Essential Components of Diet

Cockatiels need an appropriate amount of calcium, protein, lysine, and water in their diets. Their diets should be low in fat (3%-8%). Read the ingredients on the bag of pelleted diets to be sure they include sufficient nutrients. Avoid the diet if sugar and fat are among the first ingredients.

Most cockatiel owners prefer feeding a wide variety of foods rather than all pellets. Perhaps we are applying “human preferences” to our birds when we claim that an all pellet diet would be rather boring. On the other hand, cockatiels in the wild eat a wide variety of foods with the various components primarily consumed as it comes into season.

My Birds Diet

After consulting various reference books, studying internet sites on cockatiel nutrition, talking to the pet store where I purchased my first bird, and discussing it with two veterinarians, I decided to go with a varied diet rather than an all pellet diet. Within a year, it was very clear that neither bird liked the pellets.

My birds are given free choice. They have a cup of pellets (both scented/flavored and unflavored), a cup of seeds based on canary seed, millet, safflower and limited sunflower seeds, and some table food. My female (Jubilee) has decided that anything I eat must be good for her. Since she started sampling table foods, Liberty has followed her lead. They now have pieces of pasta, broccoli, green beans, chicken, and hamburg when these occur in my diet.

A common evening treat is for me to mix a small package of Jiffy brand cornbread mix with 1 small jar of baby food sweet potatoes and 1 jar of baby food peas or green beans. This is palatable even for me to eat. They seem to really enjoy eating the same food I eat!

My birds also get frequent millet sprays as treats. This lets them “work” for their food like they would in the wild. It also keeps them entertained! I rarely give them “sticks” of treats because these have too much sugar in them for regular use. They are usually devoured before my birds will consume their normal diet.

Nutritional Deficiencies

Cockatiels getting to little vitamin A will often suffer from abnormal numbers of infections and may develop eye and kidney disorders. A shortage of Vitamin D results in weak bones and may cause convulsions. Excess Vitamin D can result in kidneys and other soft tissues becoming mineralized, poor muscle functions, anorexia and even death. Too much Vitamin A leads to skin disorders, eye disorders, bone problems and even convulsions.

One of the concerns I have with pelleted diets is that some birds have died from overdoses of vitamin D. I’ve been told the amount found in these diets is now reduced buy I’d rather not take any chances. I’ve continued offering the pellets as a "treat" rather than as their main diet.

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