Cockatiel feeding guide: fruits, veggies, grains

Cockatiels are naturally seed-and-grass eaters from the Australian interior — but a pet cockatiel's nutritional needs go beyond what seeds alone can provide. Getting the diet right dramatically extends lifespan and prevents the most common diseases.

The foundation: pellets over seeds

Like all parrots, cockatiels fed exclusively on seeds develop vitamin A deficiency, iodine deficiency (leading to thyroid enlargement), and obesity. The ideal diet puts pellets first:
- 50–60% quality pellets: Zupreem Natural (Small), Harrison's Fine, Hagen Tropican Cockatiel — choose small-size pellets specifically
- 30–40% fresh food (see below)
- 10% seeds, millet, and occasional treats

Safe fresh foods for cockatiels

Vegetables (offer daily)
- Leafy greens: rocket, spinach, kale, Swiss chard, dandelion greens, parsley, coriander
- Orange and red vegetables: carrot (including the tops), sweet potato (cooked), red and yellow bell pepper — all high in vitamin A
- Broccoli, courgette, cucumber, peas (fresh or frozen, thawed)
- Corn on the cob (a favourite foraging toy)

Fruits (2–3 times per week, small amounts)
- Apple (remove all seeds — contain cyanide)
- Pear, melon, mango (no skin, no pit), berries (blueberries, raspberries)
- Pomegranate — cockatiels love extracting the arils; also enriching

Grains and cooked foods
- Cooked brown rice, quinoa, or pasta (plain) — offered warm, not hot
- Cooked egg — excellent protein source; offer a small amount once or twice a week (scrambled or hard-boiled, no salt or butter)
- Cooked lentils or chickpeas (plain)

Foods to avoid strictly

- Avocado (toxic — causes heart failure)
- Chocolate, caffeine, alcohol
- Onion, garlic, leek, chives — cause anaemia
- Apple, cherry, plum, peach pits and seeds — contain cyanide
- Rhubarb — contains oxalic acid
- Xylitol (sugar substitute)
- Salty foods (crisps, crackers)

Grit and mineral supplementation

Cockatiels do not need grit in their diet (unlike pigeons and doves who have a grinding gizzard). A cuttlebone or mineral block in the cage provides calcium and is used by choice.