I do not recommend this

[aliray]

Last Sunday I went to the bird fair with our daughter and her landlady. She has a cockateil that she has had since it was weaned and is now 24 years old talks , and according to her is still going strong. So I asked her what she feeds him .her reply coakateil seed that she gets from walmart which is the diet the bird has had for 24 years. Meanwhile we are all running around buying and feeding all kinds of good food for our fids and cooking for our fids ect. Does make you wonder if that bird just had really good genes? just a surprising observation. I really thought I was going to find the secret. like I said I definately do not recommend that diet

 

[ruffledfeathers]

It is probably like with people. Some people eat unhealthy, smoke, etc and live long and relatively healthy lives while others strive for good health and have serious illnesses.
Good for the bird for doing so well on a seed diet. Many others don't fare as well even with a better diet.

 

[aliray]

You are right I am sure. besides their reg food todays gourmet delight is homemade birdy bread, strawberries ,mango, peaches, pineapple and a few raw hulled unsalted pumpkin seeds sprinkled on top for a garnish

 

[mtdoramike]

Most birds live on seed in the wild. So it doesn't surprise me any.

 

[ruffledfeathers]

I always thought they were more able to live on seed if wild because their whole foraging lifestyle is so different, so much more active and demanding than the typical spoiled housepet (even with a play gym and time flying).

 

[Mare Miller]

I've always assumed that seeds contain a lot of fat and therefore not a healthy (solo) diet for caged birds? If your bird is active, I see no reason why they can't have seed supplement. My only problem with feeding Amigo his parrot seed is the wild finches steal it! He will eat 2-3 times a day from his bowl of seed but if I don't bring it in when he is done, there is nothing left to bring in! That stuff is expensive!

 

[MonicaMc]

Most birds in the wild live on growing seeds, not dried seeds... along with other nutrients... such as the parrots in South America have access to fruits, nuts or whatever else grows there, year round!

Parrots out in the wild also fly for many miles every day. Then compare that to the average pet bird that is most often clipped and confined to a cage.

Dietary requirements are going to be drastically different!


aliray, I'd love to see blood work done on that cockatiel, and see if he's really as healthy as what his owner believes him to be!

 

[mtdoramike]

The bird has lived for 24 years. That's like asking an 85 year old man for a blood test and refusing them a piece of choclate. If that is his diet and he's lived for 24 years, changing it would probably kill him.

Cockatiels like Parakeets eat mostly seed, raw or dried by the sun and can live happily on that diet. I have seen a few Cockatiels live well into their 20's and fed mostly seed mixture.

Now larger birds require a bit more diversity in their diet even in the wild.

 

[BillsBirds]

Birds like 'tiels & 'keets ARE seed eaters. They should be fed primarily seeds, plus pellets, vegs & fruits. When these birds are fed mostly pellets they tend to get kidney problems. In the wild, all they eat is seeds, which is why they are such a problem to grain farmers. Most of my little guys have lived long, healthy lives on Walmart seed mix. As long as it is fresh, it is fine for them. And, supplemented with whatever else I can get any of them to eat. Though, several only ate the seed mix.