Why

Bell pepper, the sweet salad pepper, is an excellent and popular vegetable for budgies and one of the richest sources of vitamin C you can offer, along with vitamin A and antioxidants. Unlike hot chilli varieties, sweet peppers contain no significant capsaicin, and importantly the seeds and pith are safe for budgies too, so nothing needs to be discarded. The bright colours and crunchy flesh make it a firm favourite, and it is one of the best everyday vegetables for a small bird.

How to feed it

Wash it, then cut a thin strip or small chunks, or clip a wedge with the seeds still attached to the cage bars so your budgie can forage. Serve it raw to keep the vitamin C intact. Red, yellow and orange peppers are riper and sweeter than green. Remove any uneaten pieces after a few hours to keep the cage clean.

How much & how often

A thin strip or a teaspoon of chopped pepper several times a week is ideal, and it can be part of the daily vegetable bowl. Being low in sugar and rich in vitamins, it does not need strict limiting.