar-free sweets)
Plain treats that are usually fine
- Small pieces of plain cooked sweet potato or pumpkin with no butter, salt or spices
- Fresh vegetables, such as carrots, peas and broccoli
- Small pieces of apple (no seeds), pear or berries
- A little cooked plain corn
Offer treats from your hand, not from the plate, and keep portions small.
Decorations
- Tinsel and ribbon: budgies chew and can swallow or get tangled in them.
- Glitter and artificial snow, which can be inhaled or eaten
- Small ornaments and beads, which can be swallowed
- Lights and cords: hide or cover them. Chewing can cause burns and shocks.
- Real trees: pine sap and oils can irritate, and the tree water may contain preservatives.
- Plants: poinsettia, holly and mistletoe can be irritating or toxic. Keep them in a different room.
Fumes and fragrances
Birds have very sensitive airways. Avoid or limit:
- Scented candles, incense and wax melts
- Air fresheners and aerosol sprays, including room sprays and some cleaning products
- Self-cleaning ovens and non-stick cookware (PTFE/Teflon), which can release fumes that are deadly to birds. Keep birds well away from the kitchen during large meals.
- Smoke, from fireplaces, candles or cigarettes
Read more in our budgie-proof home checklist.
Guests and noise
- Give your bird a quiet room with the door shut and a note on the door.
- Do not let children or guests handle the bird without you present. See budgies and children.
- Keep the bird in its cage when doors open often. A bird that escapes in winter is rarely found.
- Watch for stress signs: fluffed feathers, hiding, loud calls or a bird that stops eating.
- Keep the sleep routine. Late parties can leave the bird short on rest. Birds need 10 to 12 hours of dark. See budgie sleep.
Fireworks and New Year’s Eve
Sudden loud bangs and flashes can cause night fright, when a panicked bird thrashes in the dark and gets hurt.
- Move the cage to a quiet interior room.
- Close curtains and cover the cage, and play soft background music or a radio.
- Leave a dim night light so that the bird can see if it wakes.
- Do not let the bird out of the cage during fireworks.
Gifts for your budgie
Instead of treats, choose safe enrichment: a new foraging toy, a swing, a bird bath or a few untreated wooden toys. See our guide to the best toys for budgies. Introduce new toys one at a time.
If something goes wrong
If you think your budgie has eaten something toxic or breathed in fumes:
- Move the bird to fresh air at once.
- Call an avian vet or an emergency vet.
- Tell them what happened, what the bird had and when.
- Do not give home remedies, and do not wait for symptoms.
FAQ
Can budgies eat turkey? A very small piece of plain cooked turkey is not toxic, but it is not necessary. Avoid skin, seasoning, stuffing and gravy.
Can budgies eat Christmas cookies? No. Sugar, fat and sometimes chocolate or nuts are a poor choice.
Is a real Christmas tree safe? It can be, but keep the bird away from the tree, its sap and the water bowl.
Should I cover the cage during parties? Cover part of it to provide calm, but keep air flowing.
Final thoughts
Your bird will not miss the feast. A quiet room, plain treats and a safe space are the best holiday gifts. For everyday health, see how to take care of a budgie.
Supplies we recommend
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- A bird carrier – A safe space if you need to move your bird away from guests.
- Foraging toys – A better gift than holiday treats.