Why

Celery is a safe, hydrating vegetable that budgies can enjoy, and while the crunchy stalk is mostly water with modest nutrients, the leafy tops are more valuable, carrying vitamin A, vitamin K and calcium. The main thing to manage is the long, stringy fibres in the stalk, which can pose a choking or crop hazard if a budgie tugs off a long strand. Chopping it finely solves this completely, letting your bird enjoy the crunch and the nutritious leaves safely.

How to feed it

Wash it, then chop the stalk finely across the fibres into small pieces so no long stringy strands remain. Offer the chopped leaves too, as they are the most nutritious part. Serve it raw and fresh. You can add the pieces to the veg dish or clip a leafy section to the bars, and remove any leftovers after a few hours.

How much & how often

A teaspoon of finely chopped celery, including a few leaves, a couple of times a week is plenty. Because the stalk is mostly water, treat it as a hydrating extra rather than a main vegetable.