Unique Avian Solutions
for Breeding, Genetics,
and Companion Parrots
Copyright © Linda S. Rubin | CockatielsPlusParrots.com
Linda S. Rubin has raised and kept cockatiels and parrots for more than 30 years and is the author of several books at
www.CockatielsPlusParrrots.com.  She is the Founding President of the Cockatiel Foundation, Inc., long time Board Member of
the American Federation of Aviculture, Inc., and a Certified Panel Judge for the Cockatiel Foundation and the Society of Parrot
Breeders & Exhibitors.
Nutrition Articles
People ask: "If I feed a well-balanced diet to my cockatiel, is it really necessary to provide fresh fruits and
vegetables?"

The answer depends on what is contained in your "well-balanced diet." There are advantages in feeding
pellets or extruded diets, in part, to cockatiels. While pelleted diets, in theory, are thought to meet the
nutritional needs of our birds as best understood at this time, many manufacturers still recommend providing
fresh produce to supplement the diet to all birds. (Also, cockatiels cannot be kept solely on a pelleted diet as
many veterinarians explain, because they can experience kidney damage. Therefore, seed and other
nutritious dietary items must be included).

Fruits and vegetables add tremendous nutritional power to your bird's menu, and they act as challenging
psychological devices to keep curious, busy beaks active and content. Unfortunately, we sometimes hear of
neurotic behaviors and ingrained habits such as feather-picking activities being prompted by sheer boredom.
Often times, the underlying cause to such behavior can be traced back to illness, an inadequate environment,
or to malnutrition. A medical exam performed by an avian veterinarian will reveal if an illness is present.
Adding produce to the diet can have a profound effect on stimulating a bird's playing environment, and on
boosting a bird's nutritional intake.


              
Fresh food provides additional nourishment, and some produce are especially high in carotene, which is
converted into vitamin A in the liver. Beta-carotene and other antioxidants are essential in guarding good
health. Most seed diets are lacking in vitamins (with the exception of some of the B complex group), thus
vitamin supplements and fresh produce can be critical in providing the level of vitamin A crucial to good
health. Avian veterinarians frequently cite malnutrition, and especially vitamin A deficiencies as a common
culprit among their patients. The best defense then, is to provide a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables
to gain as many nutrients as possible, while frequently offering those foods known to be high in carotene or
vitamin A.



             
In general, the red-orange-yellow fruits and vegetables, and some of the green leafy vegetables, are the best
sources of vitamin A. Carrots (with the tops), yams, hot or chili peppers, pumpkin, most of the squash family,
and sweet potato are all high in vitamin A. It is best to serve carrots, peppers and sweet potato raw, since the
process of cooking destroys vitamins; however, usually yams, pumpkin, and squash are better accepted
when cooked.

Carrot greens, especially, are very tempting to cockatiels, and I have known few birds to refuse a long bundle
of freshly washed carrot tops once they become a familiar item in the diet. Owners may also grow their own
shoots by placing carrot tops in a shallow dish of water, rinsing and refilling daily, then present the tops once
the new shoots have grown one to two inches. Carrots are inexpensive, readily available, and one of the best
vegetables to feed for vitamin A. Many breeders feed carrots to their birds by the pound several times a week.



                    
Dark green, leafy, raw vegetables which cockatiels can be trained to enjoy include: dandelion (including the
flower), collard greens, kale, sprouts, spinach, turnip greens, Swiss chard, mustard greens, broccoli,
escarole or chicory, beet greens, and bok choy. The first five items provide the richest sources of vitamin A;
however the remaining items contain moderate levels of vitamin A along with other excellent nutrients. While
some greens such as parsley are quite low in vitamin A, parsley does have the distinction of containing most
of the amino acids which are the "building blocks" of proteins. Similarly, comfrey is the only land plant known
to contain vitamin B12. Feeding a variety of green foods offers a number of nutrients.

One of my favorite vegetables to feed is broccoli, a rich source of fiber, with moderate amounts of vitamins A,
C, riboflavin (vitamin B2) and calcium. After a thorough washing, I cut up the stalks and florets, and place them
in stainless steel bowls containing pellets. The bowls are hung high near the upper branches of each flight.
The birds eat the floret and enjoy chewing the stalks. Another high fiber food I serve in this manner is corn on
the cob, which also offers other beneficial nutrients.


                                  
Fruits that are a rich source of vitamin A include: mangos, cantaloupe, persimmons, and to a lesser extent,
apricots, nectarines, papayas, tomatoes and peaches. These fruits can be cut up and presented in a variety of
styles until you hit upon the shape and size your birds prefer. Always be certain to remove fruit pits. Cherry
pits are known to be deadly, and other fruit pits may contain trace amounts of cyanide and are dangerous to
your birds. However, over the years, I have fed small amounts of pomegranate and seen birds eat apple seeds
with no ill effect.

Cockatiels can be taught to eat a little fruit. Some of my own pet and breeding cockatiels enjoy apple, orange,
banana, grapes, mango, papaya, pomegranate, cranberries and blueberries, although other fruits are
occasionally offered, depending on what the larger parrots receive that day.

Berries are especially enjoyed by many parrots, my Psittaculas devour them: blueberries, cranberries,
strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and others. They especially relish dried fig for the seeds they extract
from the fruit.



                   
Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly before cutting, dicing, slicing, and presenting them to your
cockatiels. Make certain to wash all traces of pesticides or other sprays away by first soaking the produce in
a bowl of cold water for a few minutes, while rinsing in between. Be careful however, not to oversoak, which
over time (e.g., more than five minutes) can destroy vitamins.  
    



Training, however, should begin while the birds are young. Offer small pieces of fruit along with their
vegetables on a daily basis, until you witness your birds ingesting these food items and not merely playing
with them. I offer my cockatiels green food every other day, and fruit twice a week, once they are trained to
eat these items.

Cockatiels won't learn to eat fruit or green food if they are unavailable to them. It often takes   continued page 2...
Feeding Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
©1999Linda S. Rubin

SPBE  & CF Panel Judge
All Photos and Articles “All Rights Reserved” by Author.
Written permission from author required for reprints.

First published in the August 1999 issue of BIRD TIMES magazine.
Vitamin A and Carotene
Red-Yellow-Orange Vegetables
Green Leafy Vegetables
Fruit
Wash Before Serving
Training Birds to Eat Fresh Produce