Pelleted diets are designed to meet all of your bird’s nutritional needs and help prevent the selective eating often seen with seed-based diets. Transitioning an adult cockatiel from seeds to pellets takes time and patience. 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 bird is consistently eating pellets, along with fresh vegetables and occasional fruit.

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

Fresh produce should make up around 20–30% of a budgie’s diet, with a focus on vegetables, herbs and weeds which provide essential vitamins and minerals. Fruits can be included in small amounts, but should be limited due to their high sugar content.

Vegetables, sprouts, fruits, and herbs can be chopped or offered in small bunches to encourage natural foraging. If your budgie 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 or other residues.

Seeds and nuts should make up only a small part of a cockatiel’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 like 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 and fresh vegetables will help support a smooth transition to a healthier, more complete diet.

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