Need help with cockatiel diet

[BesserBirds]

I got a cockatiel just over 2 months ago and it is my first bird. I gave him all seeds for 2 months until I realized he was getting fat! I did some research and discovered that was wrong but can’t find any good diets!

Can someone give me some diet info and what percentages of what I should give him?

Thanks

 

[Tiel Feathers]

About 50/50 consumed pellets/seeds, or even slightly more seed. Get a good quality brand. I feed Goldenfeast Australian Blend and Roudybush. In addition to this give all the fresh veggies your bird will eat.

 

[finchly]

Hi, welcome to the Avenue. There are many opinions,heres mine.

20-80% pellets. Roudybush,Harrison’s, lafeber, TOPS. My tiels Love tops and also get roudybush.

Fresh veggies: any veggie you like, no tomatoes, avocado,onions. This should comprise a large part of the diet, say 50% veggies with 40% pellet food. Personally im uppping the fresh foods for my birds. There’s a FB group for avian nutrition if you want to go that route.

Seed, nuts only about 10%.it isn’t that nutritious and they willl get fat, as you found.

I left out fruit. They can eat fruit but tend to get yeast from it.so feed it sparingly.

There are lots of threads here about getting started with pellets and veggies.

Good luck!

 

[Laurul Feather Cat]

My Avian Vet says 50% seed, 10% fresh vegetables (most Tiels refuse fruits), 30% pellets (Harrison's fine), 10% birdy treats (birdy bread, cooked grains, dried fruit/veg, cooked egg).

 

[Serin]

I fed a pellet dry diet (Roudybush nibles) which was always in the cage, seed as a treat mostly used when training, daily greens, boiled egg a few times a week.

 

[BesserBirds]

My Avian Vet says 50% seed, 10% fresh vegetables (most Tiels refuse fruits), 30% pellets (Harrison's fine), 10% birdy treats (birdy bread, cooked grains, dried fruit/veg, cooked egg). [/QUOTE
What about a peeler based diet with like 70% pellets and 20% veggies and 10% seeds? Would that be okay for keeping him at the same weight?

 

[sunnysmom]

Opinions vary on exactly what is the best diet for cockatiels but everyone I think unanimously agrees not all seeds. Cockatiels are granivores. So I do think they need seed in their diet. I used to feed mine about 50% seeds, 10% pellets (actually nutriberries) and the rest fresh vegetables and then some rice and pasta. Cockatiels usually don't eat fruit. So it's probably better to focus on having them eat vegetables. You can try broccoli, leafy greens, cooked sweet potato, etc.

 

[BesserBirds]

Thanks you everyone for the help! Just as we started the weight loss journey it had to end... we have weighed petey for the first time and he is 90.3g! That is average weight even though he has been gaining a lot of weight! We have discovered that with the previous owner he was underweight! He is now back to Normal and is so very happy!

Once again thank you everyone for the help!
-BesserBirds

 

[Mizzely]

Here are some pellet comparisons Pellets for Parrots | Lil Monsters Bird Toys

Ideally they still do need some pellets, or a multivitamin, or unfiltered sunlight. Here is an article about that: Vitamin D3 for Our Birds | Small Parrot Toys by Lil Monsters Bird Toys

 

[cassiesdad]

Thanks you everyone for the help! Just as we started the weight loss journey it had to end... we have weighed petey for the first time and he is 90.3g! That is average weight even though he has been gaining a lot of weight! We have discovered that with the previous owner he was underweight! He is now back to Normal and is so very happy!

Once again thank you everyone for the help!
-BesserBirds

90.3 g sounds pretty good...and very good when you consider that he was under weight before.

For comparison...Sunshine Tiel 95.4 g, Mocha 99.1 g, and Igor is 88.9 g...Igor has always been a small guy...

 

[Monica]

Do you know how old Petey is?

I agree on a diet of 50/50 seeds to pellets with fresh foods (primarily vegetables) added into the diet. An all seed diet can lead to malnutrition and fatty liver disease. An all pelleted diet may result in kidney failure. Therefore, they do best on a diet that includes seeds and pellets.


Converting Parrots to a Healthier Diet - Tips | Avian Avenue Parrot Forum