Why

Honey should never be given to a budgie. Raw honey can carry spores of a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum, which can produce botulinum toxin, one of the most powerful poisons known, capable of causing paralysis in a tiny bird. On top of that, honey is essentially concentrated sugar, which is unsuitable for a budgie's body and can contribute to weight and health problems over time. The combination of a potential botulism risk and a heavy sugar load means there is no good reason to offer it and every reason to avoid it.

What to do

Keep honey and any honey-sweetened foods, cereals and treats away from your budgie, and check labels, as honey turns up in many processed snacks. If your bird has eaten honey and then seems weak, wobbly or unable to hold itself up, contact an avian vet or emergency service immediately, as these can be signs of a serious problem.

How much & how often

There is no safe amount of honey for a budgie. Between the botulism risk and the sugar, it should be avoided completely.