Special One for budgies, 500 g is a seed food for pet budgerigars from the Ukrainian brand Special One. According to the manufacturer, the recipe follows modern feeding standards and the advice of budgie breeders and keepers, and is adapted for pet birds to help prevent weight gain. It contains 17 ingredients: selected grains, dried fruit, vegetables, nuts, flowers and favourite treats — niger seed, safflower and crunchy rice balls. Sea buckthorn, calendula, carrot, apple and peanuts, the manufacturer says, help make plumage bright and ease moulting.
What to feed a budgie
Budgies are seed-eaters, and their diet is based on small seeds: millet, canary seed and oats. A varied mix gives the bird a range of nutrients and doesn't get boring. Besides seeds, a budgie needs fresh greens, vegetables and a mineral supplement. More in budgie food and care.
Key specs
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | staple seed mix |
| For | budgies |
| Ingredients | 17 |
| Base | yellow, red and black millet, hulless oats, canary seed |
| Treats | niger seed, safflower, rice balls, peanuts |
| Fruit, veg, flowers | carrot, apple, sea buckthorn, calendula |
| Weight | 500 g |
| Brand | Special One, Ukraine |
Pros
- 17 ingredients. A varied diet.
- Three kinds of millet. The basis of a budgie's diet.
- Hulless oats. No husk, easy to eat.
- Sea buckthorn, carrot, calendula. For plumage, the manufacturer says.
- Treats included. Niger, safflower, rice balls.
- Full ingredient list.
Cons
- No analysis. Protein and fat aren't listed on the site.
- No feeding guide.
- Sunflower, peanuts and hemp. Fatty seeds the bird may pick out.
- No vitamin supplement mentioned.
Ingredients
Yellow millet, red millet, hulless oats, black millet, canary seed, hulled sunflower seeds, rapeseed, linseed, dried carrot, safflower, niger seed, dried apple, peanuts, hemp seed, rice balls, dried sea buckthorn, calendula flowers. The base is three kinds of millet, oats and canary seed, just as it should be for budgies.
What the manufacturer says
According to the manufacturer, rice, rapeseed, oats and canary seed support immunity; sea buckthorn, calendula, carrot, apples and peanuts help make plumage bright and speed up moulting; and the rare treat niger seed, together with carrot and calendula, helps with taming and trust. The diet is adapted for pet birds to help prevent weight gain.
How to feed it
The site doesn't give a feeding guide. Budgies usually get one to two teaspoons of seed mix a day. Blow the husks off the top of the dish every day: under them it can look as if there's food left when the seeds are gone. Fresh water should always be available. Compare with other foods in our reviews of Vitakraft Premium Menu and Vitapol Economic.
If your budgie picks out the tasty bits
Birds often eat sunflower, peanuts and hemp first and leave the millet. If your budgie does this, don't top up the dish until it has eaten most of the mix, or the diet will be too fatty. Watch this especially closely in less active birds.
What to add
A seed mix is the base, not the whole diet. Offer fresh greens and vegetables, a mineral block or cuttlebone for the beak and calcium, and treats such as Vitakraft crackers.
Storage
Store the food somewhere dry and cool in a tightly closed bag or container to keep moths and beetles out. Before pouring, check for any mouldy smell or clumps.
Who it suits
Budgie owners who want a varied seed mix with a full ingredient list, treats and plumage-supporting ingredients. More foods are in the bird food section.
Verdict
Special One for budgies is a 17-ingredient seed mix — three kinds of millet, hulless oats, canary seed, niger, safflower, sea buckthorn, calendula and more — with a full ingredient list. The downsides are that the site gives no analysis or feeding guide, and the bird may pick out the fatty seeds first.
FAQ
How many ingredients does it contain?
17.
What's the base?
Three kinds of millet, hulless oats and canary seed.
Which treats are included?
Niger seed, safflower, rice balls and peanuts.
Does it contain fruit and vegetables?
Yes: dried carrot, apple and sea buckthorn.
Is an analysis given?
No, protein and fat aren't listed on the site.
How much should I feed a day?
The site doesn't say; usually one to two teaspoons.
How much does the pack weigh?
500 g.
