What Vegetables Can Budgies Eat?

If this isn’t your first time in the rodeo (or, should we say, bird-keeping), then you may already know that both vegetables and greens are an essential part of any bird’s diet. The problem, however, is that birds don’t always know what food is good for them.

So, what vegetables can budgies eat? Well, vegetables such as cabbage, carrots, spinach, celery stalks, cauliflower, radish, squash, ripe tomatoes, and bok choi make great budgie food. Mushrooms, garlic, onion, green (unripe) tomatoes, raw potatoes, avocado, and rhubarb leaves are toxic and should be avoided.

To help you make an informed decision, this article will be going over a list of the vegetables that budgies can eat, what benefits they provide, and what type of veggies they should avoid at all costs. 

Keep reading to learn more. 

Why Vegetables? 

When you think of pet birds and nutrition, the first thing that probably comes to your mind is bird seeds, and you’re not wrong, especially if the pet bird in question is a budgie. 

However, keeping that bird healthy also means feeding them vegetables and greens. This is because budgies will benefit from the many vitamins and minerals that come from eating vegetables. 

Feeding them a mix of vegetables will also help add some much-needed variety to their diet, which is incredibly important for any pet bird, especially little balls of energy like budgies. 

Additional reading: What Fruits Can Budgies Eat?

What vegetables can budgies eat?

Here’s a list of all the safe and nutritious vegetables that your budgie is sure to enjoy.

Cabbage 

Cabbages are easily one of the best vegetables you can feed to your budgie, and it’s all thanks to their vitamin B9, C, and K content. Not only that, but cabbages can also improve your pet’s hydration, making it a great treat when hand fed to your pet. 

Carrots

Carrots are another budgie favorite, especially when they’re fresh and crunchy. Nutrition-wise, carrots are chock full of beta-carotene, which go a long way in supporting optimal eye health in birds. As a bonus, carrots are also delicious, and they’re also affordable and readily available. 

Celery Stalks

Another vegetable you can offer as a treat now and then are celery stalks. Much like cabbages, celeries are also full of water, which means they can help hydrate your budgie during hotter days. However, make sure you don’t overfeed them, as too much water can cause diarrhea. Remove leaves as well, as they can be harmful to birds. 

Spinach 

When choosing vegetables, go for dark leafy green ones, as these tend to pack more vitamins and minerals than other vegetables. Spinach, for example, is full of antioxidants and nutrients that will give your bird’s immune system a helpful boost. Best of all, its leaves can be served whole or chopped into tiny pieces. 

Cauliflower

Not only are cauliflowers filled with helpful nutrients like fiber, vitamin C, K, and B6, but their caloric intake also makes them one of the best snacks you can feed to your budgie. Just make sure to cut it into tiny pieces so your budgie can eat it easier. Learn more: Can Budgies Eat Cauliflower?

Radish

When it comes to benefits, radish will provide your budgie with a healthy dose of calcium, which will help keep their bones strong, all while reducing the risk of bone-related diseases. They’re also filled with antioxidants that can help fight against sickness.

Squash

Squash is another excellent vegetable you can add to your pet’s diet. Health-wise, squash is an excellent source of fiber, which is instrumental in keeping your pet’s digestive health optimal. Not only that, but they’re also delicious! 

Ripe Tomatoes

As long as they are ripe, tomatoes make for an excellent addition to your pet’s diet. Just make sure you clean them and remove the stems and leaves before serving. However, you can leave the seeds in, as they are a great source of vitamin C in addition to the heart-healthy lycopene from the tomato flesh. 

Bok Choy 

If you don’t have any spinach or beet, bok choy (also known as pak choi) makes for a great alternative, as the health benefits are pretty similar. Just be careful not to overfeed as it also contains lots of water. Learn more: Can Budgies Eat Bok Choy?

How to Feed Vegetables to Budgies?

While choosing which vegetables to feed to your budgie is one thing, how to feed them is another. This is because budgies have their preferences, so note that it might take some time to start eating a specific type of vegetable. 

Luckily, you can encourage this by making a vegetable mix of the ones they like and the ones they are picky with. When preparing a veggie mix, pick a plate with a distinct design to it as well, as it’s likely that your pet will start associating that plate to tasty foods and get excited when they see it. 

If you find your bird having difficulty eating the veggies, you can help them by chopping the food into smaller pieces and hand-feeding them. You can also encourage them by letting them see you enjoy eating the vegetables. You can even make the veggies look more inviting by adding other food they already love or making it look like playtime. 

As for how much to feed your budgie, once a day should be fine. Remember that your budgie’s diet should be primarily composed of pellets and birdseed, so vegetables (and fruits) should only make up a small part of that diet. 

Additional reading: Can Budgies Eat Chia Seeds? Everything You Need To Know

What vegetables should your budgie avoid?

Unfortunately, budgies don’t always know what’s good for them, so there’s a chance that they can end up eating something that’s not right for them.

Luckily, you can help avoid that by making you never put these anywhere near your pet:

• Mushrooms
• Garlic and Onion
• Dates
• Rhubarb
• Green (unripe) tomatoes
• Raw Potatoes
• Canned vegetables (as they are high in sodium)
• Any moldy vegetable, opt for fresh ones instead 

Other than this, it’s best to always check with a licensed veterinarian or do your research before feeding your budgie with a new type of vegetable. 

Final thoughts 

As a bird-keeper, it’s your responsibility to make sure your budgie is getting the proper nutrition it needs to stay lively and healthy. 

Luckily, doing so is as easy as feeding it a variety of fresh and clean vegetables on top of its regular pellets and bird seeds. However, note that not every vegetable should be fed to your bird, so it’s best to do some research beforehand.