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. Try moistening the pellets, perhaps with warm water. Support wikiHow by Alternatively you can also provide your bird with a mineral block to snack on. 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. Many cockatiels feel vulnerable on the cage bottom, so use hanging dishes and place them near a perch. Try feeding raw and cooked veggies to your cockatiel and see which one she prefers! 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. I really appreciate this, "I found this really helpful as I have just started to own these birds. Some healthy treats include strawberries, mangoes, and yellow peppers. Do not feed your birds canned vegetables as they have sodium content. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. 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. He is fully weaned at 4 months old and is very active. Try using plain white dishes and later spice it up. Be sure that fresh foods are easy to find and extract from the cage so that no rotting food is left in the cage. Remove 10% of your bird's seeds and replace it with 10% of pellets. In moderation, yes. Cockatiels cannot process lactose. Cockatiel: Long Tail, Big Bird Cage. If necessary, wash any fruits or vegetables that are okay for birds to eat several times with plenty of water. Place your bird on a perch and put your finger below the bird’s beak, holding a … When trying to get your cockatiel to eat fruits and vegetables, hiding the new food under a layer of seeds or pellets can help. 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. Cockatiel's are not inclined to overeat, so provide your pet birds with as many seeds or pellets as they are willing to eat. There are 30 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. What type of foods and vegetables can I give my cockatiel? Also, a low temperature in the environment will make a cockatiel eat more. Cuttlebones, edible chalk or mineral blocks can become treats for cockatiels as they contain the necessary nutrients. However, you need to be mindful of food safety when caring for these small, often delicate animals. Click here to SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/1MhbNy8Why veggies? By the time a cockatiel is done molting, his feathery coat will be thick and plush because of all the new feathers. Keep your cockatiel's food bowl three-quarters full and refresh it daily. I could use some tips of "dos" and "don'ts", because I am getting conflicting info from different sources. Older cockatiels that have lived for years in the same home may also refuse to eat for a period of time. This can lead to nutritional deficiencies because your bird might only eat the ones that taste good and avoid the healthier ones. Every morning. 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. This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Can you feed a cockatiel sunflower seeds? Hi all, I am a new bird owner, and just brought home my cockatiel last evening. Place a few seeds in your hand and hold them out for your cockatiel to eat. References In addition to the base diet of pellets or seed, you should aim to feed your cockatiel some sort of fresh green daily. Enough so that they are afraid to move about in their cage. A video explaining some key essentials that will help you gain your cockatiel's trust. There is a variety of treats that you can feed him, such as packaged seed treats and spray millet. Is chocolate really bad for my bird? "I was just given three cockatiels, and I didn't know anything about them and how to go about looking after them. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Did you know you can read expert answers for this article? Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 61,283 times. How can I get my cockatiel to drink water? Make sure a fresh supply of water is readily available where it can reach easily. Providing a Safe Eating Environment for Your Cockatiel, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/ee\/Feed-Cockatiels-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Feed-Cockatiels-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/ee\/Feed-Cockatiels-Step-1.jpg\/aid5581064-v4-728px-Feed-Cockatiels-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"