Can Cockatiels Eat Sesame Seeds? (Yes, Benefits Explained)

Yes, cockatiels can eat sesame seeds, but only in small amounts. However, they can be used as an occasional treat for your pet bird to help keep them occupied and entertained. One benefit of feeding cockatiels sesame seeds is that they can provide birds with essential fatty acids to stay healthy.

Are Sesame Seeds Good for Cockatiels?

Sesame seeds can be a good source of protein and fatty acids for your pet cockatiel. However, only offer the seeds as an occasional treat or reward to prevent nutritional imbalances and obesity.

Since they are small in size, many birds can enjoy devouring them. Giving your bird sesame seeds can also help keep your pet cockatiel busy for several minutes, as they can spend time pecking and picking at the seeds.

Sesame seeds are also rich in vitamins and minerals, such as calcium. They can also help your pet cockatiel maintain their strong bones to prevent osteoporosis.

Feeding your Cockatiel sesame seeds will help give them essential nutrients to keep them healthy and active. Sesame seeds also help keep your Cockatiel’s feathers in good shape.

Cockatiels eat sesame seeds, but it should be in small amounts and occasionally. Feeding your pet cockatiel too many can lead to obesity. Overfeeding sesame seeds can also affect their health and cause serious problems such as heart disease or diabetes later on down the line. You offering your bird a few of these seeds once per week is more than enough.

How Many Seeds Should You Feed a Cockatiel?

Pet owners asking “Can Cockatiels eat sesame seeds?” should also be careful how many seeds they’re going to eat.

Cockatiels should only eat sesame seeds in moderation, but they should never be the sole source of nutrition. Instead, your bird should be eating a balanced diet of various other seeds, pellets, and fresh veggies.

They can eat up to 15-20 small seeds per day. However, this should only make up approximately five percent of their daily diet to prevent nutritional problems or obesity from occurring. Eating too many sesame seeds can make sesame seeds bad for your Cockatiel.

Overfeeding your Cockatiel too many sesame seeds can lead to malnutrition. Overfeeding can result in nutritional deficiencies, obesity, and other problems like fatty liver disease or diabetes.

The best way is to offer your bird sesame seeds once in a while as a treat instead of using them as a daily food source. Offering them as a treat can help prevent your Cockatiel from overeating and becoming obese or developing nutritional deficiencies due to a lack of other sources in their diet.

How Should You Give a Cockatiel Sesame Seeds?

Offer your cockatiel sesame seeds by sprinkling them onto their regular food or giving it in a separate dish. Ensure the bird can’t eat too many at once, leading to choking or intestinal blockage.

Cockatiels love to eat sesame seeds but can only have them in small portions. However, they can be used as an occasional treat to help keep your pet entertained and healthy.

Make sure a Cockatiels diet contains enough protein and nutrients from its regular seed mix before considering giving it treats such as sunflower seeds or sesame seeds.

What Other Foods Can Cockatiels Eat?

Most Cockatiels enjoy seeds that are easily found in pet stores or supermarkets. It’s not recommended to feed your Cockatiel a “wild diet”.

A healthy Cockatiel’s diet with seeds will contribute to the health of your Cockatiel’s diet. A diet with healthy seeds can include sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seed safflower seed, nuts, legumes, mung beans, sprouts, and soaked or sprouted grains.

A balanced diet of a healthy seed mix will provide your Cockatiel with essential proteins, fats, and nutrients that can keep them active.

Pumpkin seeds can be a great source of protein and amino acids for your pet bird to help keep their feathers in good shape. They can also provide other essential vitamins and minerals which are needed by the bird’s body.

Cockatiels should have access to pellets daily but can also enjoy seeds. Therefore, it can be beneficial to offer your bird eating choices pumpkin, sesame, and sunflower seeds as treats or rewards every so often.

Seeds can help keep them entertained for several minutes at a time, which can prevent boredom. However, seeds should only make up five percent of their diet to avoid obesity or nutritional deficiencies from occurring.

Cockatiels that eat seeds also might enjoy other healthy treats include sweet potatoes, freeze-dried corn, carrots, apples, green beans, grass seeds, canary seed, mung beans and whole-grain bread. However, it is essential to limit their access to bird food, seed mixes or bread with added sugar.

You can also offer your pet cockatiel small amounts of cooked, pureed, or dry pasta as a special treat in your bird’s diet to help encourage foraging behavior and provide them with extra nutrients they need.

Are Sesame Seeds Part of a Healthy Diet for Your Cockatiel?

Cockatiel owners should be feeding their pet birds a healthy seed addition and variety of foods high in protein, low in fat, and rich in vitamins A & C. Some examples include: whole-grain bread, cooked beans and peas, canary seeds, oat groats, and wheat.

Cockatiels can eat seeds in small doses as an occasional treat or reward to keep your bird active and entertained. However, avoid feeding your pet cockatiel too many of these seeds regularly to ensure they are not malnourished or obese.

Sesame seeds can be a nutritious treat for your pet cockatiel, but they should never be the only source of food that is available to them. Instead, offer these seeds in moderation as an occasional reward and keep their diet balanced with other foods such as pellets and fresh veggies.

Are Some Foods Toxic to Cockatiels?

Some foods are toxic to cockatiels and can lead to death if consumed by your pet.

Every Cockatiel owner should learn about the foods to avoid giving their bird. Knowing what foods to avoid can help prevent accidental death from ingestion or choking on dangerous items.

There aren’t many, but you should never feed your Cockatiel these foods:

Avocado pits and skins – Avocado pits and skins contain persin, which can cause heart failure in Cockatiels.

Chocolate – Cockatiels also should not have chocolate because it contains theobromine and caffeine. Chocolate should be considered very toxic, and consumption by a Cockatiel can lead to death.

Related Post : Do Cockatiels Need Cuttlebone?

Fruit Seeds – Fruit seeds can cause intestinal blockage if consumed by your Cockatiel, which can become life-threatening and require veterinary care.

Apple Seeds – Apple seeds can contain cyanide which can lead to serious health problems or death.

Onion, garlic, and chives – These foods are members of the Allium family that can cause hemolytic anemia in birds if consumed by them.

Raw meat, fish, and eggs- Consumption of raw meat can introduce bacteria into your Cockatiel’s body and cause serious health problems. Raw eggs can also contain salmonella, which can lead to illness and even death in birds.

If your Cockatiel consumes any of these foods, contact your avian vet immediately and notify them of what your bird has eaten.

In Summary

Sesame seeds and other healthy bird seeds are great for Cockatiels and they will love eating them as a regular treat.

The protein and fatty acids provided by sesame seeds will help your bird grow strong bones, produce healthy feathers and provide essential nutrients that a healthy, active bird needs.