Dr Cockatiel Food safety list
Written for worried owners

Something not right with your bird?

Cockatiels hide illness until it’s advanced. Start with the symptom you can actually see - droppings, posture, breathing - and we’ll tell you whether it can wait.

Where do you want to start?

health

Symptoms & illness

Poop chart, puffed up, breathing trouble, egg binding.

food

Diet & safe foods

Every food checked safe or unsafe, with serving sizes.

behaviour

Sounds & body language

Hissing, crest positions, biting, night frights.

gear

Cages & kit

Cages, perches, pellets and what’s worth buying.

Straight answers

Cockatiel poop chart showing healthy and unhealthy droppings by colour

Cockatiel Poop Chart: Healthy vs Sick Droppings

What healthy cockatiel poop looks like, every colour change explained, and the exact signs that mean an avian …

Cockatiel resting on a rope ring perch

Why Is My Cockatiel Puffed Up? Normal vs Sick (How to Tell)

Brief puffing is normal. Puffed for hours with eyes closed is the sick bird look. The exact differences, warni…

Cockatiel perched on a wooden branch indoors

Cockatiel Breathing Problems: Signs to Watch

Healthy cockatiel breathing is silent and invisible. What tail bobbing, clicking and open-mouth breathing mean…

Grey cockatiel perched on a cage bar in low light

Cockatiel Night Frights (Night Terrors): Causes & Prevention

Night frights are panic episodes in the dark, and cockatiels are the most prone of all pet birds. What causes …

Whiteface cockatiel perched on a person's finger

How to Tame a Cockatiel: Step-by-Step (Even Older Birds)

Almost any cockatiel can be tamed, including older rehomed birds. The step-by-step sequence, typical two to ei…

White cockatiel standing on wooden decking beside spilled seed

Cockatiel Not Eating? What to Do in 24 Hours

A cockatiel that hasn't eaten for 24 hours is an emergency. How to confirm it's really not eating, the 8 likel…