My Cockatiel is having three babies. I had no idea to how to feed them. But after one month’s practice, I summarized all my ideas which might help with your Cockatiel Chicks.
The Cockatiel will, if you let him, eat almost anything he can get his beak into. This factor has been pertinent to the death of many of the little fellows. It surely is a joy when he comes to eat from your table or from your lips, but unless this is controlled with moderation, his lust for food can lead to an untimely demise.
The basic daily diet for Cockatiels is Parakeet seed, oats and sunflower seed. Don’t forget that the dishes should be clean, and that even the water dish should be rinsed out and replenished every day.
And a small cup of Parakeet treat or millet spray may be kept in the cage. A cuttlebone for calcium is a must, not only for this important mineral, but as an aid to keeping the beak in sturdy condition for cracking the sunflower seeds.
A bird has no teeth and the process of pulverizing and digesting the food is a complicated one. Without gravel, grit, oyster shell or charcoal, or a combination of these, a bird would soon become constipated and die. It is a tragic death to watch. Hence, grit of this kind (there are many on the market) must be kept available at all times. The grit tray is such an integral part of a bird‘s diet that he is more cautious of keeping it clean than any of his other food.
Any other foods may be very damaging to the system of a bird, although he will be most anxious to try anything, particularly from your lips. If he insists on eating with you, a little whole wheat bread or a piece of fruit will satisfy him completely and act as a nice reward while training.
