Cockatoos, these interesting and affectionate animals that make extraordinary companions, require special care. One of the questions you should ask yourself is: What can a cockatoo eat?
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We must not forget that they are exotic birds extracted from their natural habitat and that they will have to adapt to different conditions. Therefore, it is necessary to facilitate their adaptation process.
Something you should not neglect is their diet; they have specific nutritional requirements that you need to meet to keep them in an optimal state. For your cockatoo to stay healthy and happy, you must take care of both what they eat and the amount of food they consume.
What should my cockatoo’s diet be like
This beautiful bird should have a balanced diet. Although you can find specific food for cockatoos in pet stores, it is important to supplement their diet with fruits, vegetables and seeds. In this way, you will achieve a balance not only at the level of minerals and vitamins, but you will also keep their digestive system healthy, avoid allergies and even prevent your pet from getting bored of always eating the same food.
You must not forget to control the amounts and frequency of feeding, as these birds tend to be very greedy.
Cockatiels can eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Some fruits you can include are: apples, papayas, peaches, pears, watermelon, oranges, pineapple, kiwi, melon, mango and bananas. You can also offer them cherries, but keep in mind that they can turn their droppings dark red. Don’t worry, they are harmless.
If you don’t have fresh fruits available, you can add dried fruits such as raisins, prunes and blueberries to their diet. Make sure these do not contain molasses, as it can affect their health.
Vegetables you can offer include lettuce, Chinese cabbage, kale, watercress (the darker the leaves, the more nutrients they contain), sweet potato and pumpkin (which provide vitamin A). Your cockatiel may prefer boiled vegetables, but try to serve them after cooling. Carrot (grated or diced), peas, corn and tomatoes are also good choices.
Recommendations
- Careful with the preparation and hygiene of the food you provide. Wash fruits and vegetables very well, remove seeds, cores and bones, and serve them preferably in small pieces.
- The diet should contain more vegetables than fruits, since fruits provide more sugars.
- Keep the feed tanks clean at all times.
- Make sure he always has clean water; it is essential.
- Do not offer processed products.
- Vary his food.
What foods are forbidden in your cockatoo’s diet?
You should never feed your cockatoo foods such as avocado, as it is toxic for them. Alcohol and chocolate are also prohibited, as these foods can be lethal.
Other foods to avoid are eggplant, raw potatoes, rhubarb, foods containing tea or caffeine, milk or cream.
If you have doubts about any food, it is best to consult an expert. Your pet’s well-being depends on you.
Image courtesy of La Sexta.
