Can a Cockatiel Eat Wild Bird Food?

Don't give only wild bird seed to cockatiels.

Cockatiels will eat wild bird food, including seed meant for wild birds, but only as part of a varied diet. Cockatiels cannot survive on only seeds, according to the American Cockatiel Society.

Significance

Cockatiels can live on a seed-only diet, but will eventually get sick due to malnutrition. Unfortunately, if a cockatiel is used to only eating wild bird seed, then it will become addicted to the bird seed and refuse more nutritious foods.

Warnings

Sometimes bird seed or suet is mixed with dried fruits and peanuts. Seeds of apples, cherries and peaches can poison a cockatiel. Peanuts have far too much fat in them for cockatiels, according to the American Cockatiel Society.

Maintenance

Cockatiels should only be given a teaspoon of seed per day. They need mostly a pelleted diet for cockatiels along with a variety of fresh vegetables, protein from tofu or cooked meat and starches in the form of cooked pasta or mashed potatoes.

References

• American Cockatiel Society: Feeding Your Cockatiel
• Pet Place: Choosing a Cockatiel
• Bird Channel: Top 10 Pet Cockatiel Questions Answered

Resources

• National Cockatiel Society
• Bird Channel: Cockatiel Birds
• Pet Education: Bird Nutrition