what to feed my cockatiel to keep him healthy

• Try offering corn, grapes, millet, or sunflower seeds as a treat.
• Try to use pellets and vegetables to keep your birds seed intake to a minimum (33% or less, preferably).
• An all-seed or mostly-seed diet is extremely high in fat, and will shorten a cockatiel's lifespan.
• Never feed your cockatiel chocolate, avocado, caffeine, or alcohol. ...

Full Answer

How much food per day should you feed your cockatiel?

• Broccoli
• Lettuce
• Kale
• Cucumbers
• Zucchini
• Grapes
• Apples – only sliced, cored, and after seeds have been removed
• Corn – cracked or cooked
• Pumpkin – sliced
• Peas

More items...

What is the best thing to feed a cockateil?

– If you’re looking for a healthy treat to feed your cockatiel at home, you may only need to go as far as your refrigerator. The best treats for cockatiels include fruits like apple, melon, mango, or banana – you can also feed them dried fruit as long as it isn’t sweetened.

What foods can my cockatiel eat?

• Spinach
• Dark leafy greens
• Kale
• Broccoli
• Peppers
• Zucchini
• Carrots

What is the best food for a cockatiel?

What do birds eat

• Bird seed mixtures. There are different mixes for feeders, for bird tables and for ground feeding. ...
• Other seeds and nuts. These are an excellent year-round food, and in many areas are even more popular than peanuts. ...
• Bird cake and food bars. ...
• Live foods and other insect foods. ...
• Dog and cat food. ...
• Rice and cereals. ...
• Milk and coconut. ...

What is the healthiest food for cockatiels?

Best Overall: RoudyBush Daily Maintenance Bird Food Crumbles. ... Best Organic: Harrison's Bird Foods High Potency Fine. ... Best Fruit Pellets: ZuPreem FruitBlend with Natural Fruit Flavors Medium Bird Food. ... Best for Babies: Kaytee Exact Hand Feeding Formula Baby Bird Food. ... Best Natural: Bird Street Bistro Sample Pack Bird Food.More items...•

What diet should a cockatiel have?

Cockatiels eat a variety of grass and other seeds, fruits and berries. They have been known to raid farmers' crops. They are vulnerable to obesity and a variety of other diet related problems including feather picking, egg binding, weakness and paralysis. A well balanced diet must be maintained at all times.

What foods should cockatiels avoid?

Never, Ever. Alcohol, avocado and chocolate can kill cockatiels. Other foods on the forbidden list are eggplant, cabbage, caffeine (tea and coffee), milk and cream, raw potato, and rhubarb (all parts, including the leaves). Do not give any pet, or allow them access to, any part of a houseplant.

How much food should a cockatiel eat per day?

The amount needed for a mature cockatiel of seed or pellets will generally be 1.5 to 2 level Tablespoons (30 - 40 grams) a day. Some owners often like to provide lunch for their Cockatiels. This is fine as long as the total amount fed per day isn't exceeded. In the wild, Cockatiels eat in the morning and early evening.

What fruits and vegetables are good for cockatiels?

It is best to cut food into pieces that are small enough for your bird to hold in their foot. Apples (without seeds!), bananas, oranges, carrots, peppers, broccoli, corn on the cob, dark green lettuces, and peas are just some of the fruits and veggies your Cockatiel may enjoy.

Can cockatiels eat rice?

One food that can be fed as an occasional treat is rice. White or brown rice is considered safe for a cockatiel to eat, although brown and wild rice are preferred because they contain a higher concentration of nutrients that benefit the bird.

What do cockatiels need in their cage?

A cockatiel needs a cage spacious enough to accommodate multiple perches, toys, food bowls and have plenty of room to flap its wings without hitting them against anything.

Can cockatiels eat banana?

Cockatiels can eat both the soft, inner fruit and the peel of the banana. Both of these are nutrient-dense and non-toxic. They don't provide everything the bird needs to thrive, but each piece can be used to supplement your bird's diet. It is essential to remember that bananas are rich in sugar.

Can cockatiels eat chicken?

Can cockatiels eat chicken? Yes, chicken is a good source of protein for cockatiels. It is not dangerous for your bird to eat chicken provided the chicken is fit for consumption. It is important to not give your cockatiels chicken too often.

What vegetables can I give my cockatiel?

Vegetables are very good for cockatiels. Vegetables like carrots, broccoli, beet greens, dried tomatoes, corn, kale, spinach, sprouts, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, mustard greens and turnip greens are all delicious treats. While most vegetables are better given raw, cockatiels prefer pumpkin and sweet potatoes cooked.

What type of fruit do cockatiels eat?

For fruits, cockatiels can eat those with high vitamin C nutrients such as oranges, grapefruit, kiwi, and mangoes. They can also eat all-season fruits like apples, grapes, bananas, and various types of berries.

What plants do cockatiels like?

Vegetables such as spinach, asian greens, beans, broccoli, corn, peas, carrot and herbs such as mint, basil, parsley and rocket are all safe for your bird to eat.

What human foods can cockatiels eat?

Although cockatiels often eat seeds, some fruit seeds can be toxic and dangerous for them, so seeds in fruits must be removed before feeding....Here is a list of the vegetables cockatiels often add to their diet:Leaf lettuce.Cabbage.Cauliflower.Kale.Watercress.Carrots.Sweet potato.Asparagus.More items...•

What do cockatiels need in their cage?

A cockatiel needs a cage spacious enough to accommodate multiple perches, toys, food bowls and have plenty of room to flap its wings without hitting them against anything.

Can cockatiels eat banana?

Cockatiels can eat both the soft, inner fruit and the peel of the banana. Both of these are nutrient-dense and non-toxic. They don't provide everything the bird needs to thrive, but each piece can be used to supplement your bird's diet. It is essential to remember that bananas are rich in sugar.

How do you prepare cockatiel food?

2:183:39Quick Healthy Chop for Cockatiels - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipComponents. Such as cooked beans whole grains fresh vegetables and fruits protein-rich meats andMoreComponents. Such as cooked beans whole grains fresh vegetables and fruits protein-rich meats and hard-boiled eggs avoid using foods which contain the extra amount of fats salt and seasoning.

Recommended Cockatiel Diet – The Basic Essentials

If you’re a beginner cockatiel owner, you might just want to know the basics for what to feed your pet.

Fruits Safe for Cockatiels

Fruits should account for at least a small portion of your cockatiel’s diet.

Safe Vegetables for Cockatiels

While fruits are an important part of a cockatiel’s diet, it might be a good idea to feed your cockatiel vegetables more often than fruits.

Dairy Products Safe for Cockatiels

Dairy products are not recommended for cockatiels, however, they can eat dairy products in very conservative amounts as an occasional treat.

Safe Nuts for Cockatiels

Nuts are similar to seeds in that they are a great source of protein, and most nuts that humans eat can be a great, healthy treat for your cockatiel.

Safe Garden Herbs for Cockatiels

If you grow herbs in your garden, your cockatiel might just be interested in some of them; however, others may be dangerous.

Cockatiel Treats

Whether you’re training your cockatiel and need some positive reinforcement or you just want to give her a special snack, you need to know what treats are good for cockatiels.

How to keep cockatiels from flying?

Keep a somewhat large cage. Be sure that the cage is enough so, at the very least, the cockatiel will be able to flap its wings around quickly without hitting any of the bars. This is very important because if it does not fly, it will do this for exercise.

What to do if your cockatiel is not tame?

If your bird is not tame, you should try your hardest to tame it. If this is a burden, remember that a tame bird is very friendly, and does all sorts of tricks. Safeguard your house to keep the cockatiel from getting hurt. This is essential if you let it wander around the house (which you should do).

How to get a bird to become obese?

Allow the bird to exercise . Exercise is important, or else the bird will become obese. If the cage is large enough, it will exercise itself. If the cage is smaller, take the bird out and let it fly or walk around the house.

What is the best way to keep a bird's bones clean?

Cuttlebone or edible chalk gives the bird minerals, which are essential for good bones, and are related to a good plumage. Provide the bird with fresh, clean water. Keep all food and water dishes clean. There should be no cracks, as bacteria can accumulate.

Can cockatiels eat pellets?

Community Answer. No. If he only ate pellets, that might be alright, but seeds are very high in fat and don't have the vitamins that cockatiels need to remain healthy. Get him some pellets and keep trying different fruits and veggies until you find one he likes.

Do cockatiels need care?

Cockatiels can be rather hardy birds, but this doesn't mean that they don't require some care. You should keep them healthy. Start at step one to learn how to do just that.

Is cuttlebone good for you?

The more healthy foods you feed, the better. A diet consisting only of seeds is insufficient and will create health problems including fatty liver disease, heart disease, and nutrient deficiencies. Having cuttlebone is good as well.

What do you feed cockatiels?

Give your cockatiel carbohydrates. For carbohydrates, feed your winged companion cooked rice, cooked beans, baked sweet potatoes, oatmeal, or fresh corn. These are less essential to your birds diet and should be served in moderation, only a couple of times per week.

What fruits are good for cockatiels?

Good fruits for your cockatiel include apples, apricots, bananas, berries, cantaloupe, cherries, honeydew, pears, pineapple, mangoes, nectarines, plums, and watermelon. Cockatiels are allergic to the pits found in many varieties of fruit.

How to make a cockatiel drink?

1. Aim for variety. Cockatiels need to consume a variety of nutrients and vitamins. The best way to accomplish this is to mix up your cockatiel’s diet. Be attentive to what your cockatiel eats and does not eat and follow its lead when designing your cocktail’s diet plan.

How to keep cockatiels clean?

Wash the bowl daily with hot, soapy water. Consider having two sets of bowls that you can switch out when the other is being cleaned. Cockatiels are naturally foragers, who enjoy the opportunity to search the ground for food. Consider occasionally scattering food across the floor of the cage so that they can forage.

How to care for cockatiels?

Prepare fresh food appropriately. Any fresh food given to your cockatiel should be cut into small pieces, no larger than half an inch. They should also be washed well. Pesticides on fruits and vegetables can be toxic to your pet.

What are cockatiels allergic to?

Cockatiels are allergic to several varieties of fruits and vegetables. Refrain from feeding them avocadoes, mushrooms, rhubarb, tomato, and eggplant. They are also allergic to the pits of apples, apricots, organs, cherries, peaches, pears, and plums.

How to keep cockatiels from getting fungus?

2. Store food in closed containers. Seeds, pellets, and treats are all susceptible to being infested by fungus that could be deadly to your cockatiel. To be sure that this does not happen, store food in tightly closed containers and in a location that is cool and dry.

What can Cockatiels eat?

Cockatiels are omnivorous birds, which means they can eat both plants and meat. Cockatiels typically enjoy a diet of birdseed, vegetables, fruits, and occasional small amounts of animal protein.

What can Cockatiels NOT eat?

Cockatiels can eat everything you feed them. However, there are some things Cockatiels should not be fed, such as

Conclusion

Feeding your bird properly can be tricky, but we hope that you’ll find success with all of our information and guidance!

What is the best food for cockatiels?

It does contain some fruits and veggies like apples and peppers, but most of this food is made up of grass and safflower seeds, oat groats, ground corn, millet, and wheat. This is a food option that is most suitable for cockatiels that are also fed fresh fruits and vegetables as treats between meals.

What is Zupreem bird food?

It is made with corn, millet, oat groats, barley, and wheat to provide the protein and carbohydrate energy medium-sized birds such as cockatiels need. It also features a wide variety of vegetables like carrots, celery, and beets to ensure a strong immune system and a healthy heart. Some fruits like cranberries and blueberries are also included for antioxidant support.

Is cockatiel seed free?

This is another seed-free bird formula that is designed specifically for parrots, including the cockatiel. Made for adult birds, this is a natural food that comes in crumble form so adults and seniors can easily consume it. Every morsel is edible and contains important ingredients such as l-arginine and yucca schidigera extract to ensure that all your bird’s nutritional needs as time goes on.