In this post we explore what the best pellets are for cockatiels, looking at a range of products to suit your pets needs, your budget and your location.
In the wild, cockatiels forage and eat a varied diet of grass seeds, greens, plants, vegetables, fruits and flowers. That means the normal cockatiel seed mix simply does not meet all their dietary needs.
Cockatiels will eat seed everyday, but seed is high in fat and lacks some nutrients that a more varied diet would provide. Cockatiels should eat a mix of pellets, seeds and fresh foods such as fruit and veggies. Here’s a link to a list of foods cockatiels can and can’t eat.
What are Cockatiel Pellets?
Cockatiel Pellets are a blend of natural ingredients usually enriched with essential vitamins and minerals to help provide a balanced diet for your bird. Pellets are nutritious and low in fat. And as pellets are a blend, this means your parrot can’t selectively eat only the ‘tasty’ seeds.
Although manufacturers claim that pellets are all your cockatiel needs, they shouldn’t be given to your bird exclusively. A mix of pellets, seeds, fresh food and treats should make up your complete cockatiel diet. Around a mix of 40-70% of your pet’s diet should be pellets, 20-40% seed mix supplemented with fresh foods like fruit and veggies, and treats like millet spray, sunflower seeds and table foods.
How to Change From Seed to Pellets
If your cockatiel is young and already eating seed mix, don’t change this until they are at least 6 months old. When your bird is old enough you can slowly start to add pellets into their diet.
Cockatiels love seed and you may have difficulty transitioning your little friend to pellets. Seed is super tasty and high in fat. I totally get it. I love hot chips and would eat that everyday if I could.
Some cockatiels won’t eat pellets unless they’re been softened in water. You could try putting some water near the pellets. You can try getting them used to eating the pellets as a ‘treat’. Perhaps hand feeding, one at a time through the cage or when they are out and about on your shoulder. Of course try some different brands. They don’t all taste the same. More on that as we have a look at what is available out there.
If you’ve had a fussy eater in the past, please let us know in the comments below and how you helped your cockatiel to transition to pellets.
So What are the Best Pellets for Cockatiels
I’ve done my best to gather as much data as I could and do the ground work for you and link to the cheapest/best supplier I could find. Here’s what I found.
| Product | Thoughts | Location | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Vetafarm Parrot Essentials | Complete and Balanced Formulated by vets Smallest is 2kg | Australia | 2kg $29.94 10kg $102.99 |
 | Vetafarm Nutriblend Mini Pellets | Good to introduce birds to the idea of pellets Fruit Flavoured Formulated by Avian Vets Not complete diet | Australia | 350gm $9.99 2kg $23.99 10kg $90.99 |
 | Trill Vitablend Small Bird Pellets | Fussy Eaters Love it | Australia | 600gm $9.50 1.3kg $19.99 |
 | Peckish Naturals Adult Hookbill Pellet | Cold Pressed Natural Ingredients Essential Vitamins and Minerals | Australia | 500gms $8.95 2kgs $19.95 |
 | Lafeber's Classic Nutri-Berries Pet Bird Food | For supplement only Non-GMO Foraging Mix Expensive and only a supplement | Amazon | 4lbs $29.99 |
 | Lafeber Everyday Pellets | Complete Diet Seed Junkies will eat Great review on amazon | America | $8.99 to $73.99 (1.25lb to 25lb) |
 | ZuPreem Pellets for Cockatiels | Small Pellets 4.5 star amazon A few mentions on forums as good | America, Australia and around the world | 2.5lb $13.85 (Amazon America price) |
 | Harrison's Adult Lifetime Fine | A few mentions on forums as good Premium product More expensive Organic and Non-GMO | America, England and other | 1lb $14.84 Cheaper at Harrisons $9 (Don't know postage) |
Hope that helps you to find out what the best pellets are for your cockatiel. At the very least it will give you a start. I’m sorry I don’t have more products from other countries in the list. If you know of anything, please let me know and I will take a look at that. Here is a link to the zupreme.com store locator. That might help too.
Keep in mind if you are breeding your birds, there are specific pellet blends with the needs of breeding cockatiels in mind.
I’d love to hear what your bird loves the most and where the best place to get that product is. Leave a comment below or get in touch via our contact form.
