Why

Broccoli is a safe and genuinely nutritious vegetable for budgies, packed with vitamin C, vitamin K, folate and useful calcium for strong bones and healthy eggs in breeding hens. The little florets also add fibre and antioxidants. One thing to keep in mind is that broccoli is a brassica, so very large or daily amounts may interfere with thyroid function over time. Offered in variety alongside other greens, it is one of the better everyday vegetables.

How to feed it

Wash it well, then break off tiny florets and finely chop the stalk into small pieces a budgie can manage. It is fine raw, which keeps the most vitamin C, or lightly steamed and cooled if your bird prefers it softer. Clip a small floret to the cage bars or add chopped pieces to the veg dish, and remove leftovers after a few hours.

How much & how often

A small floret or a teaspoon of chopped broccoli a few times a week is plenty. Rotate it with non-brassica greens rather than serving it every single day.