Why

Avocado is one of the most dangerous foods for a budgie and must never be offered. It contains a natural compound called persin, which is highly toxic to birds. In a creature as tiny as a budgie, persin can trigger sudden heart failure and severe breathing difficulty, and death can follow within hours of eating even a small amount. The whole fruit is a threat, including the flesh, the skin and the stone, and processed forms such as guacamole are just as unsafe. The margin for error is effectively zero.

What to do

Keep all avocado and anything made from it, including guacamole and dips, completely away from your budgie, and never leave any within reach on plates or worktops. If your bird has eaten even a scrap, treat it as a life-threatening emergency and contact an avian vet or an emergency service immediately. Do not wait for symptoms to appear.

How much & how often

There is no safe amount of avocado for a budgie. Even a tiny taste can be fatal, so it must be avoided entirely.