All About Feeding A Cockatiel

Cockatiels belong to the cockatoo family, though they are much smaller in size, happy and easy going and could win you over with their love and attention. These intelligent and inquisitive parrots are gentle by nature and are ideal pet birds for children. It would be best to know all about the feeding of cockatiels before adopting them.

Cockatiels love seeds though giving only seeds to them could lead to a variety of nutritional imbalances. The most ideal seed mixes that is suitable for your pet bird are Bird Munchies Gourmet blend and Breeders Choice Cockatiel; it is best to avoid  mixes like Large Parrot mix or Wild Bird mix that contains a lot of seeds that are not eaten by cockatiels.

It is best to know that the cockatiel needs a variety of food; take care that most foods are taken in moderation as too much of anything is bad. Cockatiels enjoy silver beet, bokchoy, endive, dandelion, chickweed, clover, seeding grasses like oats grated carrot, corn kernels, peas, beans, celery, broccoli, apple, sprouted seeds, soaked seed, cooked egg, multi-grain bread, breakfast cereals like cornflakes, egg & biscuit mix, and cooked pasta.

However it is best to know that numerous garden plants and weeds like dandelion, chickweed, clover, and seeding grasses like oats have great nutritional value for your birds; make sure that you wash fruits, vegetables, weeds and herbs thoroughly before feeding it to your pet bird. It is preferable you feed the cockatiel from your own yard as it would be less contaminated by exhaust fumes and poisonous chemicals.

Native branches also are favorites of most cockatiels. Bottlebrush, Eucalyptus and Grevillea are all commonly found in backyards now and are a great source of entertainment for your bird as well. Small branches with leaves and flowers intact can be placed in the cage for the bird to totally destroy; when the leaves and flowers are gone then the branches will be stripped of bark. This provides great exercise for them and also helps relieve boredom.

It is best to make sure your cockatiel has enough of calcium; this is accomplished by giving the pet either calcium bell or cuttlebone that is a rich source of calcium to the bird. Cuttlebones not only provide the pet bird with calcium, but also help to keep the beak of the cockatiel trim. It is also a good idea to provide the cockatiel protein in the form of mynah pellets, game bird starter, dog food, and even mashed hard-boiled eggs.

The cockatiel may refuse to try out something new when you first offer it; however it is best to understand that soon it will try it out of curiosity. You just have to be patient for a few days. Also cockatiels have their own likes and dislikes; however it is best that you do not give in to the whims and fancies of the bird and make sure it has a varied and balanced diet.

Lastly never feed your cockatiel avocado, rhubarb, caffeine, alcohol, chocolate, apple seeds, lettuce and any food high in salt or sugar. It is also best to give treats like millet sprays or a piece of apple occasionally and in moderation. Most importantly providing clean and fresh water is a must for your cockatiel; clean and replenish the water daily to protect the pet bird against infection.