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Cockatiels should be fed a nutritious diet daily to ensure good health and a happy life. But what if you can’t feed your cockatiel for some reason or they simply won’t eat the food that you offer them? How long can they go without food before negative effects start to develop?
As it turns out, it’s not that long. A pet cockatiel should never go a day without being offered food. That said, if they don’t have access to food or won’t eat, they may be able to go about 12-16 hours at most without displaying any negative side effects (assuming they are healthy adults). Here are a few other things that you should know about this topic.
How Often Should a Cockatiel Be Fed?
In the wild, a cockatiel is a foraging bird primarily classified as a granivore (seed eater). They travel in large flocks and eat constantly. However, they also burn far more calories than their pet counterparts, because they are almost always on the move and have to escape from predators and deal with the elements of nature as well (such as harsh weather).
When kept as pets, your cockatiel should have a daily supply of cockatiel pellets, alongside a smaller daily serving of vegetables, nuts, fruits, seeds, legumes, pulses, and grains. They should also have access to fresh, clean drinking water at all times.
Cockatiels shouldn’t be fed a “meal.” Rather, they should be allowed to pick and choose when they want to eat throughout the day. Uneaten food should be discarded at the end of each day. Fruits tend to spoil and sludge much faster than other foods and shouldn’t be left in your cockatiel’s tank for more than 4 hours.
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Reasons That Your Cockatiel Might Not Be Eating
As a responsible pet owner, you would never think of withholding food from your cockatiel. So, if they are not consuming food, it should be because they do not want to for some reason, not due to a lack of access. The most common reason that a cockatiel would not eat their food is illness. When a bird is not feeling well, they tend to try to conserve their energy to heal. Other reasons that your cockatiel might not eat include:
Environmental changes
Lack of sleep or rest
Too much commotion
Not feeling safe
Not acclimated to a new habitat
If your cockatiel suddenly stops eating, it is crucial to contact your veterinarian and let them know. They may recommend that you schedule a checkup or offer suggestions for getting your bird to start eating again.
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What to Do If You Won’t Be Around to Feed Your Cockatiel
It’s never a good idea to leave your pet cockatiel without food, even just for a day. If you will be going on vacation or away for another reason, you should take steps to ensure that your birdie will not go hungry. Unfortunately, because almost no bird pellet formulation is considered a complete diet for your cockatiel, you cannot set up an automatic feeder to drop pellets into your bird’s feeding dish twice a day until you return. The best option is to have a neighbor or family member stop by to feed your bird every day (and clean out their food dishes as well). It goes without saying that planning ahead is necessary.
Signs That Your Cockatiel Is Becoming Emaciated From a Lack of Food
If your cockatiel goes too long without eating a meal or is not getting enough food daily, they will start to show signs of emaciation. The biggest sign is having a pronounced keel bone due to the muscles wasting away. Weight loss, feathers becoming dull, beak and nails appearing brittle, a reluctance to fly, and lethargy are other signs that indicate emaciation.
Image Credit: Daria_vg, Shutterstock
A Final Review
Cockatiels should not go long periods without food, and a full day without eating is too long. It is important to make sure your birdie is offered the correct diet for optimal health and happiness. If they stop eating for some reason, it’s important to contact your veterinarian right away. Always keep an eye out for signs of emaciation so a lack of nutrition can be addressed before your bird becomes too ill.
Featured Image Credit: PH888, Shutterstock
