Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all i need a list of all the food my cockatoo can eat.

Fruits
veggies
vitamins
proteins
nuts
treats ECT...

and things that are not good to eat
i know avocados, pits, ect.. is not good

it will be a BIG help if you can make a the huge list i know some people say what is good for humans is good for birds but a list would help me out at the market on what to give her

Well I was trying to take the easy way out and give you a link with an already prepared list but so far I haven't found one so I will start one and if anyone can think of any I have missed please feel free to ad, copy and paste etc!

And of course like you said most things safe and good for humans are good for birds but lets try for a good list.

Fruits -- I will try to put notes beside some the ones without notes are a good addition to any healthy diet the ones with notes are of course self explanatory LOL! Also don't forget that although fruit is healthy for your bird it can cause loose watery stools so should only be used in combination with other healthy foods.

Papaya
mango
peach
tangerine
pear
apple -- from what I understand seeds contain arsenic so deseed your fruit
banana -- not extremely healthy better for a treat
orange-- very acidic but good mixed with other items
grapefruit -- very acidic but good mixed with other items
strawberry
blueberry
raspberry
blackberry
cranberry
cherry
apricot
grape -- mainly water and some have contained mold harmful to birds but birds usually love them for treats. Just check to make sure very fresh!
kiwi
lemon-- very acidic but good mixed with other items
lime-- very acidic but good mixed with other items
watermelon -- mainly water
cantaloupe
honeydew melon
nectarine
plum
pineapple
tomatoes -- very acidic linked to yeast infections not great as main part of diet okay once in a while

veggies

Greens of all kinds (very good in calcium) mustard, turnip, collard, kale, endive, escarole, radicchio, chard, dandelion, amaranth
Spinach is high in calcium but is also a calcium binder so feed in small quantities only seldom
broccoli
cauliflower
brussel sprouts -- not often like spinach above
cucumber -- high in water but okay with other items
celery -- high in water not much nutrition but okay mixed in
bell pepper
jalapeno pepper
chili pepper
squash -- pumpkin, acorn, spaghetti, butternut, all winter squash
zucchini -- not as good as winter squash but good as add in
corn
asparagus
carrot
jicama
parsnip
sweet potato or yam
turnip
raddish

herbs not sure if vegetable or not but very good for birds
parsley
cilantro
arugula

vitamins

if fed a healthy mixed diet you should not need to every add vitamins they should come from the food naturally. A bird's body like a humans does better at absorbing vitamins from the food it eats then absorbing from pills, powders or liquids. Although a good full spectrum light that lets of both UVA and UVB rays can help with their ability to absorb and make their own nutrients. (not as much as in reptiles but it is still a big help besides usually making them happier and better eyesight)

proteins

Meat of course the best would be chicken or turkey many birds love to be given a chicken leg or wing section with the meat still on, they will then proceed to eat the meat, the bone etc. Just make sure that like with human consumption that the meat is fully cooked, for a bird I would suggest either baked, roasted, broiled or boiled although an occassional piece of not too greasy fried chicken won't necessarily harm your bird as long as it is not a main part of the diet.
Beans are also a great source of protein (maybe should have added them in vegetables. Most types of beans, usually a mix like a fifteen bean soup either dry beans or frozen beans cooked and then served to your bird warm or cold will be great for protein. Many birds won't eat beans by themselves but will eat them mixed in with other foods.

nuts high in fat so if your bird does't get plenty of exercise then only feed very seldom

Almonds
pinenuts
walnuts
pecans
hickory nuts
hazelnuts
macadmia nut
acorn
peanut -- I know not an actual nut and only good for occassional treat

treats ECT...

Well if you find any of the above foods that your bird really loves then you can also use them for a treat. Unsalted pumpkin, safflower, and sunflower seeds are fine as a treat but not great as part of the main diet. Seeds in general are fine as an add in to a healthy diet and but because they are high in fat should not be the only or main diet.
My birds love bird muffins as treats. You can make them completely homemade or you can use a low sodium cornbread mix and add in some of your birds favorite fruits, vegetables and nuts. We also add in jars of baby food to give extra nutrients and to add interest.

Rice -- especially the brown long grain or full grain etc

Pasta is great for your bird you can cook it, serve it dry mixed in with veggies and fruits or even string it up for an edible toy. Our birds of all sizes seem to find the shaped pasta and the colored pasta interesting so they will play with it a bit and then eat it. We have tried the elbow macaroni but they don't seem to like it as well. They also all seem to like the "spaghetti" or angel hair pasta either cooked or broken into smaller strips and mixed in with their other foods.

The foods listed can be served in many ways so be inventive. Try it cooked or fresh. Warm or cold. Diced, chunked, grated, whole, sliced etc. Some like it all mixed up in a salad others only hanging from a skewer.

My cockatoo will eat almost anything if I put it in a kiddie ice cream cone or a "little teacup". She also eats the layered birdie salad quickly and the birdie muffins, she loves pasta and rice dishes but if I try to give her just a bowl of veggies she turns up her beak and won't touch them.

Non-edible
chocolate
caffeine products (coffee, tea etc)
avocodo -- guacomole
onion (not toxic but not good if you are eating a salad with onion and want to share with your bird okay but do not use as an add in to the diet, there are health risks with eating too much for your bird)
apple seeds

I am sure there are more both edible and non-edible things I have missed but hopefully this is a good start for you.

thank you soo much for the list, i got today mango is that good for her? right now im boiling so sweet patao she loves that im shocked. for spagetiis i have try to one fromt he pet shop were you jsut boil and serve that it she hates it.. but will try spagetti. thank soo much.

buddy and nicky