What Not To Feed Your Cockatiel

Cockatiels are one of the most popular pet birds because of their friendly and sociable nature. However, when it comes to feeding your feathered friend, it’s important to know what foods are safe and what foods are dangerous. In this article, we’ll take a dramatic look at what not to feed your cockatiel and why these foods can be harmful to their health.

So, What Not to Feed Your Cockatiel

Foods that are considered harmful to your cockatiel, are alcohol, rhubarb, and avocado. Highly salted, sweetened, and very fatty foods should also be kept away from your bird.

Here is a list of what not to feed your cockatiel and why.

Avocado

Avocado is one of the most dangerous foods for cockatiels.

This fruit contains a toxin called persin, which can be fatal to birds. Persin is found in the leaves, skin, and pit of the avocado, so it’s best to avoid feeding your cockatiel any part of this fruit. Even a small amount of avocado can cause symptoms such as difficulty breathing, weakness, and even death.

Chocolate

Chocolate is another food that should never be given to cockatiels.

The theobromine and caffeine in chocolate can cause symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, and seizures in birds. In severe cases, chocolate poisoning can be fatal. To keep your cockatiel safe, be sure to keep all chocolate products out of reach.

Onions and Garlic

Onions and garlic contain compounds that can cause hemolytic anemia in birds. This condition can lead to symptoms such as weakness, lethargy, and difficulty breathing. To prevent health issues, it’s best to avoid feeding your cockatiel any foods that contain onions or garlic, including seasonings and sauces.

Salt

Salt is another food that you ought to be careful about giving too much of. Unlike avocados, your parrot does not need to avoid salt. You don’t need to buy a salt block for your parrot. As an alternative rather get him a mineral block and just let him get his salt from the fruits that he enjoys.

Alcohol

Alcohol is toxic to cockatiels and can cause symptoms such as depression, disorientation, and difficulty breathing. In severe cases, alcohol poisoning can be fatal. It’s important to keep all alcoholic beverages out of reach of your feathered friend to ensure their safety.

Caffeine

Caffeine is another stimulant that can be harmful to cockatiels.

Foods and beverages that contain caffeine, such as coffee, tea, and soda, can cause symptoms such as increased heart rate, tremors, and seizures in birds. To keep your cockatiel healthy, be sure to avoid feeding them any foods or drinks that contain caffeine.

High-Fat Foods

While small amounts of healthy fats are important for a cockatiel’s diet, foods that are high in fat can be harmful to their health.

Foods such as fried foods, fatty meats, and dairy products can lead to obesity, liver disease, and other health issues in birds. To prevent these problems, it’s best to stick to a balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, and grains.

Certain Seeds

Avoid giving your cockatiel the seeds from apples, apricots, cherries, peaches, pears, and plums as they can also be harmful to your pet’s health.

Your parrot will enjoy all other fruits. However, fruits that have pits should have the pits removed first, and fruits that have seeds should have the seeds removed. All fruits should be washed well and even scrubbed, and then cut into small pieces for your parrot to enjoy at his leisure.  If feasible, always choose organic fruits.

While many owners carefully wash all fruit and vegetables before giving them to their parrots, they frequently don’t consider possible pesticide contamination from fruit tree branches placed within cockatiel cages.  These branches also should be scrubbed before adding them to a cage. Not only do you have to fret about insecticides, but you have to also fret about parasites and bugs. Washing and then baking the branches, in a 200-degree cooker, for about an hour or so will take care of this problem.

Other

While most parrots enjoy dairy foods, they don’t easily digest them. Therefore, any dairy food should be given in small quantities, and not very often. Milk nonetheless is best left off the menu.

While fruits, plants, nuts, and seeds are good for parrots, you should avoid giving them any type of fast foods that is made for human consumption. This doesn’t mean that you can not ever give your parrot human food treats, just make sure that it is a rare treat and a tiny amount.

Also, just as people have food sensitivities, your parrot may have dietary sensitivities. If you happen to spot that he’s having breathing problems or runny eyes after eating a new food, you should seek treatment from your veterinarian, where blood tests can be performed to ascertain where an allergy to the food exists.

Let common sense be your guide in choosing which foods can be offered to your cockatiel or parrot. If it is healthy for you, it is probably okay to share with your cockatiel, but remember to reduce the size of the portion you offer to your bird. A small cockatiel-sized portion will be more appealing to your bird than a human-sized portion.

Another thing that shouldn’t be shared with your cockatiel is your saliva. Don’t give your cockatiel something that you have bitten or chewed, as your saliva has bacteria in it that can harm your cockatiel. By the same token, you shouldn’t kiss your cockatiel on the beak, rather kiss him on the top of his little head or on his cheek. Don’t allow your cockatiel to put his head in your mouth either or nibble on your lips. Although we tend to see people doing this often, it is not safe for your cockatiel’s health.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, it’s important to know what foods are safe and what foods are dangerous for your cockatiel.

By avoiding foods such as avocado, chocolate, onions, garlic, alcohol, caffeine, and high-fat foods, you can help keep your feathered friend healthy and happy. Remember to provide a balanced diet that includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, and grains to ensure that your cockatiel gets all the nutrients they need. By being mindful of what you feed your bird, you can help them live a long and healthy life.

Summary On What Not To Feed Your Cockatiel

• Avocado
• Chocolate
• Dairy
• Onion
• Garlic
• Alcohol
• Pips or Seeds in Fruit
• Unwashed Fruit
• Saliva
• Fast Food