Can cockatiels eat broccoli?

Yes — safe in normal portions

Yes. Broccoli is one of the best vegetables for cockatiels. The florets and leaves are rich in beta-carotene, which supports the vitamin A that seed-heavy diets lack.

Portion: About a tablespoon (15 ml) of chopped florets and leaves as part of the day's vegetables
How often: Several times a week, rotated with other vegetables
Sugar: 1.7 g / 100 g

How to serve it

Rinse the broccoli thoroughly
Chop florets and leaves into small pieces; peel and dice the stalk
Serve raw or lightly steamed and cooled, without seasoning
Take away leftovers after a couple of hours

Why

Risks. Safe for cockatiels. As with any single vegetable, very large daily amounts are unwise, because cabbage-family plants contain goitrogens that can interfere with iodine use.

Benefits. The AAV lists broccoli among dark green vegetables high in beta-carotene, and Merck names broccoli leaves and florets as good vitamin A sources for birds.

Questions owners ask 1

Does my cockatiel need broccoli cooked?

No. Raw broccoli is fine and keeps more nutrients; lightly steamed and cooled is also fine if your bird prefers it.

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 5

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