Alexandra Ramirez
We spent 72 hours over a two-week period researching and testing over 15 different kinds of parakeet feed and found that a reputable brand, quality ingredients, and price point were the most important factors to consumers shopping for parakeet food. Kaytee Forti-Diet Pro Health Bird Food for Parakeets scored high marks in all categories and is our overall top pick. This Forti-Diet food for parakeets by Kaytee contains plenty of prebiotics and probiotics that will support the digestive health of your parakeet. It also contains natural antioxidants that provide support for the bird’s immune system and overall health.
1. Kaytee Forti-Diet
Best Overall Parakeet Food
5/5 Product Rating
Kaytee is a well-known bird food company that is known for its variety and quality bird foods. The Forti-Diet Pro Health food for parakeets is a great choice and was developed by an expert knowledgeable in bird nutrition.
This USA-made parakeet feed contains anti-oxidants that are necessary for skin, feather, and immune support that will improve overall health.
The prebiotics and probiotics it contains will support your feathered family member’s digestive health as well. Along with the above ingredients there are also Omega 3’s that have added minerals and vitamins that will provide your parakeet with visual health, brain health, and vital heart functions.
The Forti-Diet from Kaytee is a gourmet diet that is fortified with a premium combination of vegetables, fruits, and seeds that are designed to give your parakeet everything he or she needs. The company has been around for over 150 years making them the number one bird food company in the industry.
The features that make this food so popular include the vitamins, omega 3s, and minerals it contains, the natural anti-oxidants that are part of it and the fact that it is dust-free, clean and fresh which makes it an excellent choice for your parakeet.
– Jennifer Abel
2. Dr. Harvey’s
Best Overall Parakeet Food – Runner Up
4.8/5 Product Rating
Dr. Harvey’s parakeet blend natural food is a great choice for your bird that offers organic food with no dyes or chemicals added. This nutritional and healthy diet contains a combination of fruits and nuts with plenty of nutritional advantages that parakeets need.
Parakeets do not do well on store-bought seed alone so you need to ensure that what you feed them a variety of foods like they would encounter in the wild.
Dr. Harvey’s parakeet blend includes all the protein your parakeet needs to keep them lively and healthy and contains no dyes, preservatives, or chemicals so you can rest assured that you are feeding your parakeets the healthiest food possible for their needs.
– Jennifer Abel
3. Kaytee Fiesta
4.6/5 Product Rating
Kaytee made our top three again with the Kaytee Fiesta for parakeets. This food contains everything you want to provide for your parakeet including probiotics, prebiotics, omega-3s, and anti-oxidants.
These important things make up a quality food that will protect your bird’s immune system, brain health, and heart health too.
The combination of vegetables, fruits, nuts, and various textures that are in this food is exactly what you need to ensure the health and happiness of your parakeets.
One of the popular benefits that Kaytee Fiesta is known for is that is helps your parakeet maintain a normal heart rate and improves his feathers too.
– Jennifer Abel
Parakeet Food Buying Guide
Domesticated birds including parakeets, cockatiels, and other small birds feed on mixtures of ingredients that contain red millet, oats, and other fillers but very little of this provides actual nutrient value. Companies in the bird food industry are paying attention and creating bird food that takes nutrition and maximum health into consideration.
What do parakeets need?
Just like other types of pets, parakeets and other small birds have their own set of nutritional needs to ensure their health and wellness. The parakeet food you feed your bird is very important because it is where they will get the bulk of their nutrients and vitamins and should contain as much of what they need as possible.
A lot of the parakeet foods on the market are very similar in design so looking for something that is all natural, and that contains a variety of different healthy foods is the goal. Most bird food companies are getting rid of all the chemicals and artificial ingredients from boxed bird food so it is healthier.
Parakeet food that contains these elements is the best for your bird and will keep them healthy and happy. Pairing parakeet food with supplements will round out their diet and ensure they are getting everything they need.
How certain Feed Affects Your Parakeet
There is tons of cheaply made parakeet food on the market but you want to steer clear of cheap food because it will more than likely NOT have the things your bird needs to stay healthy. You want to look for high quality parakeet seed that has the mixture of ingredients that we mentioned above and most cheap food does not.
What to Look for in a Parakeet Feed
There are several things you can put on your list of considerations when it comes to the parakeet food you purchase. We have listed these things below.
Reputable Brand – There are some excellent companies out there that are known for producing quality parakeet food. You want to ensure that you purchase a brand that is well known fort quality and not look for the cheapest food you can find. By choosing a good brand name you can be confident that the food you are purchasing is fresh and of good quality.
Resealable Bag – parakeet food that has a resealable bag will ensure that the seed stays as fresh as possible while it is being used up. Most of the resealable bags will keep the parakeet food fresh for roughly 30-45 days. You don’t want to dump all the food into the food cups in the cage because the birds will waste a lot of it. Only filling the cups with what they will eat at a given time is better for the bird and for your budget since you won’t really be wasting much if any seed at all.
Added vitamins and minerals – It is much better for your parakeet to look for food that has added minerals and vitamins. Many of the fancier feeds have these important things added to the food which can make it cost more but it is well worth it.
A mix of ingredients – The best food for your parakeet is one that offers a variety of things besides just seeds. Food that offers veggies, fruits, nuts, and seeds are the best and will cost more than straight seeds but will make a huge difference in the health of your bird.
Unsafe food for Parakeets
There are many things that you should NOT feed your parakeet. These things can make your bird sick so it is important that you are aware of what they should and should not be fed. We’ve listed these unsafe foods below for your benefit and for the safety of your parakeet.
Spoiled food or soiled food – twice a day you should take out any uneaten food and replace it with fresh food. This will prevent internal bacterial infections which can be deadly to your birds.
Grit – Grit is a common thing that people think birds need and although they may need a bit of it, it can cause impaction which can kill your bird. Most parakeet food is made from seeds and other ingredients that the bird can easily hull with their sharp little beaks.
Supplements added to water – You want to make sure that your parakeet has fresh, clean water in clean dishes every day. Don’t add anything to the water unless you have been instructed to by your vet. Adding supplements to the water can be a cause for bacteria to grow because the water would probably not get changed enough to preserve the supplements. If a bird doesn’t like the supplements they will stop drinking water and that can lead to kidney damage.
Regularly grown veggies and fruit – Stick to all organic produce for your parakeet to avoid exposing them to potentially harmful pesticides and herbicides.
Raw meat or poultry – This can carry salmonella and other forms of bacteria. Parakeets are not carnivores so feeding them meat is not good for their systems.
Anything that you had in your mouth – Human saliva has many toxic substances that can have significant amounts of bacteria. These can be deadly to your parakeet.
Conclusion
One of the best ways to keep your pet parakeet healthy is to feed them a proper diet. This can be done in a number of ways but there is plenty of bagged parakeet food available which makes the process much easier. The key is to find the right kind of parakeet food that is made by a reputable company that makes freshness and nutrition priority.
With such a large number of options available you will need to ensure that you have the right information on hand so you will be able to spot the quality parakeet food from the cheap, less nutritional food. The reviews we included above of three top-rated parakeet feeds are one way you can arm yourself with the right information.
Any one of these featured feeds would be an excellent foundational food for your parakeet that will improve their health and taste great to them as well. Each one offers vitamins, minerals, and lots of variety so they have everything they need to stay healthy.
The buying guide we included listed several things that you should look for when shopping around for a good quality parakeet food as well as foods you want to avoid ever giving your parakeet. All of this information is designed to give you the knowledge you need to take care of your parakeet properly. When not fed correctly parakeets can die very easily so what you put in their food dishes is very important.
This information will help you understand the best way to feed a parakeet for optimum health and will give you the knowledge you need to make a confident decision your feathered family member will love and flourish eating.
