Budgie · Greens & herbs
Can budgies eat dandelion greens?
Yes. Dandelion leaves are a nutritious green for budgies, provided they come from ground that has not been sprayed or fouled. Wash them well before serving.
- Portion
- One or two small leaves, or about 1–2 teaspoons chopped
- How often
- Several times a week
- Sugar
- 0.7 g / 100 g
How to serve it
- Pick only from places free of weedkillers, fertilisers, traffic fumes and animal waste, or buy them
- Wash thoroughly and shake dry
- Offer a whole leaf or chop it finely
- Remove leftovers after a few hours
Why
Risks. The main risk is contamination: lawn or roadside dandelions may carry herbicides, pesticides or droppings from other animals, and birds are very sensitive to pesticides.
Benefits. Dandelion greens provide beta-carotene, vitamin K and calcium, and whole leaves make good foraging material.
Questions owners ask 2
Can I pick dandelions from my garden for my budgie?
Yes, if you know the ground has not been treated with weedkiller or fertiliser and is not used by dogs or cats. Wash them well first.
Can budgies eat dandelion leaves every day?
They can be part of the daily fresh food, but rotating them with other greens and vegetables gives a better range of nutrients.
Dandelion greens: nutrition per 100 g
| Water | 85.6 g |
|---|---|
| Energy | 45 kcal |
| Sugars | 0.7 g |
| Fat | 0.7 g |
| Protein | 2.7 g |
| Fibre | 3.5 g |
| Calcium | 187 mg |
| Phosphorus | 66 mg |
| Calcium : phosphorus | 2.83 : 1 |
| Sodium | 76 mg |
| Vitamin A (RAE) | 508 µg |
| Vitamin C | 35 mg |
“Dandelion greens, raw”, USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy, FDC 169226). Public domain.
Sources & method 2
The sources below discuss dandelion greens 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.
- Feeding Budgies — VCA Animal Hospitals
- Fruits and Vegetables in Birds' Diets — VCA Animal Hospitals
