For years seeds have played a role as the staple diet of pet birds, but in the past several years pelleted, or extruded, diets have grown in popularity. The case for pelleted diets is strong. They are supposedly formulated specifically for a bird's nutritional needs, akin to processed foods for dogs and cats, and unlike with fortified seed mixes, a 'tiel can't hunt and peck for favorite seeds, so she is guaranteed to get a proper balance of nutrients.

However, many pet cockatiels fed with just seed mixes that have lived to be over 20 years old. Pelleted foods haven't even been available for 20 years. Also, they can be unpalatable and difficult, if not impossible, to introduce to an older bird. Each type of food has its advantages and its problems. Overall the extruded diets are preferable, especially with younger birds who will accept them more readily, but until pellets prove their advantages in real life, seeds are okay. In either case, supplement with fruits and vegetables.

Be aware, however, that because fruits do not contain substantial amounts of the vitamins that 'tiels need, they are not as beneficial to cockatiels as to humans. The dark green leafy vegetables and darkly pigmented vegetables (such as spinach, kale, broccoli, carrots, and sweet potato) are preferable, since they have more of the vitamins and minerals that are important to a 'tiel's health. To introduce 'tiels to these greens, feeding sprouted seeds may help.

Another way to add nutrients to a tiel's diet is through vitamin supplements in water soluble or powdered form. Both are bad. Water soluble vitamins tend to break down from sunlight as they are left in a bird's water, and they can cause bacterial growth (guess they make something healthy). Powdered vitamins, sprinkled on seeds, are wasted: 'tiels remove the hull of their seeds just before eating them, removing the vitamin coat.

Grit, along with those vitamins, is found in many pet stores and in those starter kits that come with many cockatiel cages. Grit, along with those vitamins, is unnecessary, and potentially dangerous to cockatiels. A lot of people with tell you that pet birds need grit to aid their gizzards to grind up food. However, cockatiels and other hookbills hull the seeds they eat, so their gizzards do not need the extra abrasion grit provides. Insoluble grit will stay in the gizzard, and can cause intestinal disorders -- even death.

Cockatiel dietary needs are like human dietary needs. No, they don't need fish or meat, and we shouldn't start to chow down on bird seed and pellets, but with both them and us, variety and balance are important to proper nutrition.