Why

Cauliflower is a safe vegetable for budgies, and usefully both the white florets and the green leaves can be eaten, with the leaves actually carrying more vitamin A and calcium than the florets themselves. It provides vitamin C, vitamin K, folate and fibre. Like its relatives it is a brassica, so it is best offered as part of a varied vegetable rotation rather than in heavy daily amounts. Its mild flavour and interesting texture make it a good vegetable for adding variety to the bowl.

How to feed it

Wash it, then break off tiny florets and chop them small, and finely chop any leaves too. It can be served raw or lightly steamed and cooled, plain with no seasoning. A small floret clipped to the bars gives good foraging value. Add pieces to the veg dish and remove any uneaten cauliflower after a few hours so it does not spoil.

How much & how often

A small floret or a teaspoon of chopped cauliflower a few times a week is ample. Being a brassica, alternate it with other vegetable types rather than serving large amounts every day.