Cockatoo Diets
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What to Feed Pet Cockatoos
Cockatoos should be provided a balanced diet of equal shares of pellets, seeds and vegetables with a small quantity of fruits, nuts, proteins, cooked rice, bean mixture and table food like cheese, corn, cereal, pasta, meat etc.
Seeds: Most cockatoos favor seeds of Eucalyptus tree, Casuarinas, Native trees and Marri seeds. Apart from these they also eat bull banksias seeds and occasionally feed on Angophoras, Hakeas, Acacias and fruit seeds (fruit seeds are toxic to some cockatoos, so make sure your new pet is not in that list before you feed it with fruit seeds). If the bird is fed only a seed diet on a daily basis, it will lead to deficiency in vitamins. So, a supplement of vitamins may be necessary in that case.
A Healthy Mixed Diet A healthy mixed diet has it all...25% vitamin enriched seed mix, 25% pellets, 25% vegetables, dark leafy greens and fruits, 15% cooked rice, corn, and bean mixture, 10% table food, cereal, bread, pasta, cheese, meat etc.
Vegetables: Vegetables to be fed can be green, dark green, orange, yellow or meaty. Fresh vegetables provide the additional nutrition your cockatoo needs. So, encourage your cockatoo to eat vegetables. Some of those that fall under this category are: carrots, sweet potatoes, beets, broccoli, greens, green peppers, asparagus, ripe tomatoes, spinach etc.
- Your picky bird won't eat his or her greens?
- Simple Sprouts and/or Veggie Bites may be your solution.
- Superior Nutrition Food: Herbs Specifically for Bird Health & Healthy Dried Fruits & Veggies - Make Excellent Healthy Bird Treats & Food! .
Fruits: Some of the cockatoo owners-to-be have this general query. 'Do cockatoos eat fruits and how to make the bird eat fruits?' Fruits provide the natural supplements to your cockatoo. So, it would be a good idea to introduce fruits to your new pet. Initially, it may reject it, but later it will start eating fruits. Some of the favored fruits are apples, pears, peaches, pomegranate, bananas, berries, plums, oranges, kiwi, citrus, pomegranate, grapes, raisins etc.
Nuts: Cockatoos prefer nuts to fruits. Because of this, some nuts make ideal treats. They can crack hard nuts and should be encouraged to do so. If given whole nuts, they love to crack open the shell to extract the seed. Their beaks are specially adapted for this function and it could also be a form of entertainment.
Proteins:Proteins are an important supplement that aid growth. The bird can be provided with food high in proteins such as legumes, cooked eggs and grated cheese. Sprouts, ripe tomatoes, cooked beans, spinach are some of the other sources. They can also be fed with freshly cooked lean beef, chicken or fish in small quantities. Occasionally, they can be given cooked meat bones.
Water: Cockatoos should always have access to clean, fresh water. Don't use tap water that is likely to be contaminated with heavy metals and chloride, or may even contain a bacteria and parasites. Recommended is distilled or purified / filtered water.
Vitamins and Minerals: If the bird's diet has a variety of all the nutrients, then supplement of vitamins and minerals is not required. As a matter of fact it is better to consult an avian vet before giving the bird vitamin supplements because an overdose of vitamins and minerals will do more harm than good.
(Ref.: Article Source: Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/)
Foraging: Make feeding times special for your pet by incorporating lots of fun foraging ideas.
Generic Diets & Additional Food Items:
Healthy Bird Treats & Snacks ... Cooked Diets ... Splay Millet & Millet Accessories ... Mineral / Calcium Blocks & Accessories
| These fun snacks are just the right size for your bird to grasp, and they are packed with an assortment of flavors that even the most finicky bird will enjoy their sweet, nutty taste! 100% nutrition makes all the difference. | ||
| Macaw Extreme Fruit and Nut Big Bites 24oz: This treat is loaded with chunky-chewy-crunchy fruits, nuts, and veggies. Special blend, with great big stuff like pineapple, almonds, cashews, papaya, banana, apple and pecans. | ||
| Jungle Sticks Treat 3.25oz: Jungle Sticks are designed to be easy to hold and eat for larger birds like parrots and macaws. Also ideal treat for lorikeets. These long fruit sticks are easy to hand feed. A real pineapple treat with zesty fruit flavors. | ||
| Fruit Bites Treat Pineapple Paradise Lg Parrot 16oz: Made with real fruit. Six great combination flavors. Soft and Chewy. Giant size chunky fruit snack medallions. Real pineapple with zesty fruit flavors. | ||
| Premium Bird Treat Spicy Santa Fe Parrot 20 oz: Spicy Santa Fe Parrot Threat is jam-packed with everything under the sun...natural chunky-chewy-crunchy fruits, nuts and veggies, plus spicy peppers that your bird will love. | ||
Yogurt Yummies Treat 4 oz: Made with real fruit. Six great combination flavors. Soft and Chewy. Real almonds, raisins and papaya dipped in creamy yogurt. Bursting with apple, cherry, blueberry, and banana yogurt flavor. (*AvianWeb Note: Raisins have the potential of toxicity if fed in too high a quantity. Caution is advised) |
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| Extreme Fruit and Nut Parrot Premium Bird Treat 16oz: This treat is loaded with chunky-chewy-crunchy fruits, nuts, and veggies. Parrots, cockatoos and Macaws love large, chunky pieces. Contains pineapple, almonds, cashews, papaya, banana, apple and pecans. | ||
| Farm Fresh Fixins Treat 16oz: Loaded with bushels of garden fresh vegetables straight from the farm. Topped off with nuts, seeds, and sun-ripened fruits. Can be used for small animals and parrots. | ||
| Foods to Feed Only in Moderation: |
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| Foods to NEVER Feed: |
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