If you are a new cockatiel owner, then one of your responsibilities is taking care of their diet and nutrition. Although cockatiels need a variety of pellets, seeds, fruits, and vegetables, you may be wondering about other foods like bread. Is bread safe for cockatiels to eat? Can cockatiels eat bread?
Yes, cockatiels can eat bread but should do so infrequently and in moderation (once per week). Make sure that you are feeding your cockatiel wholesome, organic whole-grain options, and avoid bread with lots of additives like preservatives, sugar, and salt, which can lead to negative health conditions.
Cockatiels like the taste of bread, including breadsticks, breadcrumbs, and bread crusts.
Unfortunately, this bird food isn’t healthy because it has preservatives, salt, and seasonings, and it doesn’t have whole grains for flavor and texture. However, bread isn’t dangerous unless fed to cockatiels in excess.
White bread has a lot of calories but not many vitamins, minerals, nutrients, or fiber. Cockatiels like eating bread, but it’s high in empty calories, causing your cockatiel to overindulge and refuse healthier foods.
Therefore, always choose whole grain options with added nuts, seeds, and fruits if you’ve fed bread to a cockatiel as a snack. The bran and germ of the grain provide health benefits for cockatiels.
So, let’s dig a little deeper into the diet of the cockatiel and how bread fits in.
Is Bread Safe For Cockatiels?
Bread isn’t actively harmful to cockatiels, but it can be overconsumed.
Bread has a lot of carbs but is low in many vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. Experts widely regard bread as a filler food. Your cockatiel will be full, but this has negative implications.
This feeling of satiety may mean that a cockatiel becomes disinterested in healthier foods.
Some kinds of bread are healthier than others. In particular, bread that has been processed less is healthier because it has natural whole grains. This is even better if you add seeds, nuts, fruit, and vegetables.
Never leave bread in your cockatiel’s cage because it will go moldy in 3–4 days.
If cockatiels breathe in mold, it builds up in their lungs and could cause aspergillosis. If your cockatiel has a weak immune system, it’s especially vulnerable to this respiratory condition.
Any bread that your cockatiel doesn’t eat should be removed. Never feed a cockatiel old or stale bread.
See also: Can Cockatiels Eat Almonds?
Choosing The Right Bread
Organic whole meal
We recommend choosing organic whole-meal bread for your cockatiel. There are several options, including whole wheat, whole rye, whole grain, etc. These slices of bread won’t break down as fast as bleached bread, which can affect how much sugar is in your blood. Three-grain and multigrain bread are also good for your cockatiel.
Low sodium with no additives
As was already said, many brands have way too much salt for your cockatiel to eat every day. Therefore, we recommend choosing a low-salt brand as a pet treat.
Many of these slices of bread have a lot of things in them that are bad for your cockatiel, like artificial dyes and preservatives made from chemicals.
Healthy Bread To Feed Your Cockatiel
These breads are considered healthier for your cockatiel.
- Whole wheat bread: This bread is also a great option because it is rich in natural whole grains. It has carbs, but the fiber slows digestion so that the cockatiel gets more steady energy. However, when feeding whole wheat bread, exercise caution. Its dry state can quickly suffocate the cockatiel.
- Brown bread: This bread is nutritious as it includes fiber. Fiber helps the cockatiel digest carbohydrates slowly. This, in turn, leads to stable blood glucose levels.
- Toasted bread: Cockatiels like to eat toasted bread. And because it is drier and crunchier, it is a better choice. One thing, though. Onions, salt, and fats should not be added to toasted bread.
- Banana bread: Cockatiels enjoy eating fruits, including bananas. Banana bread is ideal because it has lots of vitamins and minerals. Since it is not as dry as whole wheat bread, it is much easier for them to digest. Additionally, it is rich in calories and sugar. Therefore, be careful about the quantity, especially with store-bought banana bread.
Avoid Feeding Your Cockatiel With These Types Of Bread
If possible, avoid feeding these types of bread to your cockatiel.
- Rye bread: This bread contains more vitamins, minerals, and fiber properties that are health-boosting in humans. Unfortunately, it is difficult and heavy for your cockatiel to break down and digest. Therefore, if you feed your cockatiel with this type of bread, limit the quantity and frequency.
- Sourdough bread: This bread is also beneficial to humans for its health properties. Because it is not highly processed, it has more minerals and vitamins. Sadly, the bread undergoes fermentation during production, which can be problematic for your cockatiel. Additionally, its sour taste may not appeal to your cockatiel.
- Garlic bread: This bread can cause your cockatiel negative health issues, even in small doses. It contains toxic materials which can result in digestive problems and hemolytic anemia. Also, it contains a lot of butter and fat, which is not good for a cockatiel. Therefore, avoid feeding your cockatiel with garlic bread at all costs.
How Much Bread Should You Give To Your Cockatiel?
If you would like to feed your cockatiel whole meal bread then you should do so occasionally and in moderation (once per week in limited quantities).
You shouldn’t give them a lot at once, like by leaving a roll or a small loaf in the cage.
Instead, you will want to break off a small piece which you can then feed to your cockatiel.
While we can see above that there is some nutrition in whole meal bread for cockatiels, it should never be a staple within their diet nor something that is solely fed.
Cockatiels are vulnerable to obesity, iodine deficiencies, and other nutrition-related problems.
Bread will quickly fill a cockatiel’s crop (an organ in your cockatiel that supports digestion) which will signal to their stomachs that they are full. Malnutrition is therefore very likely if too much bread is fed.
Therefore a balanced and varied diet must be given to ensure that they remain healthy:
- Pellets (check this awesome brand on Walmart), should make up the majority of the daily diet.
- Seeds – should be fed in moderation
- Vegetables like carrots, spinach, and squash should be given in small amounts, but more often if they are a certain type.
- Fruits (like strawberries, bananas, oranges, apples, and grapes) can be fed, but best as a treat.
Giving Your Cockatiel Bread
As we said, whole-meal bread can be a tasty treat for cockatiels, and they do generally enjoy eating it.
The main benefit for cockatiels eating bread is the enjoyment of consumption and that it offers the chance to socialize and bond with you.
With food like bread, you can sit and feed it to your cockatiel. Take a small part of the crust and hold it out for your cockatiel to peck at.
Your cockatiel will then give you visual indicators if they are enjoying it (like singing) or they will show signs that they do not want any or have had enough.
Either way, it is important to never force-feed any food and to respect your cockatiel’s preferences and desires.
Always monitor your cockatiel carefully for an hour or two after feeding to ensure it doesn’t have an adverse reaction, especially the first few times.
If your cockatiel doesn’t have any problems with the first piece, you can continue to give them one piece once per week.
Can Baby Cockatiels Eat Bread?
It is acceptable to feed adult cockatiels smaller pieces of bread as a snack. It is not recommended to feed baby cockatiels bread. But do you have an idea why?
Baby cockatiels have an underdeveloped digestive system that cannot digest bread.
Additionally, they are more likely to suffocate and choke on dry bread. If adult cockatiels have difficulty eating bread, what about these small birds?
But, can baby cockatiels eat bread? They should not do so. But if you only have bread, make sure the crumbs are small and soak them in water.
See also: Can Cockatiels Eat Peanuts?
Conclusion
While your cockatiel can eat bread in small amounts, we recommend avoiding it unless it’s something your cockatiel craves.
If it’s one of its favorite foods, we recommend choosing organic, low-sodium, whole-grain bread to feed your cockatiel as an occasional treat.
Also, limit your portions to less than one-half slice every week or two, and your cockatiel should remain healthy.
