Why

Blackberries are a soft, antioxidant-rich treat that many budgies enjoy, offering vitamin C, vitamin K, fibre and plenty of the pigments that give them their deep colour. They are still sugary, so portions stay small. The one quirky point is that their strong dark juice will temporarily stain feathers, beak and cage bars a purple hue, which looks alarming but is entirely harmless and wears off in time.

How to feed it

Wash the blackberry gently, then offer half a berry or break it into a few small pieces in a shallow dish. The tiny seeds are fine to eat. Because the juice stains and the berry spoils quickly, wipe up any mess and remove uneaten fruit within a couple of hours.

How much & how often

Half a blackberry, or a few small pieces, two or three times a week is plenty. They are sweet, so keep them as an occasional treat rather than a daily food.