Why

Lettuce is safe but its value depends heavily on the type. Iceberg is mostly water with very little nutrition and can cause loose droppings if overfed, so it is a poor choice as a staple. Darker leaves such as romaine, cos, oak leaf and lamb's lettuce contain far more vitamin A, folate and fibre, making them a much better pick. Budgies often enjoy pecking at lettuce, so simply choose the greener, darker varieties and treat pale iceberg as an occasional filler at most.

How to feed it

Wash the leaves well, then tear them into small pieces or clip a whole leaf to the cage bars so your budgie can forage. Serve it raw and fresh. Because lettuce is watery, do not leave it in the cage for long as it wilts and spoils quickly. Remove any soggy leftovers within a couple of hours.

How much & how often

A small piece of dark leaf a few times a week is fine, and better types can feature more often. Keep iceberg to rare, tiny amounts because of its watery, low-nutrient nature.