Can budgies eat broccoli?

Yes — safe in normal portions

Yes. Broccoli is a nutritious vegetable for budgies, but rotate it with other vegetables rather than feeding large amounts daily, as heavy intake has been linked to goiter in budgies.

Portion: A few small florets or leaves, about a teaspoon (5 ml) chopped, as part of the day's vegetables
How often: 2–4 times a week, rotated with vegetables outside the cabbage family
Sugar: 1.7 g / 100 g

How to serve it

Wash the broccoli well
Chop the florets, leaves and peeled stalk into small pieces
Serve raw or lightly steamed and cooled, unseasoned
Remove leftovers within a couple of hours

Why

Risks. Broccoli belongs to the cabbage family, which contains goitrogens that interfere with iodine use. Budgies are especially prone to thyroid enlargement (goiter), and a published outbreak in a budgie flock was linked to large amounts of broccoli in a diet with no added minerals.

Benefits. Broccoli florets and leaves are rich in beta-carotene; the AAV, VCA and the Royal Veterinary College all recommend broccoli for budgies.

Questions owners ask 2

Can broccoli give my budgie goiter?

The risk comes from large amounts, especially with a seed-only diet that is low in iodine. In the reported outbreak, sick budgies improved once broccoli was removed and iodine was added. Offer broccoli as one of several vegetables alongside a pellet-based or iodine-supplemented diet.

Can budgies eat broccoli stalks and leaves?

Yes. The leaves are especially nutritious. Peel the tough outer layer of the stalk and chop it finely.

Broccoli: nutrition per 100 g

Water	89.3 g
Energy	34 kcal
Sugars	1.7 g
Fat	0.4 g
Protein	2.8 g
Fibre	2.6 g
Calcium	47 mg
Phosphorus	66 mg
Calcium : phosphorus	0.71 : 1
Sodium	33 mg
Vitamin A (RAE)	31 µg
Vitamin C	89.2 mg

“Broccoli, raw”, USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy, FDC 170379). Public domain.

Sources & method 7

The sources below discuss broccoli for budgies (or for pet birds generally). Confidence: medium. Rated on the JOMIZOO Feeding Scale; when good sources disagree we choose the more cautious level.