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| Nutrition Articles |
| Is Grey Foot Coloring Diet Related? ©2003 Linda S. Rubin CF Genetics Consultant & Panel Judge All Photos and Articles “All Rights Reserved” by Author. Written permission from author required for reprints. First published online in 2003 and adapted |
Q. I read somewhere that grey feet could indicate poor nutrition and malnutrition. I
just bought a cockatiel from a pet store that did not know much about “her.” She has a grey-banded top
and bottom tail feathers, a grey body, and a splotchy grey and white face. The pet shop thought she was 3
months old. I bought her specifically because of the unusual color patterns. She also has GREY feet. She
appears to be molting even though the pet shop has only had her for a week. I know nothing of her shipment
or history, etc. I’d like to know what the grey feet mean? I do think the bird is young and it seems a shame
that she'd be malnourished. I’m trying to get her to eat veggies (she's eaten a piece of corn, and a bite of
banana); I have minced some carrots, corn, peas, and green beans for her but she is still not very interested.
She also has some leafy greens woven in the cage if she decides to investigate. She’s eaten her seed and
water during breakfast time with us.
A. It appears from your written description that you have a Pied cockatiel (if you could post a photo it
would be most helpful as only a photo can confirm that).
First, you do not need to be concerned about your cockatiel's grey feet. Grey is a normal color in cockatiels
and is merely the melanin (dark) color pigment that some cockatiels carry in their feet. Generally as a rule,
most heavily washed Pied mutations have pink feet. However, lighter Pieds, (those with more grey feathers
and less yellow and white wash), can have grey feet in some individuals.
Second, it sounds as if you are attempting to feed well. In addition to seed, fresh vegetables and leafy
greens, you should also provide cockatiel pellets, cuttlebone, (and of course fresh water daily). I have
written about other dietary foods you can feed in other articles, plus there are also other excellent articles
on diet and nutrition posted on this website that you may wish to read.
A cockatiel’s first baby molt occurs during 3 to 4 months of age; its adolescent molt at approximately 6
months, and a young adult molt at about twelve months of age. The stress of going to a new home
environment, with unfamiliar sights, sounds, and temperature changes, plus separation from siblings and
cage mates can also cause a cockatiel to molt. It is especially important to provide additional nourishment
to your bird at this time. Protein, in particular, is necessary to combat stress and helps supply the nutrients
necessary to new feather growth. Mashed up hard boiled or scrambled egg is considered an excellent high-
quality protein (always remove egg food within two hours because bacteria levels double). Other sources
include foods such as a corn/rice/bean diet (using brown rice, peas and legumes); some commercial cook
and serve diets, or even a little peanut butter. A light salting of an avian multivitamin/mineral supplement
containing vitamin D3, on top of soft foods, may be beneficial depending upon the total nutritional
ingredients in the diet your cockatiel is actually consuming.
It sounds as though you are offering a good variety of foods to your cockatiel. Keep up your attempts
everyday. Too often, people give up way too early. You have to approach training cockatiels to accept a new
diet with the expectation that in the beginning you will be wasting a lot of the produce and other foods you
provide. However, if such foods are not there in front of them, they will never learn to eat them! Then, one
day, they start to dig in and taste it, and eventually they are hooked.
One suggestion you may find helpful is to offer a large bunch or handful of leafy greens (e.g., dandelion,
carrot tops, anything with crunchy stalks to nibble like parsley or Swiss chard, etc.) that will tempt and
attract their interest. Some birds like their greens thrown on top of their cage, dripping wet, so they can roll
around and bathe in them. Others like vegetables pinned to the side of their cage with a clothespin next to
their favorite food cup. There are many different ways to experiment with hanging, threading, and attaching
greens to pique a bird’s interest and to slice, dice and present other vegetables to tempt them.
The idea is to make it easy for untrained birds to investigate and eat new foods by placing them in areas
they frequent most often. Experiment and serve new foods in a variety of different ways, and above all,
make it fun and playful.
Chicks learn from their parents which foods to eat, and often will learn through playtime; first by "mouthing"
such treats before chewing, tearing, and swallowing. Young birds may roll around in green food as if
bathing, or tear up their greens just for sheer pleasure. These playful activities are the way in which birds
learn about their environment and what is edible. You have to think like the parent bird now and lead your
youngster to the new foods. Make a fuss of whatever foods you serve and act excited whenever presenting
these healthy snacks so your cockatiel will be eager to investigate them.
“Teacher birds,” (e.g., other birds that are already trained to eat fresh foods) can be helpful to newcomers.
Teacher birds demonstrate that foods are tasty and safe to eat by modeling eating these items in front of the
uninitiated bird. Many times, a new bird can be coaxed to sample a new food just by watching a teacher bird,
or you, demonstrate that it is safe and interesting to enjoy these items. Bon appetit!
just bought a cockatiel from a pet store that did not know much about “her.” She has a grey-banded top
and bottom tail feathers, a grey body, and a splotchy grey and white face. The pet shop thought she was 3
months old. I bought her specifically because of the unusual color patterns. She also has GREY feet. She
appears to be molting even though the pet shop has only had her for a week. I know nothing of her shipment
or history, etc. I’d like to know what the grey feet mean? I do think the bird is young and it seems a shame
that she'd be malnourished. I’m trying to get her to eat veggies (she's eaten a piece of corn, and a bite of
banana); I have minced some carrots, corn, peas, and green beans for her but she is still not very interested.
She also has some leafy greens woven in the cage if she decides to investigate. She’s eaten her seed and
water during breakfast time with us.
A. It appears from your written description that you have a Pied cockatiel (if you could post a photo it
would be most helpful as only a photo can confirm that).
First, you do not need to be concerned about your cockatiel's grey feet. Grey is a normal color in cockatiels
and is merely the melanin (dark) color pigment that some cockatiels carry in their feet. Generally as a rule,
most heavily washed Pied mutations have pink feet. However, lighter Pieds, (those with more grey feathers
and less yellow and white wash), can have grey feet in some individuals.
Second, it sounds as if you are attempting to feed well. In addition to seed, fresh vegetables and leafy
greens, you should also provide cockatiel pellets, cuttlebone, (and of course fresh water daily). I have
written about other dietary foods you can feed in other articles, plus there are also other excellent articles
on diet and nutrition posted on this website that you may wish to read.
A cockatiel’s first baby molt occurs during 3 to 4 months of age; its adolescent molt at approximately 6
months, and a young adult molt at about twelve months of age. The stress of going to a new home
environment, with unfamiliar sights, sounds, and temperature changes, plus separation from siblings and
cage mates can also cause a cockatiel to molt. It is especially important to provide additional nourishment
to your bird at this time. Protein, in particular, is necessary to combat stress and helps supply the nutrients
necessary to new feather growth. Mashed up hard boiled or scrambled egg is considered an excellent high-
quality protein (always remove egg food within two hours because bacteria levels double). Other sources
include foods such as a corn/rice/bean diet (using brown rice, peas and legumes); some commercial cook
and serve diets, or even a little peanut butter. A light salting of an avian multivitamin/mineral supplement
containing vitamin D3, on top of soft foods, may be beneficial depending upon the total nutritional
ingredients in the diet your cockatiel is actually consuming.
It sounds as though you are offering a good variety of foods to your cockatiel. Keep up your attempts
everyday. Too often, people give up way too early. You have to approach training cockatiels to accept a new
diet with the expectation that in the beginning you will be wasting a lot of the produce and other foods you
provide. However, if such foods are not there in front of them, they will never learn to eat them! Then, one
day, they start to dig in and taste it, and eventually they are hooked.
One suggestion you may find helpful is to offer a large bunch or handful of leafy greens (e.g., dandelion,
carrot tops, anything with crunchy stalks to nibble like parsley or Swiss chard, etc.) that will tempt and
attract their interest. Some birds like their greens thrown on top of their cage, dripping wet, so they can roll
around and bathe in them. Others like vegetables pinned to the side of their cage with a clothespin next to
their favorite food cup. There are many different ways to experiment with hanging, threading, and attaching
greens to pique a bird’s interest and to slice, dice and present other vegetables to tempt them.
The idea is to make it easy for untrained birds to investigate and eat new foods by placing them in areas
they frequent most often. Experiment and serve new foods in a variety of different ways, and above all,
make it fun and playful.
Chicks learn from their parents which foods to eat, and often will learn through playtime; first by "mouthing"
such treats before chewing, tearing, and swallowing. Young birds may roll around in green food as if
bathing, or tear up their greens just for sheer pleasure. These playful activities are the way in which birds
learn about their environment and what is edible. You have to think like the parent bird now and lead your
youngster to the new foods. Make a fuss of whatever foods you serve and act excited whenever presenting
these healthy snacks so your cockatiel will be eager to investigate them.
“Teacher birds,” (e.g., other birds that are already trained to eat fresh foods) can be helpful to newcomers.
Teacher birds demonstrate that foods are tasty and safe to eat by modeling eating these items in front of the
uninitiated bird. Many times, a new bird can be coaxed to sample a new food just by watching a teacher bird,
or you, demonstrate that it is safe and interesting to enjoy these items. Bon appetit!
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