Knowledge of bird nutrition is constantly evolving. This is due both to heightened awareness of the importance of nutrition and to 
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.
How do I convert my bird to a pelleted diet?
It’s harder for some birds than for others to switch to pellets. To find out how to make this transition easier, consult with a veterinarian who treats birds. It’s not always simple to get seed-eating birds to switch to a prescribed diet. Initially, birds may not even recognize pellets as food. If pellets are offered alone without being combined with seed, the bird will just scrounge around the pellets to get the seed.
When your bird is most hungry in the morning, pellets should be offered before other food. Given that cockatiels forage for food on the ground in the wild, you can encourage your bird to walk through the pellets by spreading them out over a level area. Additionally, you can tap the tabletop as if your fingers were a beak exploring the pellets, and you can flick each pellet between your thumb and pointer finger. Additionally, you can grind the pellets into a fine powder and sprinkle it on very little of any moist food your bird enjoys eating, such as pasta, cooked eggs, vegetables, or fruit. If your bird consumes the pellet-coated food, you can grind the pellets more finely over time and combine them with progressively smaller amounts of moist food until you are serving almost exclusively pellets with very little moist food mixed in.
It could take a bird’s diet to be changed for days, weeks, or months. You can give the bird a small amount of seed or fruits and vegetables later in the day if it takes a while for it to accept pellets. Only when you are certain the bird is consuming the pellets along with some fruits and vegetables can you remove all of the seeds. You and your cockatiel may be going through a difficult period right now, but with perseverance, you can get your bird to switch from an unhealthy seed diet to a balanced diet based on pellets. Don’t forget to speak with your veterinarian if your bird’s health suffers during this changeover.
Will my bird have any different needs throughout its life?
Extremely young birds, stressed or injured birds, laying eggs, or birds rearing young may have unique dietary needs. Different life stages of birds can be fed with pelleted food that has been specially formulated. Consult your veterinarian regarding these situations.
What about people food?
Generally speaking, your bird can eat any healthy, nutritious food that you and your family eat, but only in very small amounts (a teaspoon is the equivalent of a person’s dinner plate-sized portion, so it is appropriate). Follow the general guidelines discussed above regarding fruits and vegetables. Sometimes, even tiny amounts of lean cooked meat, fish, cooked eggs, or cheese are enjoyed by certain birds. Since birds cannot tolerate lactose, dairy products should only be consumed in moderation. Avoiding chocolate, highly salted foods (chips, pretzels, popcorn), caffeine-containing items (coffee, tea, soda), and alcoholic beverages
FAQ
Can I feed my pet bird wild bird seed?
What seeds do cockatiels eat in the wild?
What to avoid in wild bird seed?