Cockatoos are eccentric creatures and they appreciate an eclectic diet. The more variety the better! They'll happily munch on everything from noodles to apples to peanuts (with the shell), but there are a few key parts of their diet that should be fed to them on a regular basis.
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Seeds: In the wild, seeds make up a very large percent of a cockatoos diet. So about half of their domestic diet should be made of seeds. Safflower, sunflower, oat groats, pumpkin seeds, buckwheat, flax seed, and squash seeds are all the perfect blend to feed your cockatoo.
Nuts: Whole nuts (with the shells) encourage your cockatoo to use that super strong beak they have! Walnuts and Brazil nuts in the shells are a great way for them to show off their strength. And other nuts, like almonds and cashews are a yummy treat they'll surely enjoy. Mix three or four nuts into their seed collection each day. Because nuts are pretty fatty, it's good to feed them only sparsely.
Vegetables: Both dried and fresh vegetables are a great addition to a cockatoos daily selection. Not only do they offer vital vitamins, they help add much needed variety. Try adding some dried peas, corn, and carrots to their seeds. You can also feed your cockatoo bits of fresh cauliflower, broccoli, and loose leaf lettuce every other day.
Pellets: Although many professionals recommend a purely pellets main diet- we don't. Why? It may give them the proper nutrition, but it doesn't give them the natural foraging appeal that cockatoos need to stay mentally healthy. A proper collection of foods will keep your cockatoo healthy while also stimulating their emotional well being. We do suggest making about 1/3 of your cockatoos daily seed mix pellets- but give them a good array of other things as well.
Fruits: Cockatoos enjoy both dried and fresh fruits. Fruits are high in sugars, so they shouldn't be fed every day, but they should be offered two to three times a week. Try dried bits of banana, coconut, or papaya and fresh slices of apple, pear, or kiwi.
