Safe plants for parakeet flight cage?

[scottischicken]

Is it okay if I place a small planter dish with potting soil and some (parakeet) seeds in a parakeet flight cage? My flight cage has an overhead full spectrum LED light so that the seeds can grow as plants. Is potting soil safe for the birds?

 

[SilverBirds]

I wanted to do something similar for my budgies but everything I've ever read says not to let parakeets come in contact with potting soil because the fertilizers can be harmful if they ingest it. What I did was hang the planters on the outside of the cage and covered the soil with a cheese cloth or rocks to keep the birds from coming in contact with the dirt.

 

[scottischicken]

I wanted to do something similar for my budgies but everything I've ever read says not to let parakeets come in contact with potting soil because the fertilizers can be harmful if they ingest it. What I did was hang the planters on the outside of the cage and covered the soil with a cheese cloth or rocks to keep the birds from coming in contact with the dirt.

Do they make potting soil without fertilizers?

 

[GodLovesU]

I think some composts don’t have fertilizers.

 

[scottischicken]

If I want to be safe from any fertilizers in potting soil, would soils made for reptiles be okay?

 

[SilverBirds]

If I want to be safe from any fertilizers in potting soil, would soils made for reptiles be okay?View attachment 3995939

It will be mostly safe for the birds, but it has no nutrition for the plants to thrive and the medium may not be the best depending on what you plan on growing. It is possible to create your own soil mixture using the creature soil that will be safe for your parakeets and allow your plants to live. Do you have an idea of what you are wanting to plant for your birds?