Fresh fruits, vegetables, and seed mix should be added to the daily diet of cockatiels to have balanced nutrition. But what kinds of seeds? Can cockatiels eat chia seeds?
Yes, chia seeds benefit birds, especially cockatiels and other parrots.
They contain numerous vitamins, minerals, and fiber that help maintain good health.
But always give your bird chia seeds sparingly, and don’t let them become a seed junkie.
Chia Seeds Nutritional Info: Is It Good For Cockatiels
Chia seeds are small but are a good source of nutrients like vitamin C, Vitamin A, calcium, iron, and other minerals which are good for the bird.
Additionally, it has fiber which helps in increasing gut health. So, chia seeds can be given as a healthy snack to cockatiels.
100 grams of dried chia seeds contain the following nutrients.
- Water: 5.8 grams
- Energy: 586Kcal
- Protein: 16.5grams
- Total lipid fat: 30.7 grams
- Carbohydrate: 42.1grams
- Fiber: 34.4 grams
- Calcium: 631mg
- Iron: 7.72mg
- Magnesium: 335mg
- Phosphorous: 860mg
- Potassium: 407mg
- Sodium: 16mg
- Zinc: 4.58mg
- Copper: 0.924mg
- Vitamin C: 1.6mg
- Vitamin A: 54IU
- Riboflavin: 0.17mg
Key Benefits
- Calcium: Calcium is vital for maintaining the healthy bones and teeth of Cockatiels. It even plays a vital role in blood clotting.
- Phosphorous: Chia seeds comprise Phosphorous, which helps in forming teeth and bones. It even helps in repairing the cells and tissues of your pet bird.
- Potassium: Potassium is vital in moving the nutrients inside and waste products out of the cell. It even regulates the heartbeat and normal function of nerves and muscles in your bird.
- Vitamin C: Chia seeds contain Vitamin C, which helps stimulate the immune system of Cockatiels.
- Vitamin A: Vitamin A in chia seeds helps in good vision and skin of Cockatiels.
How Should Chia Seeds Be Given To Cockatiels?
Chia seeds are tiny; your little bird can digest them if given in moderate quantities. The best way to feed chia seeds to cockatiels is by sprouting them.
You must soak chia seeds in water for almost 12 hours and then drain all the water.
Now, transfer the soaked chia seeds to your bird’s food bowl. Also, keep a bowl of fresh water in the cage alongside the food.
When you sprout chia seeds, it enriches the nutrients.
If your bird is in the molting or breeding stage, then sprouted chia seeds can benefit the bird. Moreover, sprouted seeds are soft and easy to feed your cockatiel.
How Much (And How Often) Should You Give Chia Seeds To Your Bird?
You should only give your bird 3-4 grams of chia seeds once a week.
Pellets should make up 60 percent of the cockatiel’s regular calorie intake (30 grams), and the remaining 30 percent should be fresh food like various fruits and vegetables.
The rest 10 percent can be seeds or dry fruits.
Giving a few grams of chia seeds a day is enough for your cockatiel to digest and maintain balanced nutrition.
There are various other seeds that you can give to cockatiel other than chia seeds. We are listing them below.
- Sunflower seeds
- Safflower seeds
- Pumpkin seeds
- Sesame seeds
- Pumpkin seeds
- Flax seeds
Are There Any Dangers To Giving Chia Seeds to Cockatiels?
Chia seeds are safe for your bird. But overfeeding or giving your little bird raw seeds can result in a few issues, which are listed below.
- Digestive Problems: Giving so many chia seeds can cause digestion issues in your bird and may cause diarrhea.
- Choking Hazard: Some cockatiel owners give raw chia seeds to the bird. But giving them raw can cause a choking hazard in your bird. So we will recommend you always give sprouted chia seeds.
- Crop Impaction: The chia seeds can swell in the crop by absorbing water, resulting in crop impaction. The signs of crop impaction are decreased appetite, swollen crops, regurgitation, and vomiting.
- High Fat: High fat in chia seeds can cause obesity and other health issues in your bird.
Frequently Asked Questions
What seeds are good for cockatiels?
Seeds are an important part of a healthy diet for cockatiels.
Millet is one of the most popular seeds for cockatiels, as it is high in beneficial vitamins and minerals.
Other good seeds for cockatiels include sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, hemp seeds, and pumpkin seeds.
It’s best to offer cockatiels various seed types so they can get a balance of nutrients from their diet.
As a treat, you can also feed your cockatiel small amounts of specialized bird seed mixes or sprouted grains.
Can cockatiels eat flax seeds?
Yes, cockatiels can eat flax seeds as part of a balanced diet.
Flax seeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, lignans, and fiber, which are all beneficial to the health of birds.
When feeding your bird flax seeds, it is important to make sure they are fresh and finely ground so that the bird can digest them properly.
It’s also important to make sure other foods like fruits and vegetables are included in their diet for a balanced meal.
What seeds can cockatiels not eat?
Cockatiels should not eat any kind of seed that contains oils and fats, such as peanuts. In addition, they should not be given apple seeds, cherry pits, or avocado pits.
Seeds with shells like sunflower and safflower seeds can cause choking if the cockatiel does not have access to clean water to soak them in before eating.
Finally, cockatiels cannot process foods with high sugar content very well, so sugary items like candy or doughnuts should be avoided.
Can cockatiels eat sesame seeds?
Yes, cockatiels can eat sesame seeds.
Sesame seeds provide important nutrients such as selenium and calcium, which are essential for strong bones and healthy feather development.
However, any seed or nut should be fed to cockatiels in moderation as too much can imbalance the diet.
As well, only hulled sesame seeds should be used; unhulled sesame seeds can lead to impaction problems in birds if they swallow some without being able to digest them properly.
Wrap Up
Chia seeds can be given as a nutritious snack to cockatiels.
They are loaded with proteins, fiber, various vitamins, and minerals highly required for cockatiel’s health.
But only give only a few grams once a week to avoid obesity and other health problems.
Thank you for reading this article.
