Can budgies eat cherries?

Yes, in small amounts

Yes, in small amounts, flesh only. Cherry pits contain cyanide-releasing compounds, so pit every cherry and keep it an occasional treat for budgies.

Portion: A quarter of a pitted cherry
How often: Once or twice a week
Sugar: 12.8 g / 100 g

How to serve it

Wash the cherries well
Remove the stem and the pit completely
Cut the flesh into small pieces
Remove leftovers within a couple of hours

Why

Risks. Cherry pits contain cyanogenic compounds, and avian vets advise never letting birds chew them. The flesh is sugary.

Benefits. Cherry flesh adds color and variety and is popular with many birds.

Questions owners ask 2

What if my budgie chewed a cherry pit?

Take the pit away and call your avian vet for advice, especially if the pit was cracked open, since the harmful compounds are in the kernel inside. Watch for weakness, breathing difficulty or collapse.

Are glacé or maraschino cherries okay?

No. They are heavily sweetened and dyed. Offer only fresh, pitted cherries.

Cherries: nutrition per 100 g

Water	82.3 g
Energy	63 kcal
Sugars	12.8 g
Fat	0.2 g
Protein	1.1 g
Fibre	2.1 g
Calcium	13 mg
Phosphorus	21 mg
Calcium : phosphorus	0.62 : 1
Sodium	0 mg
Vitamin A (RAE)	3 µg
Vitamin C	7 mg

“Cherries, sweet, raw”, USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy, FDC 171719). Public domain.

Sources & method 4

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