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Cockatiels are small, crested members of the parrot family. They are known for their mellow nature. Gray is the most common color, but also available in fancy, lutino, and pied color variations.
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If you have a local pet store in your location, that's a great place to check for commercial bird foods. You may also need to check online if you don't have anything available. Cockatiel foods are often a blend of seeds and pellets that are nutritionally balanced. Millet seeds, and other small seeds, and some dried fruits and vegetables can also be substituted to balance the diet if a commercial brand isn't available. Fruits such as dried berries, applies, peach, can be tasty, and dried veggies such as spinach and other leafy greens make a great treat.
Updated on August 12th, 2025
Thanks for all of your questions! You do not need to provide a cockatiel with grit - as a parrot, this material is not necessary for them to digest their food. For produce, I would recommend focusing on vegetables that are high in vitamin A and calcium - this is typically the brightly colored vegetables (such as bell peppers) and dark leafy greens. For fruits, ideally you would focus on tropical fruits, as they have more fiber and less sugar than our temperate fruits. These would include fruits such as mango and papaya. For feeding, I would recommend feeding 60-70% pellets, 20% vegetables, 5% fruit, and 5% seeds. An average cockatiel can be offered about 1/4 of food per day - some birds spill more than others so this would just be a place to start and you can then increase or decrease as needed. We want them to be eating portions of each food item, so don't offer too much food, or they will just pick out what they like (typically the seeds and fruit). You can offer multiple bowls of
Updated on August 12th, 2025
Thanks for your question. I’m sorry to hear that pellets are not available in your area, as these are the most ideal diet for parrots. I’m not sure if you would have access to them via the internet or not? If this is not an option, I would recommend feeding vitamin A rich produce items, with a focus on vegetables. I’m not sure what is available in your area, but typically the dark leafy greens and brightly colored vegetables are good options. I would also feed calcium rich produce, again focusing on vegetables when possible. The reason for these is that seed mixes are often lacking in these two nutrients and it is common to see malnutrition and deficiencies because of this. For seeds, I would recommend feeding them in moderation - for a cockatiel they don’t need more than a couple of tablespoons offered to them per day. Try to transition the diet slowly, as birds can be challenging to introduce to new things. I would recommend weighing your bird 3-4 times per week during the transition
Updated on August 12th, 2025
Millet spray makes a great addition to Cheeko's diet, but the main food in the cage should be a good quality seed mix for cockatiels/parakeets. This will contain many different types of seed in a balance to provide appropriate nutrition. I would have this and clean water available at all times. Small pieces of fruit can also be used as treats, and cuttlefish can make good toys to help with calcium balance.
Updated on August 12th, 2025
Birds are curious and may explore and munch on things they shouldn't. Making sure to clean the cage daily, and that there is a grate down to collect droppings without allowing Luna to hop into it and eat it is best. As for food, most pet stores will carry balanced diets for cockatiels that consist of a balance of seeds and pellets that provide nutrition and vitamins/minerals. You can also offer in a few treats such as fresh fruits and veggies to help supplement her diet and keep her healthy.
Updated on August 12th, 2025