Can budgies eat tomatoes?

Yes, in small amounts

Yes, in small amounts, ripe flesh only. Ripe tomato is not toxic to budgies, but the leaves, stems and green fruit contain solanine, and the flesh is acidic.

Portion: A piece of ripe tomato about 1 cm (⅜ in) across
How often: Once or twice a week at most
Sugar: 2.6 g / 100 g

How to serve it

Use only fully ripe, red tomato
Remove every bit of stem, leaf and green calyx
Wash and cut into small pieces
Remove leftovers within a couple of hours

Why

Risks. Tomatoes are nightshades: the leaves, stems and unripe fruit contain the glycoalkaloid solanine, while ripe fruit is considered non-toxic. The acidity of the flesh is another reason to keep portions small.

Benefits. Ripe tomato adds moisture and variety; VCA lists it among suitable foods for budgies.

Questions owners ask 2

What if my budgie nibbled a tomato leaf or green tomato?

Remove the plant, note roughly how much was eaten and call your avian vet for advice. Watch for drooling, regurgitation, diarrhea or weakness.

Are tomato sauce or ketchup okay?

No. They are concentrated, salted and often sweetened, and may contain onion or garlic.

Tomatoes: nutrition per 100 g

Water	94.5 g
Energy	18 kcal
Sugars	2.6 g
Fat	0.2 g
Protein	0.9 g
Fibre	1.2 g
Calcium	10 mg
Phosphorus	24 mg
Calcium : phosphorus	0.42 : 1
Sodium	5 mg
Vitamin A (RAE)	42 µg
Vitamin C	13.7 mg

“Tomatoes, red, ripe, raw, year round average”, USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy, FDC 170457). Public domain.

Sources & method 4

The sources below discuss tomatoes 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.