Healthy Table Foods for
Cockatiels
By Eleanor McCaffrey
Copyright: This list may be printed for use with your own bird.
Any other use requires the author's written permission.
In addition to pellets, offer your bird a variety of table foods for a well balanced
and nourishing diet. Table foods should include fresh fruits and vegetables each
day as well as, other foods, seeds and treats. Portions should be kept small so
all of of these foods combined do not exceed 15%-20% of your bird's
diet or the personal recommendations of your avian vet. The list below may be
printed out for you to use with your own bird. For specific recommendations and limitations of
individual foods, read our first page about Healthy Table Foods. Click
Here
Toxic Foods:
Avocado, rhubarb, alcohol, coffee, tea,
chocolate, sugary, salty, greasy foods, tobacco, leaves and stems from potato, tomato, eggplant and bean plants, fruit seeds or pits from apples,
apricots, oranges, cherries, peaches, pears and plums are toxic and can
make your bird sick. If a large quantity is ingested, some foods can be
lethal. Fresh peanuts, Brazil nuts and other nuts in shells are often contaminated with
a toxic, mold-causing fungus. Avoid feeding them to your birds. Strawberries
and grapes bruise easily and quickly become moldy. Use with caution.
Spoilage:
Remove meat, fish, eggs and dairy products after 30
minutes to prevent spoilage. Remove other fresh foods within
1
hour or sooner
during hot weather.
Shellfish, Meat, Eggs & Beans:
Avoid feeding your bird
shellfish. (shrimp, crab, lobster etc.) because of high levels of bacterial contamination. A bacteria count that is considered safe for humans may not be
safe for birds. Serve freshly cooked meat, fish and eggs. Do not feed your bird meat, fish or eggs that
have been refrigerated after cooking then re-heated. Uncooked dried beans, barley, oats, rice, sweet potatoes, turnips and beets contain enzyme inhibitors
that will interfere with your bird's digestion of food. Cook them first to deactivate
these compounds.
Grit:
Healthy cockatiels and
other pet birds, with the exception of canaries, finches, doves and pigeons,
do
not need grit to aid in digestion
Feeding your cockatiel grit or using sandpaper type cage liners/perches
can make your cockatiel sick
by causing digestive
impactions.
Moldy Foods:
Seeds, grains, fruit, meat, cheese, bread and other foodstuffs can become toxic
if contaminated with mycotoxins. Mycotoxins are toxic
compounds produced by mold-causing fungi. Never feed your bird
mushy, discolored, bruised fruits or vegetables or a food that has mold growing on
it. "When in doubt,
throw it out."
Pesticides:
Fruits and vegetables contain pesticides which are toxic for birds. Wash, scrub,
peel and rinse
well
before serving. Soaking veggies
for a few minutes in a mixture of grapefruit seed extract and water or apple
cider vinegar and water will help to remove them.
Canned:
Vegetables in cans are often high in sodium content. The heat used during processing
also destroys the vitamin
content. Avoid them and use fresh or frozen instead. If you must use canned, rinse
several times under running water to remove sodium.
Mouth Feeding:
Human saliva contains bacteria that is potentially
toxic to birds. If you are getting a cold or the flu and you develop a secondary
infection, your bird can get sick
from you. Avoid this habit and offer you bird a separate portion of
food.
Healthy Table Foods for
Cockatiels
Toxic Foods:
Avocado, rhubarb, alcohol, coffee, tea,
chocolate, sugary, salty, greasy foods, tobacco, leaves and stems from potato, tomato, eggplant and bean plants, fruit seeds or pits from apples,
apricots, oranges, cherries, peaches, pears and plums are toxic and can
make your bird sick. If a large quantity is ingested, some foods can be
lethal. Fresh peanuts, Brazil nuts and other nuts in shells are often contaminated with
a toxic, mold-causing fungus. Avoid feeding them to your birds. Strawberries
and grapes bruise easily and quickly become moldy. Use with caution.
