Feeding Pet Cockatiels

Knowledge of bird nutrition is constantly evolving due to heightened awareness of the importance of nutrition and increased research into birds’ different needs. As with all other animals, birds need a proper balance of carbohydrates, proteins, fat, vitamins, minerals, and water. Different species of birds often require different foods. 

Should I be concerned about what my cockatiel eats?                 

Proper nutrition is commonly neglected in pet birds. You should discuss your bird's nutrition with your veterinarian. Too often, owners assume they are feeding a proper diet to their cockatiel when, in fact, they are not. 

Poor nutrition is a common reason for many health problems in birds. You should continually strive to improve your bird's diet by constantly educating yourself about new concepts in bird nutrition, while applying a certain degree of common sense. Birds need to consume more than seed and water to stay healthy. Your bird's health depends on how well it is fed. 

What do wild cockatiels naturally eat? 

Cockatiels are native to the semi-arid grasslands of Australia. In the wild, cockatiels eat a variety of seeds (grass seeds), fruits, berries, and vegetation. They feed on or near the ground. What they eat varies with food availability during different seasons. 

What should I feed my cockatiel? 

Cockatiels are vulnerable to vitamin A deficiency, insufficient dietary calcium, egg-binding, and other nutrition-related problems. A well-balanced and varied diet must be maintained at all times for these birds to stay healthy. 

Seeds 

Wild cockatiels eat a great variety of seed types as different plants come into season. Commercial seed mixes generally contain from 4 to 10 different kinds of seeds and nuts. However, these mixes tend to be high in fat and carbohydrates and provide a limited or imbalanced source of many nutrients. If seeds are fed as the only food source, this type of diet ultimately could lead to ill health and potentially shortened lifespan.  A cockatiel often selectively eats only one or two of its favorite types of seed. 

Bird owners commonly offer some variety of black sunflower seeds, millet seed, or millet spray/branches, but these seeds are deficient in many nutrients. Birds also love honey sticks, but once again, these are simply seeds that are stuck together on a stick with sugar and honey and are similarly nutrient-deficient.  

Molting foods, song foods, and conditioning foods are also available for cockatiels, but are simply different combinations of more seeds that are nutritionally incomplete. Healthy molts, disease resistance, and long lifespan are typically achieved in birds fed a balanced diet year-round. 

Seeds are highly palatable and preferred by birds, but nutritionally they are incomplete, lacking vitamins, minerals, and protein. Seeds should only be a very small part of a balanced diet but should never be the entire diet. If you gradually offer your bird fewer seeds, replacing them with healthier options, such as fortified bird pellets and a limited amount of fresh table food, your bird will eventually consume a more properly balanced diet. 

Fruits and Vegetables 

Fruits, vegetables and greens should account for no more than 20%-25% of the cockatiel’s daily diet. Pale vegetables with a high water composition (i.e., iceberg or head lettuce, celery) offer little nutritional value. Avocado and onion are potentially toxic and should never be offered to a bird.

"Fruits are high in water content and natural sugar, so they should be fed in limited quantities."

Fruits and vegetables must be washed thoroughly to remove chemicals and potentially harmful bacteria. They should be cut into small pieces appropriate to the size of the bird. It is not necessary to take the skin off. Apple seeds may be toxic to birds, so remove the seeds before offering to your cockatiel. 

Offer fruits and vegetables in a separate dish. If your bird appears to develop a particular fancy for only one food item, reduce its volume or stop feeding it temporarily to promote consumption of other foods. Fruits and vegetables should be left in the cage for no more than a couple of hours, particularly in warm climates, or they may spoil. Fruits are high in water content and natural sugar, so they should be fed in limited quantities. 

Water 

Fresh, clean water must be available at all times. Depending on the quality of your tap water, you might consider using bottled water. Dishes must be cleaned thoroughly every day with soap and water. 

Pelleted Diets 

The recommended diet for cockatiels is pelleted food formulated for birds. Pellets should ideally represent approximately 75%-80% of the bird's diet. Several brands of pellets are available commercially in different shapes, sizes, and colors. 

Pellets have been developed to meet all your bird's nutritional needs. Hand-raised babies should be started on pelleted diets. Mature cockatiels may be difficult to convert to pelleted diets. Different formulations are available for different life stages. Pellets are the ideal diet. Therefore, seed-eating birds should be slowly weaned off seeds onto a pelleted diet. 

How do I convert my bird to a pelleted diet? 

Some birds are more difficult than others to transition to pellets. Seek the advice of a veterinarian familiar with birds to get tips on how to make this transition easier. Converting seed-eating birds to a formulated diet is not always easy. Initially, birds may not even recognize pellets as food.  

Pellets should be offered first thing in the morning, before other food, when your bird is most hungry. Pellets and seeds may be mixed, as birds will simply pick out the seeds that they like while being introduced to the look and smell of the pelleted diet. 

Since cockatiels eat off the ground in the wild, you may mimic this behavior by spreading the pellets over a flat surface and encouraging the bird to walk through them. You can also flick each pellet between your thumb and pointer finger and tap on the tabletop as if your fingers were a beak investigating the pellets.

Another option is to grind up the pellets into a fine powder you can sprinkle on a very small amount of moist food that your bird likes to eat (e.g., vegetables, fruit, cooked egg, pasta). If your bird eats the pellet-coated food, you can gradually grind the pellets into larger chunks and mix them with smaller amounts of moist food over time, so that ultimately you are offering nearly all pellets with minimal amounts of moist food mixed in.

"Pellets should be offered first thing in the morning, 
before other food, when your bird is most hungry."

It may take days, weeks, or months to modify a bird's diet. If the bird is slow to take to pellets, you may offer a small amount of seed or fruits and vegetables later in the day. Seeds may be withdrawn completely only when you are sure the bird is eating the pellets, plus some fruits and vegetables. 

Transitioning foods can be a stressful time for you and your cockatiel, but with patience, you can transition your bird from an unhealthy seed diet to a balanced, pellet-based diet. Remember to consult an avian veterinarian if you encounter any problems with this transition or with the health of your bird. 

Can I feed people food to my cockatiel? 

As a rule, any wholesome, nutritious food that you and your family eat your bird can eat, but in small quantities (a teaspoon for a cockatiel is equivalent to a dinner plate-sized portion for a person and is appropriate). Follow the general guidelines regarding fruits and vegetables. Some birds occasionally even enjoy a small amount of lean cooked meat, fish, cooked egg, or very small amounts of cheese.  

Dairy products should be consumed in moderation, as birds are lactose-intolerant. Avoid processed foods like cookies, crackers, or chips, as they are not nutritional treats. Never offer your cockatiel chocolate, alcoholic beverages, or products containing caffeine (coffee, tea, soda). 

Suggested foods include: 

Will my bird have any different needs throughout its life? 

Birds that are extremely young, stressed, injured, laying eggs, or raising young may have certain special nutritional requirements. There are specially formulated pelleted foods available for birds at different life stages. Consult your avian veterinarian regarding these situations. 

Does my bird need extra vitamins, minerals, or amino acids? 

Your veterinarian can help you assess your bird's diet and its unique needs. In general, a bird eating 75%-80% of its diet in the form of pelleted food does not need supplements. Specific vitamins or minerals may be more important at various times during a bird's life (e.g., egg-laying requires calcium supplementation). Various vitamin and mineral supplements, as well as omega fatty acid supplements, are available for birds and should only be given under the guidance of an avian veterinarian. 

Birds on all-seed diets may be given powdered supplements until they are transitioned to a pelleted diet. Placing these powders on the outside of seeds is of little value, since birds remove the outer hulls from seeds before ingesting them. Small amounts of powdered vitamin supplements may be administered on moist food but are not generally necessary once the bird has been converted to pellets. 

Does my bird need gravel or grit? 

Cockatiels do not need gravel or grit because they remove the outer hull of the seed before ingesting the kernel. Previously, it was believed that grit was necessary for the mechanical breakdown of food in the gizzard, as an aid to digestion. However, we now know that only birds like pigeons and doves, which consume seeds whole, need gravel to help them digest seeds. Some birds over-consume grit when it is offered and develop gastrointestinal tract obstructions that are potentially life-threatening. Thus, grit and gravel should not be offered to cockatiels. 

What pointers should I remember about feeding my cockatiel? 

• Always monitor the amount of food eaten every day, by each bird. 
• Offer fresh water every day. 
• Offer a variety of fresh foods, such as small amounts of fruits and vegetables, every day. 
• Clean all food and water dishes daily. 
• If your bird says no to a food item one day, it does not mean no forever–keep trying.