Many birds absolutely love seed, and given the choice they’ll often pick out their favourites and leave everything else behind. While seed can be part of your bird’s diet, feeding seed alone may not provide all the nutrients they need to stay healthy.
Why Isn’t Seed Enough?
Seeds can be high in fat and may be low in some important vitamins and minerals. Birds can also be quite selective with seed mixes, eating the seeds they like and leaving the others behind.
Over time, relying too heavily on seed can contribute to nutritional deficiencies, weight problems and other health issues.
What Should My Bird Eat?
The right diet depends on the type of bird you have. For many pet birds, a quality formulated pellet can provide a more complete everyday diet than seed alone.
Fresh vegetables and suitable greens can also be offered, depending on your bird’s species. Seeds and nuts don’t necessarily need to be removed altogether, but they’re generally better offered as part of a varied diet rather than making up the whole diet.
What works for a budgie won’t necessarily be right for a lorikeet, cockatoo or finch, so always choose foods that are suitable for your particular bird.
What About Treats?
Seeds, nuts and other favourite foods can still have a place in your bird’s diet. Offering them in small amounts as treats or training rewards is a great way to provide some variety without making them the main part of the diet.
Favourite treats can also be placed in foraging toys, giving your bird something to search for and helping encourage natural feeding behaviours.
As with any treat, moderation is key. Your bird should still be eating enough of their everyday food to get the nutrition they need.
Changing Your Bird’s Diet
If your bird has been eating mostly seed, don’t suddenly remove it and replace it with pellets. Some birds may not immediately recognise pellets as food, and changing their diet should be done gradually. If you’re unsure how to make the change safely, speak with your avian veterinarian.
Learn more on how to introduce pellets to your birds feed here.
Not Sure What to Feed Your Bird?
There’s no single diet that’s right for every bird. Their species, age, health and lifestyle all need to be considered when deciding what and how much to feed.
If you’re unsure whether your bird’s current diet is providing what they need, speak with your avian veterinarian. They can help you work out an appropriate diet and advise you on making any changes safely.