Cockatiel · Greens & herbs
Can cockatiels eat dandelion greens?
Yes. Dandelion leaves are a safe, nutritious green for cockatiels. Use leaves from unsprayed ground or a shop, and wash them first.
- Portion
- Two or three leaves, or about 2 teaspoons chopped
- How often
- Several times a week
- Sugar
- 0.7 g / 100 g
How to serve it
- Collect only from areas you know are free of sprays, fertiliser and animal waste
- Rinse well
- Offer whole leaves for shredding or chop them
- Take away wilted leftovers after a few hours
Why
Risks. Contamination is the concern: garden and roadside plants may carry pesticides, herbicides or droppings, and birds are very sensitive to these chemicals.
Benefits. Dandelion leaves add beta-carotene, vitamin K and calcium, and whole leaves encourage natural foraging.
Questions owners ask 1
Are dandelions safe for cockatiels?
Yes. Dandelion leaves appear on veterinary lists of suitable foods for pet birds. Just make sure they have not been sprayed.
Dandelion greens: nutrition per 100 g
| Water | 85.6 g |
|---|---|
| Energy | 45 kcal |
| Sugars | 0.7 g |
| Fat | 0.7 g |
| Protein | 2.7 g |
| Fibre | 3.5 g |
| Calcium | 187 mg |
| Phosphorus | 66 mg |
| Calcium : phosphorus | 2.83 : 1 |
| Sodium | 76 mg |
| Vitamin A (RAE) | 508 µg |
| Vitamin C | 35 mg |
“Dandelion greens, raw”, USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy, FDC 169226). Public domain.
Sources & method 2
The sources below discuss dandelion greens for cockatiels (or for pet birds generally). Confidence: high. Rated on the JOMIZOO Feeding Scale; when good sources disagree we choose the more cautious level.
- Fruits and Vegetables in Birds' Diets — VCA Animal Hospitals
- Feeding Pet Cockatiels — VCA Animal Hospitals
