To feed a cockatiel, use a seed or pellet mix made specially for cockatiels as the main basis of its diet. Older cockatiels that have lived for years in the same home may also refuse to eat for a period of time. I really appreciate this, "I found this really helpful as I have just started to own these birds. 41. Your bird will likely get a taste of the new food while extracting the treat (the key here is to only use a couple of the treats and make your bird dig through the new food to get to them). But with the arrival of COVID-19, the stakes are higher than ever. Most cockatiels love to eat millet spray even when they aren't feeling well. Good vegetables to feed your bird include cooked sweat potatoes, sprouts, cooked beets, broccoli, carrots, carrot tops, corn, chard, endive, fresh sprouts, wax beans, parsley, pumpkin, red or green sweet peppers, watercress, yellow squash, zucchini, and dark green lettuce. Remove any moistened pellets after a couple of hours due to the risk of spoilage. the safest way to change your cockatiel over to a diet of pellets. Re: New Cockatiel not eating I wouldnt be worried, birds can go about 3-4 days without eating, and can take even longer to settle in. Additionally, provide your bird with protein by feeding it a few small pieces of cooked eggs, chicken, or fish twice a week. In the wild, bonded birds regurgitate food for one another, so sharing a meal can go a long way in helping your bird realize that you mean no harm.. Check with a vet just to be safe. Provide your cockatiel with bottled water, if necessary. This is because they grow sooo fast at this time. Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Some healthy treats include strawberries, mangoes, and yellow peppers. To encourage bonding, you can also try to hand feed it. Cuttlebones, edible chalk or mineral blocks can become treats for cockatiels as they contain the necessary nutrients. Protein and Meat. A couple of times a week supplement this with a second course of protein or carbohydrate. If not, you'll want to pull them and hand feed them with a high quality formula. He does not appear to be ill, but I am concerned that he will starve to death. Once they are hungry enough, their survival instincts will urge him to search out a meal. If your cockatiel is very active, is laying eggs or is feeding young chicks, your tiel of course will eat more. However, the food should be perfectly fine stored in a dry cupboard/pantry. How can I get my cockatiel to drink water? I am wondering how he should spend his first few days; he is very quiet right now, mostly sitting in the corner quietly. These should make up no more than 20% of their overall diet. Note that if your bird is breeding and laying eggs, a calcium supplement may be required. If you have a cockatiel that is not eating very much because of its new surrounding or stress, you might want to try the following tips while your cockatiel adjust. Another way to have fun with your cockatiel is to feed him treats. Beans need to be completely cooked, but some birds love raw veggies. Place a few seeds in your hand and hold them out for your cockatiel to eat. This article has been viewed 61,283 times. For carbohydrates, try giving it a spoonful of rice, corn, or oatmeal once a week. For more advice from our Veterinary co-author, including how to provide a safe eating environment for your cockatiel, keep reading! ", Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow, http://www.cockatielcottage.net/diet3.html, http://www.cockatielcottage.net/disinfecting.html, https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/species/cockatiel/, http://www.cockatielsociety.org.au/articles/health_and_diet.htm, Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Make sure your cockatiel does not have any seeds from fruits, some can be very dangerous, like Cherry pits as they may contain trace amounts of cyanide. unlocking this expert answer. Although you should refrain from giving your cockatiel the same type of fruit or vegetable more than twice per week, you should provide some amount of fresh produce daily. Try hand-feeding the pellets so your bird thinks they are a treat. 36. Wait a few months until your new bird has adjusted to you and a new home. This open environment might be a reason why cockatiels don’t have the ear-piercing screech of parrots originating from dense rain-forest habitats. % of people told us that this article helped them. Cockatiels readily breed in the wild, and they are also easy to breed in captivity, which makes them widely available as pets at a lower cost than most … If you do not trust the local water enough to drink it yourself, you shouldn’t give it to your cockatiel either. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. A difference in diet may be the only reason why our cockatiel isn't eating. Learn from the experts with wikiHow Pro Videos. Do Cockatiels Get Dandruff? Make sure the new bird has been checked for diseases and parasites. Simply massage one on the side of its head (by its ears), using a circular motion. When trying to get your cockatiel to eat fruits and vegetables, hiding the new food under a layer of seeds or pellets can help. If there is more than one cockatiel in the cage, separate dishes should be used for each bird to ensure those birds at the bottom of the pecking order have a chance to eat. Better health, longer life, variety in the diet, etc. Make sure the food isn’t placed directly under a perch, or the cockatiel’s droppings will land up in its food. If your cockatiel is eating a lot but is lethargic or you don't see a visual gain weight it could be a sign of illness. This will stimulate it to yawn, making it easier to feed the bird. "I was just given three cockatiels, and I didn't know anything about them and how to go about looking after them. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Support wikiHow by In providing cockatiels with this opportunity, however, you should be cautious about food hygiene. So all the information is really helpful.". What should I do if I accidentally fed my cockatiels tomatoes? You can also try sprinkling some pellets Approved. Last Updated: January 27, 2020 If not, then I strongly suggest you get him to an avian vet. Different vegetables provide different nutrients and a healthy mix of veggies ensures a good diet. Try using plain white dishes and later spice it up. 40. Can you feed a cockatiel sunflower seeds? Even if a young bird is willing to play with you and appears happy, keep these sessions to no more than 15 minutes, as a young bird needs to return to its cage to eat … By the second week. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. Also, don't ever let your bird starve; don't switch it too fast to new foods, and make sure it has enough stuff that it will eat to keep up its health. That means that, instead of sticking to a strict diet of commercial produced pet foods, you should also feed it many of the same foods you eat. This can lead to nutritional deficiencies because your bird might only eat the ones that taste good and avoid the healthier ones. Within several weeks, your cockatiel should be eating the pellets. By using our site, you agree to our. Cockatiels are social animals that, in the wild, eat with their flock. Place your bird on a perch and put your finger below the bird’s beak, holding a … Remember, persistence is key. Have perches of all different thicknesses as this is good for exercising their feet. Is chocolate really bad for my bird? Some pet stores sell young birds that … What can I do? By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. In the first week, baby cockatiels eat every 2 hours. If it is thirsty, then it will drink water. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. To properly introduce your new bird to your current cockatiel, de la Navarre offers the following tips: 1. Small species who like to eat off the ground, such as budgerigars and cockatiels, can be offered a mixture of the old and new foods on a plate on the ground level of their cage to forage from. Additionally, since most birds tend to perch on the highest item in their cage, place the dish slightly higher then all the items in the cage. © 2014-2021 by The American Cockatiel Society ~ A not-for-profit organization, 2014-2021 by The American Cockatiel Society. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. Cockatiels are allergic to the pits found in many varieties of fruit. He is fully weaned at 4 months old and is very active. If necessary, wash any fruits or vegetables that are okay for birds to eat several times with plenty of water. At the end of each session, make the cockatiel move closer to your hand before it can get the treat. 2. When should I change to pellets? Enough so that they are afraid to move about in their cage. Discard and wash food dish after 1 hour to prevent spoilage. Cockatiels are naturally foragers, who enjoy the opportunity to search the ground for food. Before changing diets, a check-up with an avian vet is strongly recommended. A video explaining some key essentials that will help you gain your cockatiel's trust. 35. If your birds aren't showing any symptoms, then it's unlikely that they're suffering any ill effects from the tomatoes, but a call to a vet will put your mind at ease. Good fruits for your cockatiel include apples, apricots, bananas, berries, cantaloupe, cherries, honeydew, pears, pineapple, mangoes, nectarines, plums, and watermelon. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Cockatiel's are not inclined to overeat, so provide your pet birds with as many seeds or pellets as they are willing to eat. Each week remove another 10%, and increase the pellets by the same amount. Try to feed your cockatiel around your own meal times to build a closer social bond. In this case, 92% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. You can if you want to. If your bird is eating up to 80% of her diet in pelleted form, she probably won’t need supplements, as vitamins and minerals will be included in the pellet formula. However, you need to be mindful of food safety when caring for these small, often delicate animals. Did you know you can read expert answers for this article? Remove 10% of your bird's seeds and replace it with 10% of pellets. We've been helping billions of people around the world continue to learn, adapt, grow, and thrive for over a decade. Watch to make sure that your bird does not only pick out certain seeds that it likes. When changing the food your bird is given, do so gradually. It's OK for your cockatiel to eat chicken, again we are talking here very, very, small amounts. Alternatively you can also provide your bird with a mineral block to snack on. For more advice from our Veterinary co-author, including how to provide a safe eating environment for your cockatiel, keep reading! The cockatiel, with its long tail, needs a larger bird cage … As the new feather spikes grow longer, the spike part of the feather comes off as a "shell" around the brand new feather. Eventually by the second week they were eating normally. Does my bird really need to be eating pellets? Don't worry—it's perfectly normal and natural! In addition to the base diet of pellets or seed, you should aim to feed your cockatiel some sort of fresh green daily. Then, supplement its diet with fresh fruits and vegetables to ensure that your bird gets enough vitamins and minerals. Make sure to wash your produce thoroughly, since the pesticides on fruits and vegetables can be toxic to cockatiels. Iceberg lettuce, cucumbers, and celery are not a good source of vitamins. References This is also a stressful time for your bird and stress can impair the immune system. Finely grind some of the pellets and sprinkle over your bird's normal seeds or a favorite treat to try to get the bird to taste the pellets. Place a few seeds in your hand and hold them out … By the second week, it's every 3 hours. Millet is high in calories, which will help provide some nourishment while your cockatiel adjusts. Now I know what is not safe for Imzadi to eat. Now I have some ideas of the food, etc .Thank you. Try moistening the pellets, perhaps with warm water. Any bird which has runny stools when it is not eating fresh foods should be seen by a veterinarian, as diarrhea is often one of the first symptoms of disease. If that’s you then this simple guide will answer all your questions about what to feed our tiel to ensure it lives a long and healthy life. Cockatiels are native to the semi-arid regions of Australia. Will my cockatiel get sick if I feed her mango? I put my bird's dishes right in the dishwasher to kill all bacteria 39. Sometimes this is all that is needed to encourage them to eat on their own. In most cases, all they need is time to adjust to their new environment and a little help from you. It took me 2 weeks of daily trying to get my birds to eat pellets, for instance. Sounds like your new cockatiel is just homesick. Since I knew they were not sick, I wasn't too worried providing they did not dehydrate or lose too much weight. Consider occasionally scattering food across the floor of the cage so that they can forage. New birds have to adjust to new surroundings and new people. 38. • Offer your bird millet spray, cockatiels love millet spray. Keeping the cage covered on 2 or 3 sides will also give him a feeling of comfort. Every dollar contributed enables us to keep providing high-quality how-to help to people like you. My new bird is on a seed diet. If you are feeding your bird a pitted fruit, cut it up carefully and be certain to remove all pits. Avocados, rhubarb, leaves and stems from potato, tomato, eggplant and bean plants, alcohol, coffee, tea, chocolate, sugar, salt, greasy foods, tobacco, fruit seeds or pits from apples, apricots, oranges, cherries, peaches, pears and plums. Do I put my cockatiel's food and grit in the fridge? Hi all, I am a new bird owner, and just brought home my cockatiel last evening. "I am on the lookout for a cockatiel, and just wanted to get a better understanding! Make a baby bird yawn. With very tame cockatiels, you can try offering food from your hand. Turn Around. Temporarily remove all the toys. Watch how they interact from inside their separate cages. There is a variety of treats that you can feed him, such as packaged seed treats and spray millet. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 61,283 times. If you’re a new cockatiel owner, or you’re thinking of becoming one, then you’ve probably wondered at some point about what cockatiels eat and how to give them the best diet. Many cockatiels feel vulnerable on the cage bottom, so use hanging dishes and place them near a perch. Try using plain white dishes and later spice it up. Some cockatiels are afraid to eat from a new feed dish, especially if it is fancy or brightly colored. While your new cockatiel is trying to adjust to his new home, his living quarters should not be in a high traffic area. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. A sudden change may upset your bird's digestive system, or the bird may refuse to eat the new food. Millet spray should only be given as a treat and not as a basic food diet. As long as the parents are feeding them, they should be okay. Keep your cockatiel's food bowl three-quarters full and refresh it daily. This article has been viewed 61,283 times. The cockatiels are to get calcium, together with protein and minerals. Dear Pet Adviser: Our new pet cockatiel has been with us for three days and has not touched his food. Rest assured a healthy cockatiel would not starve itself to death. This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Providing your new cockatiel is healthy, you should see him eat within the first week. Two or three pieces of finely chopped greenery should suffice. Wild cockatiels fly to the ground to forage for food. Minerals can be hidden in the favorite cockatiel toys , making the parrots entertain themselves, socialize and chew the toys’ soft or edible parts. Choosing the Right Cockatiel Ask if the bird is weaned. In general, cockatiels will eat approximately 15 grams of food per day. Help, I can't get my bird to eat vegetables! To add some variety, consider providing pellets occasionally if your bird is on a seed diet, or seeds if it is on a pellet diet. The key to a healthy cockatiel is a varied diet, with many types of nutrients and vitamins. To help your cockatiel adjust better to his new home, here's what you can do: Call the person you bought your cockatiel from and ask what diet (brand of food) they were feeding your cockatiel. There are 30 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. In addition to your bird’s staples, which should be either seeds or pellets, you should serve a couple small pieces of a varied fresh food twice a day. Changing diets is stressful for all birds. By the time a cockatiel is done molting, his feathery coat will be thick and plush because of all the new feathers. "My cockatiel was hand fed from 4 days old and loves to eat with us. I could use some tips of "dos" and "don'ts", because I am getting conflicting info from different sources. Placing food directly on the floor of the cage is more appropriate for foods like pellets and commercial treats, which will not rot. I've had new cockatiels barely eat a thing for as long as one week. Don't add any supplements to the food or water until your cockatiel is eating vigorously. 37. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. Make sure a fresh supply of water is readily available where it can reach easily. When you provide fresh food, which you should do once or twice daily, they will cut down on the amount of pellets or seeds that they eat. For birds that are not ground foragers, offering pellets in a different bowl higher up in the cage can provide a new exciting place to explore. If you are hand-feeding baby cockatiels, you can make their mouths open. Place a couple of treats such as sunflower seeds, raisins, or Cheerios in a dish of new food. These new items may be frightening to your new cockatiel. Try feeding raw and cooked veggies to your cockatiel and see which one she prefers! Introduce dark yellow and leafy green vegetables like celery and lettuce that are … A well-bird visit with an avian vet is always a good idea with any new bird to rule out illness. Keep in mind that treats should be only a small part of your cockatiel’s diet. • Offer food from your hand. We usually give our girl a handful of pellets, and the occasional sprinkle of seeds. As a guideline, most cockatiels can be maintained on 1.5 - 2 level measure tablespoons of seeds per bird, per day fed in a shallow dish, depending on the size of the bird. Offer your cockatiel fresh fruit such as berries, melon, papaya or kiwi every other day. Click here to SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/1MhbNy8Why veggies? Cockatiels cannot process lactose. This is not to say put him in a room and shut the door, rather a quiet corner in the family room where your cockatiel can see everyone entering the room at a safe distance. Keep in mind that they're not big fruit eaters. Fresh vegetables are an important part of your Cockatiel's diet. The taste and smells of these supplements could be turning them away from eating and drinking. This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. House the birds in separate bird cages and place them side by side so the birds can see one another. Keep experimenting with dish placement and you will find that place which is acceptable to your new cockatiel. When serving either, limit the portion to a couple of very small, finely chopped pieces. Due to the stress of changing homes, some young cockatiels that were recently weaned or recently taken away from their clutch mates refuse to eat. Feed your bird dark, leafy greens and other fresh veggies every other day. To encourage bonding, you can also try to hand feed it. Also, a low temperature in the environment will make a cockatiel eat more. Some cockatiels are afraid to eat from a new feed dish, especially if it is fancy or brightly colored. In moderation, yes. Just keep an eye on him, chekc inisde his dish if theres any broken seed shells. Many cockatiels feel vulnerable on the cage bottom, so use hanging dishes and place them near a perch. Cockatiel bird food – extra vitamins and minerals. Every morning. Do not feed your birds canned vegetables as they have sodium content. Cockatiel: Long Tail, Big Bird Cage. Do I need to cook veggies before feeding them to my cockatiel? 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