What To Feed A Cockatiel

In this post, I will discuss what to feed a cockatiel.

One of the reasons cockatiels are such popular pets is because they are easy to feed and look after.

In fact, if you are wondering what to feed a cockatiel, they can exist largely on a diet of dry seed and water.

During recent years their nutritional needs have been more closely studied, and it is now evident that if you want to keep your cockatiel in top condition and achieve great breeding results and longevity, you need to offer them a wider range of foodstuffs.

The seed contains carbohydrates, fat, and protein, as well as certain vitamins and minerals. There is also a variable percentage of water.

The cockatiel’s in the wild forage on the ground and eat grass and seeds as a major part of their diet. Similarly, our pets often get a seed mixture of plain canary seed and a variety of millet seeds. Groats, which is the dehusked form of oats is also a popular choice for breeding birds.

The above seed varieties do not offer a complete and balanced diet for cockatiels, and other foods are essential to compensate for the vitamin and protein deficiencies. Because the above seeds are cereal-based, you will need to give your cockatiel oil-based seeds as well.

Other Types Of Seeds Cockatiels Should Be Eating

Sunflower seed is an oil-based seed, that is rich in fat, low in carbohydrates and a valuable source of protein and essential amino acids.

Other good additions to the basic seed mixture include hemp seed, which is a round brownish seed which is normally fed during the winter months, as the oil and mineral content is high. Too much hemp, on the other hand, can lead to obesity.

You can make your life easier by clicking on the picture of the seed you are interested in and ordering them online.

What About Fruit And Vegetables?

The best way to supplement your bird’s diet is to use fresh foods that are moist and can be eaten in their entirety.

Banana’s, apple, carrots, the greens from the carrot, and a variety of other fresh foods can be offered to your cockatiel. Most cockatiels will prefer green stuff, but few will resist a slice of sweet apple.

If you want to be even more adventurous, you can even make your own homemade cockatiel food. This is also a good way of knowing exactly what your cockatiel is eating, as you can control exactly what goes into the food.

What About Pellets?

Pelleted foods are also good, as they have been scientifically formulated to supply your bird with all the nutrients that it needs in the right quantities.

If your cockatiel has been brought up on seed, it will be difficult to get him to eat pellets. The best way to go about this is to gradually reduce the amount of seed you give him while gradually increasing the number of pellets.

There are some wonderful brands of pellets that can be purchased online, like the ones below.

Try to find a reliable supplier for your cockatiel’s seed. The fresher the seed is, the better. The older seed will lose a lot of its nutrients.

The only way to check if the seed is fresh is to try and sprout it. If it grows, it is fresh. Never store seed for more than three months.

Read this to find out what NOT to feed your cockatiel.