Pelleted diets are designed to meet your lovebird’s nutritional needs and help prevent the selective eating commonly seen with seed-based diets. Transitioning an adult lovebird from seeds to pellets takes time, patience, and consistency.

Start by gradually reducing the amount of seed offered over several weeks while providing pellets in a separate dish. Don’t remove seeds entirely until your lovebird is consistently eating pellets, along with fresh vegetables and occasional fruit.

Need help making the switch? Check out Step by step guide to pellet conversion.

Fresh produce should make up around 20–30% of a lovebird’s diet, with a strong focus on vegetables, herbs, and safe weeds to provide essential vitamins and minerals. Fruit can be offered in small amounts but should be limited due to its higher sugar content.

Vegetables, sprouts, fruits, and herbs can be finely chopped or offered in small bunches to encourage natural foraging behaviours. If your lovebird doesn’t take to greens straight away, don’t give up, keep offering a variety and rotate options regularly. Patience and consistency are key to building healthy eating habits.

Note: Avoid low-nutrient options like iceberg lettuce, and never feed toxic foods such as avocado. Always wash produce thoroughly to remove pesticides and residues.

Seeds and nuts should make up only a small part of a lovebird’s diet, no more than 5%. While seeds are high in carbohydrates, they’re low in many essential nutrients. Similarly, products like seed bells, millet sprays, moulting foods, and conditioning mixes are mostly seed-based and offer limited nutritional value.

A few safe nuts such as almonds, walnuts, or cashews (unsalted and offered in small amounts) can be given occasionally as treats, especially for training or enrichment. However, due to their high fat content, they should be used sparingly.

Gradually reducing seed and introducing balanced pellets alongside fresh vegetables will support a smooth transition to a healthier, more complete diet.

Fresh, clean water should be available at all times. If using gravity-based water containers, these should be thoroughly cleaned daily, as bacteria and biofilm can build up quickly.

Water acidification can also be used to help reduce bacterial growth and support gut health. This involves adding a small amount of an acidifier, such as apple cider vinegar, to the drinking water to gently lower the pH. A practical target is around pH 5–6, which helps inhibit bacterial growth while still remaining palatable for most birds.

A common guideline is 5 mL per litre of water, used a few times per week rather than continuously. Always mix fresh daily, avoid using metal drinkers when acidifying (as it can cause corrosion), and ensure birds are still drinking normally, as some may take time to adjust to the taste.