Cockatiels eat a wide variety of food, including vegetables, nuts, seeds, and pellets. Alcohol, rhubarbs, chocolate, caffeine, and avocados are some foods toxic to cockatiels. Eggs, however, are not among the poisonous foods.
So, can cockatiels eat eggs? Yes, cockatiels can eat eggs. The eggs can be soft-boiled, hard-boiled, scrambled, or even raw. Eggs are a great source of protein, minerals, and vitamins that are good for your bird. However, because eggs have high-fat content, too much is unhealthy for your pet cockatiel.
Before you feed your healthy cockatiel with eggs, you need to know how to prepare them, how much is enough, and what to avoid.
Can you feed eggs to cockatiels?
Yes, you can feed eggs to cockatiels. Eggs are a safe and highly nutritious food for cockatiels, making them an ideal addition to a balanced diet.
According to NCBI, besides being a great protein source, 100g of eggs contains;
| Name | Amount |
| Energy | 164 calories |
| Proteins | 12.5 g |
| Carbohydrates | 0.3 g |
| Fats | 10 g |
| Choline | 320 mg |
| Calcium | 56 mg |
| Iron | 1.75 mg |
| Magnesium | 12 mg |
| Phosphorous | 198 mg |
| Sodium | 142 mg |
| Potassium | 138 mg |
| Vitamin E | 1050 micrograms |
| Vitamin B 5 | 1533 micrograms |
Egg proteins help repair muscle cells, heal wounds, and facilitate immune responses. They also boost the growth of the cockatiel and its feathers while maintaining hormonal balance.
While carbohydrates provide energy, egg yolk is an excellent source of choline, a compound used in neurotransmission and brain development.
The egg is also rich in minerals and micronutrients that offer various benefits to your pet bird, as shown below.
| Mineral | Benefit |
| Phosphorous | Boosts bone formation and the storage of energy. Too much phosphorous inhibits the absorption of calcium. |
| Calcium | Calcium is important for egg-laying cockatiels because it helps form egg shells. It also strengthens bones. |
| Potassium | Potassium maintains a bird’s fluid balance and facilitates the contractions of heart muscles. |
| Magnesium | Magnesium boosts your cockatiel’s metabolism, and immune system, promotes calcium absorption and helps in blood pressure regulation. |
| Sodium | Sodium helps maintain fluid and electrolyte balance in a bird’s body. |
| Iron | Iron is used to make hemoglobin which helps to carry oxygen. |
Eggs have a variety of vitamins, such as vitamin D, E, B5, B12, and B6, which help in immunity, stress response, and conversion of carbohydrates into energy. They also have trace elements such as copper, zinc, selenium, and zinc, which are good for your bird.
Do Cockatiels like eggs?
Yes, they like eggs. They can eat raw eggs, boiled eggs, or even scrambled eggs. Wild cockatiels are known to steal and eat other birds’ unguarded eggs. Although wild cockatiels only eat raw eggs, pet cockatiels eat and enjoy boiled and scrambled eggs as well.
Health Risks of cockatiels eating eggs
Although there are many benefits of eggs to cockatiels, there are a few risks.
- Too much raw egg white may cause stomach discomfort and diarrhea to a healthy cockatiel.
- Feeding your cockatiel too many eggs may cause obesity.
- Cooking eggs with salt, spices, or seasoning is toxic for your cockatiel, so avoid it.
How many eggs should Cockatiels eat?
Don’t feed your pet cockatiel more than one egg per week. A mature cockatiel weighs about 90 grams, while an average chicken egg weighs about 60 grams. Hence, an adult bird should only eat a small piece of an egg as part of a healthy diet.
How do you prepare eggs for Cockatiels?
You can feed your cockatiels raw eggs since that’s how wild cockatiels eat them. You can hard-boil an egg and remove the shell before feeding your bird. Break the shell a little for soft-boiled eggs, and then let the bird eat.
Do not add spices, salt, or frying oil if you scramble the eggs. Spices and salt can harm your cockatiel, while oil increases the egg’s overall fat content. Always let the eggs cool down to room temperature before feeding, and give your cockatiels plenty of fresh water along with meals.
Can you feed eggs to baby cockatiels? If so, how?
Yes, you can feed eggs to baby cockatiels. Fry the eggs or boil them, cut them into tiny pieces, and then feed your baby birds.
Video of a cockatiel eating eggs
Can cockatiels eat cockatiel eggs?
Yes, female cockatiels can eat their eggs. The birds will eat their eggs if they are starving or the eggs are broken. Feed your pet cockatiel properly and put some soft material in its nest to ensure it won’t eat its eggs.
Can cockatiels eat eggshells?
Yes, eggshells are a treat for cockatiels. Eggshells are made of 94% calcium bicarbonate, making them an excellent source of calcium, especially for mother cockatiels. If you’re buying the eggshells, check if they have been washed and had all contaminants removed.
Related questions(FAQs)
If you want to get a treat for your cockatiel, you have a wide range of fresh foods to select from, including nuts, seeds, fruits, and even vegetables.
Some nuts that you can treat your cockatiel include almond nuts, peanuts, walnuts, and pine nuts. Also, your cockatiel might enjoy fresh fruit treats such as strawberries, grapes, bananas, and apples. Some vegetable treats include kales, broccoli, sweet potato, and carrots.
If a cockatiel is used to a seed diet, it might find new foods such as eggs, vegetables, or fruits foreign.
Try feeding your feathered friend various foods to see what it likes. If your cockatiel is used to a strict seed or pellet diet, it may take some time before you fully wean it into a varied diet.
Conclusion
Cockatiels can eat raw, scrambled, or boiled eggs. They consume all parts of an egg. However, the birds should only eat a small serving of eggs because too much may cause harm.
Eggs are one of the human foods that contain nutrients and minerals that are good for cockatiels, making them a nutritious snack for your pet bird. However, they should be served as part of a balanced diet, not as the primary food.
Do you know if your cockatiels can eat kiwi or bananas? Read our articles about it to learn more.
