Feeding Pet Cockatoos

Knowledge of bird nutrition is constantly evolving due to heightened awareness of the importance of nutrition and increased research into birds’ different needs. As with all other animals, birds need a proper balance of carbohydrates, proteins, fat, vitamins, minerals, and water. Different species of birds often require different foods.

There are 21 species of cockatoo, which belong to the family Cacatuidae. These species have native ranges in Australia, Australasia, Indonesia, the Solomon Islands, and New Guinea. The most commonly kept are umbrella cockatoos, Moluccan cockatoos, Goffin’s cockatoos, rose-breasted (galah) cockatoo, citron-crested and sulfur-crested cockatoos.

Should I be concerned about what my cockatoo eats?

Proper nutrition is commonly neglected in pet birds. You should discuss your bird’s nutrition with your avian veterinarian. Too often, owners assume they are feeding a proper diet to their cockatoo when, in fact, they are not. Poor nutrition is a common reason for many health problems in birds. 

You should continually strive to improve your bird’s diet by constantly educating yourself about new concepts in bird nutrition, while applying a certain degree of common sense. Birds need to consume more than seed, nuts, and water to stay healthy. Your bird’s health depends on how well it is fed.

What do wild cockatoos naturally eat?

Wild cockatoos, depending on their species and food availability during different seasons, eat an assortment of seeds, fruits, nuts, berries, flowers, and vegetation. Some wild cockatoos will even eat insects and their larvae. Some species, like the rose-breasted cockatoo (galah), have been known to do extensive damage to corn crops in Australia.

What should I feed my cockatoo?

Cockatoos are vulnerable to vitamin A deficiency, insufficient dietary calcium, high cholesterol, atherosclerosis (buildup of fat and cholesterol in and on artery walls), egg-binding, and other nutrition-related problems. A well-balanced and varied diet must be maintained at all times for these birds to stay healthy.

Seeds

Wild cockatoos eat a great variety of seed types as different plants come into season. Commercial seed mixes generally contain 4–10 different kinds of seeds and nuts. However, these mixes tend to be high in fat and carbohydrates and provide a limited or imbalanced source of many nutrients. If fed as the only food, these commercial seed mixes could ultimately lead to ill health and potentially shortened lifespan. A cockatoo will often selectively eat only one or two of its favorite types of seeds and nuts. Cockatoos particularly love peanuts and sunflower seeds, which are high in fat and deficient in calcium, vitamin A, and other nutrients.

Seeds are highly palatable and preferred by birds, but nutritionally they are incomplete, lacking vitamins, minerals, and protein. Seeds should only be a very small part of a balanced diet and never the entire diet. Healthy molts, disease resistance, and long lifespan are typically achieved in birds fed a balanced diet year-round. If you gradually offer your bird fewer seeds, replacing them with healthier options, such as fortified bird pellets and a limited amount of fresh table food, your bird will eventually consume a more properly balanced diet.

Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits, vegetables, and greens should account for no more than 20%–40% of the daily diet. Pale vegetables with a high-water composition (i.e., iceberg or head lettuce, celery) offer little nutritional value and should not be offered to your cockatoo. Avocado and onions are potentially toxic and should never be offered to a bird. Fruits and vegetables must be washed thoroughly before feeding your cockatoo to remove chemicals and potentially harmful bacteria. They should be cut into small pieces appropriate to the size of the bird. It is not necessary to take the skin off.

Fruits and vegetables may be fed in a separate dish. Fruits are high in water content and natural sugar, so they should be fed in limited quantities. If your bird appears to develop a particular fancy for only one food item, reduce its volume, or stop feeding it temporarily to promote consumption of other foods. Fruits and vegetables should be left in the cage for no more than a couple of hours, particularly in warm climates, or they may spoil.

Water

Fresh, clean water must be available at all times. Depending on the quality of your tap water, you might consider using bottled water. Dishes must be cleaned thoroughly every day with soap and water.

Pelleted Diets

The recommended diet for cockatoos is a pelleted food formulated for birds. Pellets should ideally represent approximately 75%–80% of the bird’s diet. Several brands of pellets are commercially available in different shapes, sizes, and colors. Pellets have been developed to meet most of your bird’s nutritional needs. Hand-raised babies should be started on pelleted diets. Mature cockatoos may be difficult to convert to pelleted diets. Different formulations are available for different life stages. Pellets are the ideal diet. Therefore, seed-eating birds should be slowly weaned off seeds onto a pelleted diet.

Can I feed my cockatoo people food?

As a rule, any wholesome, nutritious food that you and your family eat your bird can eat, but in small quantities (a small handful for a cockatoo is equivalent to a dinner plate-size portion for a person and is appropriate). Follow the general guidelines discussed regarding fruits and vegetables. Some birds occasionally even enjoy a small amount of lean cooked meat, fish, cooked egg, or very small amounts of cheese.

Dairy products should be consumed in moderation, as birds are lactose-intolerant. Processed foods like cookies, crackers, or chips are not nutritional treats and should be avoided. Chocolate, products containing caffeine (coffee, tea, soda), and alcoholic beverages should never be offered to your cockatoo. 

Some suggested food items include:

How do I convert my bird to a pelleted diet?

Some birds are more difficult than others to transition on to pellets. Seek the advice of a veterinarian familiar with birds to get tips on how to make this transition easier. Converting seed-eating birds to a formulated diet is not always easy. Initially, birds may not even recognize pellets as food. Pellets and seeds may be mixed, as birds will simply pick out the seeds that they like while being introduced to the look and smell of the pelleted diet.

Pellets may also be offered first thing in the morning, before other food, when your bird is most hungry. Since cockatoos are very social and love to eat with their owners, you can pretend to eat the pellets at the same time as you offer them to your bird. When they see you eating them, they may be more willing to try them. 

Another option is to grind the pellets up into a fine powder that you can sprinkle on a small amount of any moist food that your bird likes to eat (e.g., vegetables, fruit, cooked egg, pasta). If your bird eats the pellet-coated food, you can gradually grind the pellets into larger chunks, and mix them with smaller amounts of moist food over time, so that ultimately you are offering nearly all the pellets with minimal amounts of moist food mixed in.

It may take days, weeks, or months to modify a bird’s diet. If your bird is slow taking to pellets, you may offer a small amount of seed or fruits and vegetables later in the day. Seeds may be withdrawn completely only when you are sure your bird is eating the pellets, plus some fruits and vegetables. This can be a stressful time for you and your cockatoo, but with patience, you can transition your bird from an unhealthy seed diet to a balanced, pellet-based diet. Remember to consult an avian veterinarian if you encounter any problems with this transition or with the health of your bird. You can find an avian veterinarian in your area on the Association of Avian Veterinarians website (www.aav.org).

Will my bird have any different needs throughout its life?

Birds that are extremely young, stressed, injured, laying eggs, or raising young may have certain special nutritional requirements. There are specially formulated pelleted foods available for birds at different life stages. Consult your veterinarian regarding these situations.

Does my bird need extra vitamins, minerals, or amino acids?

Your veterinarian can help you assess your bird’s diet and its unique needs. In general, a bird eating 75%–80% of its diet in the form of pelleted food does not need supplements. Specific vitamins or minerals may be more important at various times during a bird’s life (e.g., egg-laying requires calcium supplementation). Various vitamin and mineral supplements, as well as omega fatty acid supplements, are available for birds and should only be given under the guidance of a veterinarian knowledgeable about birds.

Birds on all-seed diets may be given powdered supplements until they are transitioned to a pelleted diet. Placing these powders on the outside of seeds is of little value, since birds remove the outer hulls from seeds before ingesting them. Small amounts of powdered vitamin supplements may be administered on moist food but are not generally necessary once the bird has been converted to pellets.

Does my bird need gravel or grit?

Cockatoos do not need gravel or grit because they remove the outer hull of the seed before ingesting the kernel. Previously, it was believed that grit was necessary for the mechanical breakdown of food in the gizzard, as an aid to digestion. However, it is now known that only birds like pigeons and doves, which consume seeds whole, need gravel to help them digest seeds. Some birds over-consume grit when it is offered and develop gastrointestinal tract obstructions that are potentially life-threatening. Thus, grit and gravel should not be offered to cockatoos.

What pointers should I remember about feeding my cockatoo?

• Always monitor the amount of food eaten every day, by each bird.
• Offer fresh water every day.
• Offer a variety of fresh foods, such as small amounts of fruits and vegetables, every day.
• Clean all food and water dishes daily.
• If your bird says no to a food item one day, it does not mean no forever — keep trying.