What foods other than pellets do you feed your cockatiel?

[cockatiel92]

i want to feed petrie multiple foods not just pellets and yesturday i gave him a little celery cut into tooth pick sized slices since he loves to play with tooth picks. he teasted it a little took a chunk and left it. what do you feed your cockatiel other then pellet. how did you get them to try those foods. thank you so much.

[Ashling]

That tooth pick idea was VERY innovative!
My cockatiels aren't as "food- appreciative" as Ashling (who will eat ANYTHING) but they will ALWAYS go for some freshly picked grass seed. This can be a worry though, as you need to know there haven't been any pesticides sprayed on them before giving them to Petrie (I get mine from my backyard) Millet spray is also a favorite and they don't mind a bit of broccoli, spinach and other leafy greens. Sometimes they will pick at some scrambled eggs mixed with greens. Peanut loves weetbix... but I don't know if you can get that outside Australia? You can also try very finely chopped apple, carrot, corn and peas. Good luck!

[chirpy]

Chirpy's rubbush with veg and will only eat brocolli.
He does love a cooked bean/rice/pasta/quinoa mix though

[amanda143]

Most of our tiels completely ignore anything other than seed. However, sometimes you can get them to eat a little wheat bread. lol

[Loopey89]

Ours are very picky. We use the pellets and usually keep millet in the cage. Every now and then I mix in some nestling food with it-everyday if there's babies. They'll eat sprouts but you can forget about veggies. Most birds are more willing to try something that is cooked and still warm rather than raw. Mine love a warm bowl of regular grits (excuse me, I'm from the South). Keep trying, and if all fails be sure to pick a good vitamin supplement to mix with water. =)

[Peanutbutter]

a bag of frozen vegis.

fresh brocolli, carrots, spinach, or whatever else i have around.

apples, oranges, berries and other fruits on an occasional basis.

(Grapes, iceberg lettuce, romaine, and celery don't really have much nutritional value though, they wont 'hurt' but there are better options)

and anything else we are eating that is fid okay... like whole wheat pasta, cream of wheat (grits), oatmeal or mashed potatoes (b4 I add butter n stuff), shredded cheese, yogurts, pecans, wheat bread, and tons more.

I don't 'cook' for my bird. I just give her what she can have the same time the family eats.

[NoLimitssjca]

I have tried a number of things with little success (except for potatoe based items - mashed especially) until a few days ago. I had seen a breeder at a bird show who had taken boiled eggs and cut them in half. I gave my Tiels a half they devourded it like nothing I've ever seen. I hope it works for yours.

[Abby]

Like Peanutbutter I use frozen mixed veg as a base then add other fresh foods. Millet spray as a treat. My guys are on small parrot seed with pellets added to the fresh mix. Leafy greens seem to be a favourite (I use celery leaves, baby spinach, asian greens whatever is in the fridge at the time). Soaked mix or sprouted mix (depending on how slack I am with the sprouting) is also added to the fresh.

I've been lucky and my guys do all seem to be fruit and veg eaters, however, as people who have bought babies from me have found out, it has to be a particular brand of frozen or they won't touch it.

[Jannabellsmom]

My tiels like leafy greens, espcially those that have strong 'veins' or red parts. The adore fresh spouts and I buy mine from 'the sprout people' online. Other things they like, peas, lima beans, corn, pumpkin seeds, almonds and sometimes other nuts, carrots in little strips, beak Appatite (rice/bean/corn type medleys - served warm), Broccoli, Kale, Birdie bread, esp. Harrisons., Nutriberries, toast, pizza crust, waffles, calzones. And Colby likes eggs but Belly does not. And oh yes, apples cut into little pieces with the skin on. And popcorn (they love to jump right into a warm bowl of it - I pop my own so no additives)

[chirpy]

Oh the joys of a tiel and popcorn!! One of the few new foods Chirpy took to straight away.