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The Complete Guide to Bird Feeding in Your Garden
Around half of all UK households feed garden birds at some point during the year. It is one…
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Birds • Cats • Dogs • Small Animals
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Read MoreChoosing the Right Food for Your Caged Bird
Getting your bird’s diet right is the single most important thing you can do for their long-term health. Species-appropriate nutrition varies significantly between birds, and a food formulated for one species is not suitable for another. Here is a straightforward guide to what to look for.
Seeds vs pellets
The seeds vs pellets debate is one of the most common questions in caged bird care, and the answer is more nuanced than most product labels suggest.
- Seeds are palatable and well-accepted by most birds but are high in fat and nutritionally incomplete as a sole diet, lacking key vitamins and minerals
- Pellets provide a more balanced nutritional profile and prevent the selective feeding behaviour that leads many seed-fed birds to eat only their favourite seeds while leaving the rest
- Many avian vets now recommend a diet of at least 50 percent pellets supplemented with seeds, fresh food and vegetables to provide both nutrition and variety
- Transitioning a bird that has been on seeds only to a pelleted diet requires patience: introduce pellets gradually alongside familiar food over several weeks
Food by species
Always choose food specifically formulated for your bird’s species. General mixed bird food rarely meets the specific needs of any individual species adequately.
- Budgies: budgie-specific seed mix or budgie pellets, supplemented with fresh leafy greens and occasional fruit in small quantities
- Cockatiels: cockatiel mix with a slightly higher fat content than budgie food, alongside vegetables and cooked grains
- Parrots: species-specific parrot pellets as the foundation, with fresh fruit, vegetables and a limited amount of seed for enrichment
- Canaries and finches: canary seed mix or finch mix as appropriate, with egg food added during the breeding season to support rearing
Why Buy Caged Bird Food from Newcastle Pets?
Our caged bird food range goes beyond the basic options available in most supermarkets, with species-appropriate foods for budgies, cockatiels, parrots, canaries and finches. Our team can advise on the right food for your specific bird and how to manage any dietary transitions.
- Species-specific bird food stocked for budgies, cockatiels, parrots, canaries and finches
- Our in-store team can advise on appropriate food choices and how to transition birds between diets at your own pace
- Range extends well beyond basic supermarket options with specialist species-appropriate foods available
- Free local delivery for Newcastle-under-Lyme customers
Frequently Asked Questions
A budgie-specific seed mix or pellet diet supplemented with fresh leafy greens and occasional small pieces of fruit provides the best everyday nutrition. Pellet-based diets are increasingly recommended by avian vets for their balanced nutritional profile compared to seed alone.
Budgie food and parrot food are formulated for different species with different nutritional needs and different piece sizes. Parrot food is generally higher in fat and too large for a budgie to manage safely. Always use food specifically formulated for your bird’s species.
Avocado, onion, garlic, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol and fruit pits are toxic to most caged birds. Keep birds away from cooking fumes and particularly from non-stick cookware, which releases gases when overheated that can be fatal to birds very quickly.
Yes, we stock bird seed and food for a range of caged bird species in our Newcastle-under-Lyme store and online. Free local delivery is available for Newcastle-under-Lyme customers.