Why

Onion must never be fed to a budgie. It contains sulphur compounds known as thiosulphates that damage a bird's red blood cells, and this can lead to haemolytic anaemia, a condition where the cells that carry oxygen are destroyed faster than the body can replace them. In a budgie this leaves the bird weak, breathless and starved of oxygen, and it can be fatal. Onion is dangerous raw, cooked, fried or dried into powder, and it hides in many prepared foods, so the whole family of onions should be treated as off limits.

What to do

Keep onion in every form, including raw, cooked, fried, powdered and within sauces, gravies and seasoned foods, well away from your budgie, and never share table scraps that may contain it. If your bird has eaten onion, contact an avian vet for advice straight away rather than waiting, as blood-cell damage may not show immediately.

How much & how often

There is no safe amount of onion for a budgie. Even small quantities can damage red blood cells, so it must be avoided completely.