Dark, leafy greens are great nutritional elements to add to your birds diet. They are rich in vitamins A, C, and K, plus calcium, fiber, and other essential vitamins and minerals. Many that are readily found in grocery stores or farmer’s markets are: kale, spinach, turnip greens, mustard greens, dandelion greens, carrot tops, collard greens, and swiss chard.
If possible, buying organic is recommended, and always wash and rinse fruits and vegetables before eating them or serving them to birds.
There are many ways for birds to enjoy these leafy greens. They can all be offered raw or cooked. Some birds like African greys like them strung about the cage or woven in the bars for a fun foraging opportunity. Many canary and finch owners use cage clips to attach full leaves conveniently near a perch. Others like them chopped into easy-to-munch pieces and offered in a dish. If you have a bird that is a picky eater, try chopped greens mixed into cooked scrambled egg or bird bread, or, try coating
their favorite moist fruit pieces with them to
entice your bird to try something new.
Remember to remove fresh foods within 4-6 hours to prevent spoilage.