7 Best Cockatiel Pellet Brands Reviewed 2023
Pellets are the foundation of a healthy cockatiel diet, so it’s important that you’re providing the best pellets that offer the most nutritional value to your bird.
How your cockatiel feels is often a direct reflection of its overall diet.
If you’re feeding low-quality pellets, your cockatiel is likely feeling pretty crappy.
This is apparent from the fact that many owners say they’ve noticed positive behavioural and physical differences in their birds after switching to better pellets.
Hopefully, I can help you select a healthier brand of pellets for your tiel in this article!
There are plenty of great pellets to choose from, so let’s get started…
1. Harrison’s Adult Lifetime Fine – #1 Best Organic Pellets
Many owners say they’ve noticed a positive difference in their bird’s appearance, weight, and overall health after converting to Harrison’s adult lifetime pellets. Made from all-natural ingredients in the USA and doesn’t contain artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives.
These pellets meet the nutritional requirements of the following bird species:
- Cockatiels
- Lovebirds
- Eclectus
- Lories
- Quakers
- Conures
- Doves/pigeons
This is as long as the birds are healthy, non-breeding, and non-moulting.
Before feeding the Harrison’s Adult Lifetime pellets to your cockatiel, they actually suggest putting them on their High-Potency Fine Formula first for at least 8 months.
Harrison’s pellet feeding guide can be found here.
Ingredients included in the Harrison’s Adult Lifetime Fine pellets: *Corn, *Hull-less Barley, *Hulled Grey Millet, *Toasted Soybean Meal, *Peas, *Lentils, *Peanut Kernels, *Sunflower Kernels, *Toasted Oat Groats, *Alfalfa, *Brown Rice, *Chia, Calcium Carbonate, Bentonite, Mixed Tocopherols (source of Vitamin E), Sea Kelp, Salt *Algae Meal, Vitamin/Mineral Supplement (Vitamin A Palmitate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, dl-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Niacin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Folic Acid, Zinc Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Carbonate and *Sunflower Oil)
*CERTIFIED ORGANIC By The U.S. Department Of Agriculture*
*Verified NON-GMO (Genetically modified organism) Product*
Most of the other pellet brands on this list DO NOT have the organic certified label from the U.S.D.A, which makes Harrison’s Adult Lifetime pellets one of the best organic options for cockatiels and other parrots.
2. RoudyBush Daily Maintenance Cockatiel Pellets
All RoudyBush products are formulated by Tom RoudyBush, an expert in avian nutrition who has studied the dietary requirements of companion birds for 10+ years. So when feeding RoudyBush Daily Maintenance Pellets, you can feel safe knowing your cockatiel is in qualified hands.
This particular formula is made for birds that are not laying eggs or feeding chicks.
Those who have switched to RoudyBush pellets say their fussy birds took to the new diet fairly quickly, even those addicted to seeds! I believe this is because of the natural apple flavouring mixed into the pellets that birds must love.
Made in the USA and with no added sugars, colours, flavours, or animal by-products.
Created with all-natural ingredients.
Ingredients included in the RoudyBush Daily Maintenance Pellets: Ground Corn, Ground Wheat, Soybean Meal, Soybean Oil, Alfalfa, Calcium Carbonate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Salt, L-Lysine, DL-Methionine, L-Arginine, Niacin, Silicon Dioxide (Anti-Caking Aid), Citric Acid (Preservative), Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), Vegetable Oil, Rosemary Extract, Alpha Tocopherol Acetate (Source Of Vitamin E), Ascorbic Acid, Manganese Sulfate, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Yeast, Biotin, Calcium Pantothenate, Zinc Oxide, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin A Acetate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Potassium Iodide, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Propionic Acid (Preservative), Ammonium Hydroxide, Acetic Acid, Sorbic Acid (Preservative), Tartaric Acid, And Natural Apple Flavoring
Overall, I’d recommend this pellet brand to anyone struggling to convert their cockatiel to a pelleted diet. I firmly believe the apple flavouring is what has caused all those reviewers to mention how quickly their birds took to this diet.
3. VetaFarm Maintenace Diet Pellets – #1 Best Australian Pellets
The maintenance diet pellets from VetaFarm were formulated by Australian veterinarians, with the brand itself having 30+ years of expertise in avian nutrition. These particular pellets are actually the original formula developed by VetaFarm’s vets and are suitable for all parrots.
These factors alone make them one of the best pellets for cockatiels in Australia 🇦🇺
VetaFarm pellets are definitely underrated as there were hardly any reviews under the product page, even on amazon, but the few reviews are all positive!
Ingredients included in VetaFarms Maintenance Diet Pellets: Whole grains (wheat, corn & soybean), soy protein isolate, oat fibre, vegetable oils, natural organic acids, choline, Amino Acids (lysine and methionine), Vitamins (A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, B12, C, D3, E, H & K), Minerals (calcium, cobalt, copper, iron, iodine, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sodium sulphur & zinc).
No added sugars and no artificial colours or flavours.
Made from fresh Australian produce.
Available in the following size bags: 350gs, 4.4 lbs, 22 lbs
4. Trill Vitablend Small Bird Pellets
These Trill Vitablend pellets are actually the ones I feed to my own cockatiel, but throughout the research process for this article, I’ve realised that they simply aren’t as nutritious as the other options on this list.
However, they can be decent in certain circumstances…
For example, if you already have your cockatiel on these pellets, you can continue to use them in order to gradually convert to healthier pellets. Another situation would be to use these pellets as a “bridge” food when trying to convert your bird to pellets in general.
My most recent bag of Trill pellets contained dried-up green leaves, which must have been from their dried fruit mix, a completely separate product. To me, this indicates a lack of quality control.
But above all else, Trill doesn’t seem as qualified or reputable as other brands, such as Harrison’s or VetaFarm. The pelleted formula wasn’t developed by vets and the overall brand doesn’t seem to be recommended by any qualified experts.
Ingredients included in Trill Vitablend Pellets: A mixture of 5 or more of the following cereal grains and legume seeds (Wheat, Barley, Sorghum, Rice, Maize/Corn, Soybean Meal, Peas Dried), Peanuts, Psyllium Husk Powder, Tomato Powder, Turmeric. Mineral Blend (Calcium, Potassium, Phosphorus, Chloride, Sodium, Manganese, Magnesium, Iron, Zinc, Copper, Iodine, Selenium). Vitamin Blend (Vitamin E, Vitamin B5, Vitamin A, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D3, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B9). Natural Antioxidants, Salt and Vegetable Oil.
All natural ingredients.
No artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives.
They also suggest using the bag within 30 – 45 days of opening.
5. Zupreem Natural Medium Bird Pellets
Zupreem is one of the most popular pellet brands, especially for smaller birds, so of course, it had to feature on this list. And no, they’re not just here because they’re popular, they’re also packed full of essential nutrients, such as a variety of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
Almost all reviews on the Amazon and Zupreem product pages are positive, with a lot of people saying they’ve converted their cockatiels from seeds to these pellets with ease.
Ingredients included in the Zupreem Natural Pellets: Ground corn, Soybean meal, Ground millet, Ground oat groats, Ground barley, Ground wheat, Wheat germ meal, Sugar, Vegetable oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Celery, Carrots, Parsley, Beets, Blueberries, Cranberries, Ground flaxseeds, Calcium carbonate, Dicalcium phosphate, Iodized salt, DL-Methionine, Choline chloride, L-Lysine monohydrochloride, Vitamins (Vitamin E supplement, Niacin supplement, Biotin, d-Calcium pantothenate, Riboflavin supplement, Pyridoxine hydrochloride, Thiamine mononitrate, Vitamin A acetate, Vitamin D3 supplement, Menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), Vitamin B12 supplement, Folic acid), Citric acid (preservative), Mixed tocopherols (preservative), L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate, Minerals (Manganous oxide, Zinc oxide, Copper sulfate, Sodium selenite, Calcium iodate), Rosemary extract
One of the ingredients you can see is sugar…
Sugar is bad for cockatiels if eaten in large amounts as it can cause a variety of health issues, such as diabetes…
But it’s unclear exactly how much sugar is in these Zupreem pellets.
Made in the USA and with no artificial colours, unlike their fruitblend mixes that do include artificial colours.
Expiration date included on all bags
Available in the following bag sizes: 2.5 lbs, 20 lbs.
6. Kaytee Exact Natural Cockatiel Pellets
Kaytee has become a leading brand in the world of pet food thanks to their Exact Natural formula. They formulate all their products based on science, and the Exact Natural Cockatiel Food is no different.
Kaytee is a brand recommended by veterinarians.
Many of their bird food products are species-specific, which means they’re designed to meet the nutritional needs of specific bird species…
Because of this, I would feel very confident feeding this pellet formula to my cockatiel knowing it was designed to meet his specific needs.
Ingredients included in Kaytee’s Exact Natural Cockatiel Food: Ground Corn, Ground Wheat, Ground Oat Groats, Wheat Middlings, Corn Gluten Meal, Dried Whole Egg, Ground Flax Seed (Source of Omega-3), Dried Molasses Beet Pulp, Soybean Meal, Soybean Oil, Wheat Germ Meal, L-Lysine, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Fructooligosaccharide, Dicalcium Phosphate, Brewers Dried Yeast, Vitamin A Supplement, Choline Chloride, DL-Methionine, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), Yeast Extract, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Manganous Oxide, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K activity), Niacin, Rosemary Extract, Citric Acid, Calcium Pantothenate, Copper Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Cholecalciferol (Source of Vitamin D3), Beta-Carotene, Canthaxanthin (Color), Folic Acid, Calcium Iodate, Biotin, Cobalt Carbonate, Sodium Selenite, Dried Bacillus licheniformis Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus subtilis Fermentation Product, Natural Flavors
They’ve also added:
- Prebiotics and probiotics to support digestive health
- DHA Omega-3 to support the brain, heart, and eyesight
- L-Carnitine to boost metabolism
The only complaint I’ve seen from reviews is that the pellet size is inconsistent across bags, besides that, most other reviews are positive!
Made in the USA and with no artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives.
Available in 3 Lb bags.
7. Lafeber’s Premium Daily Pellets For Cockatiels
The Lafeber company is highly reputable in the world of pet birds as it had two generations of veterinarian leadership.
Almost all members of the Lafeber team are vets, avian vets, avian nutritionists or experts qualified to talk about general avian care.
Read more about Lafeber’s story…
Lafeber’s Premium Daily Pellets for Cockatiels are formulated by veterinarians and are made up of a high-quality blend of all-natural ingredients.
Almost every single review is positive!
Ingredients included in Lafeber’s Premium Daily Cockatiel Pellets: Ground Corn, Soybean Meal, Hulled Oats, Wheat Flour, Cane Molasses, Dried Whole Egg, Canola Oil, Dicalcium Phosphate, Ground Limestone, L-Lysine, Iodized Salt, Citric Acid, DL-Methionine, Choline Chloride, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid, Niacin Supplement, Beta-Carotene, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Copper Methionine Chelate, Manganous Oxide, Zinc Oxide, Tocopherols, Biotin, Sodium Selenite.
Molasses is used to enhance the taste, which makes these pellets ideal for fussy eaters or seed junkies!
Contains a balance of omega 3 & 6 fatty acids to support bones, feathers, and the immune system.
Made in the USA and with no artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives.
I personally place a lot of trust in the Lafeber team when it comes to pet bird care information and their food products. I’ve asked them questions via their free AskLafeber service and they always come through with a highly detailed answer from a qualified expert.
I certainly trust the nutritionists that develop their food products, and I hope you do too!
If not, I highly recommend you research more about who they are and their expertise.
Due to their expertise, they definitely offer some of the best cockatiel pellets on the market!
How Pellets Fit Into Your Cockatiels Diet
High-quality pellets should be the base of a healthy cockatiel diet…
All avian vets and avian nutritionists agree with this.
My avian vet has suggested that pellets should make up around 40% of a cockatiel’s overall diet, while the other percentages are made up of seeds, fruits, vegetables, and treats.
Learn more about how to feed a nutritionally balanced cockatiel diet.
The reason for this is that pellets are nutritionally balanced and complete.
What this means is that cockatiels will get a majority of their required nutrients, vitamins, and minerals from the pellets. If pellets aren’t the base or aren’t included at all within the diet, cockatiels can suffer from nutrient deficiencies, which can cause a range of health problems.
In case you haven’t yet got your cockatiel onto a pelleted diet or you want to convert to a different pellet brand, I highly urge you to read this diet conversion guide:
How To Switch Your Cockatiel From Seeds To Pellets Within 1 Month
That post dives deep into the top 3 most proven and effective diet conversion methods.
It’ll definitely help you along the way!
Thank you for reading and I hope you found the best available pellets for your beloved cockatiels 🙂
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