Although budgies shouldn’t eat a seed-only diet, many health benefits come from seed consumption. Sesame seeds are often touted as a superfood that provides a welcome health boost.
If given 3-4 times a month, sesame seeds are beneficial as they’re high in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. If given too frequently, they can be fattening and stifle your budgie’s appetite.
Budgies that eat sesame seeds benefit from stronger bones, healthier blood, more energy, improved immune response, and superior digestion.
Sesame seeds contain various B vitamins and can help your budgie produce more vitamin E. As a treat, sesame seeds are safe for budgies to eat.
Is It OK For Budgies To Eat Sesame Seeds?
As discussed, it’s okay for you to feed sesame seeds to your budgie.
They don’t contain any toxins, whether they’re shelled or retain their hull. As long as they’re fed in moderation, sesame seeds will provide a much-needed health boost.
Sesame seeds are found in commercially available bird food because they’re the right size, texture, and flavor. However, they don’t make up the bulk of the mixture and are preferred in small quantities.
Budgies love eating sesame seeds. They may encounter them in the wild, as sesame seeds are grown in the Northern Territory and Queensland in Australia, where some budgies are native.
Can Budgies Eat Roasted Sesame Seeds?
While normal sesame seeds are good for budgies, avoid roasted varieties. Sesame seeds are best offered raw as soaking, baking, or boiling reduces their nutritional value.
Cooking introduces unnecessary ingredients, like salt and oil. Also, soaking makes the sesame seeds less crunchy. Soaking seeds isn’t unhealthy, but it makes them less flavorful and fun to eat.
How Much Sesame Seed Can Budgies Eat?
Sesame seeds should only be given in moderation to your budgie for the following reasons:
Not A Balanced Diet
Sesame seeds don’t contain enough nutrients to sustain your budgie on its own.
Until recently, people mistakenly believed that just seeds were necessary for a budgie’s diet, which led to many birds becoming nutrient deficient and unhealthy.
Wild budgies pair seeds with fruits, vegetables, insects, nuts, and grains.
High in Fat
Sesame seeds are an oil seed, which means they contain high levels of fat.
Fat is essential in a budgie’s diet, but sesame seeds contain too much to become a regular meal. Your budgie will be at risk of becoming overweight and developing health complications.
Anti-Nutrients
It seems odd that food with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants could have anti-nutrients.
However, alongside their beneficial properties, they also contain oxalates and phytates. These are colloquially known as anti-nutrients since they reduce a budgie’s ability to absorb other nutrients.
This happens when sesame seeds are eaten in large amounts. In a small budgie, eating sesame seeds regularly can activate these anti-nutrients.
A budgie that can’t properly absorb other nutrients will grow lethargic, temperamental, and sick. If it’s allowed to continue for long enough, the nutrient deficiency can lead to permanent damage.
High in Fiber
Sesame seeds are high in fiber, which is great for a budgie’s digestive tract. However, if sesame seeds are eaten to excess, their fiber content can be overwhelming, leading to stomach pain and diarrhea.
Are Sesame Seeds Good For Budgies?
When sesame seeds are fed to budgies 3-4 times a month, they can benefit a budgie as follows:
- Digestion
- Bone health
- Energy levels
- Healing ability
- Immune system
- Lifespan
Here’s the nutritional content of 1 tablespoon of dried sesame seeds:
| Sesame Seed Nutrition Facts | 1 tbsp. of dried sesame seeds |
| Protein | 1.6 g |
| Total fats | 4.5 g |
| Carbohydrates | 2.11 g |
| Energy | 51.57 kcal |
| Total sugars | 0.03 g |
| Total dietary fiber | 1.06 g |
| Calcium | 87.75 mg |
| Iron | 1.31 mg |
| Magnesium | 31.59 mg |
| Phosphorus | 56.61 |
| Potassium | 42.12 mg |
| Zinc | 0.7 mg |
| Manganese | 0.22 mg |
| Vitamin A | 0.81 IU |
| Total saturated | 0.63 g |
| Total monounsaturated | 1.69 g |
| Total polyunsaturated | 1.96 g |
Let’s explore the health benefits of sesame seeds and how they can affect your budgie.
Fiber Content
Sesame seeds contain a significant amount of fiber, which is linked to better digestive health. However, the specific types of fiber are the most impressive part.
Sesame seeds are rich in:
- Sesamin
- Sesamolin
Aside from their antioxidant and antibacterial properties, these fibers increase vitamin E in animals, which is essential for the following purposes:
- Blood health
- Brain health
- Eyesight
- Reproduction
Reduced Inflammation
Inflammation is a byproduct and cause of many illnesses and diseases, most notably birds with obesity and kidney issues.
Certain foods can help with inflammation, like sesame seeds. This is mainly due to the compound sesamin, which is found in the oil and seeds of the sesame plant.
Sesamin has been linked to lowered markers of inflammation. In The Scientific World Journal, researchers determined that a mixture of sesame and other seeds lowered inflammatory markers by up to 79%.
This effect has been observed in animal studies as well.
Healthy Bones
Sesame seeds are high in nutrients that keep the bones healthy, including:
- Calcium
- Manganese
- Magnesium
- Zinc
Calcium is necessary for making up the bulk of bones, adding strength and structure. Also, manganese helps develop bones and maintains them.
Magnesium is vital for adding bone density. High magnesium levels are associated with a reduced risk of bone fractures and osteoporosis.
Zinc is vital for normal bone growth. According to Materials, zinc plays a role in regenerating bones.
B Vitamins
Unlike most foods, sesame seeds contain significant amounts of many different B vitamins. You’ll find high amounts of niacin at 4.5 mg.
In smaller amounts, it also contains these B vitamins:
- Thiamin
- Riboflavin
- Pyridoxine
- Pantothenic acid
- Folate
Antioxidants
Studies have shown that consuming sesame seeds increase the antioxidant properties of blood. According to the Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences, there’s reason to believe this applies to birds.
The most abundant antioxidants are as follows:
- Lignans sesamin
- Sesamolin
Also, sesame seeds are rich in gamma-tocopherol and are a form of vitamin E with antioxidant properties. According to Clinical Cardiology, gamma-tocopherol is effective against cardiovascular diseases.
Immune System
Sesame seeds contain nutrients that boost the immune system, such as selenium. An increase of selenium in the blood also increases the body’s immune response.
That’s paired with other minerals, like zinc, which is responsible for creating and activating white blood cells. These cells are responsible for fighting off harmful microbes in the body. Copper helps maintain the immune system, while iron is needed to create immune cells.
Raw sesame seeds are a healthy addition to a budgie’s diet, but only as an occasional treat.
