Parrot food
Parrot food covers everything from an everyday seed or pellet mix to the occasional fruit or nut treat, and the right combination depends on the species and size of parrot you keep. A varied diet built around a good base feed, rather than seed alone, is generally better for a bird's long-term health than any single product on its own.
Seed mix versus pellets
A traditional seed mix is what most owners picture as parrot food, and it remains a common everyday base, but many parrots offered seed alone will pick out the parts they like best and leave the rest, which can mean an unbalanced diet over time regardless of what the bag itself contains.
Pelleted diets are designed so a bird cannot selectively pick out favourite pieces, since every pellet carries the same balance of nutrients. Many owners feed a mix of both, or gradually introduce pellets alongside an existing seed diet, rather than switching a bird over suddenly.
Matching food to the size of parrot
A small parakeet and a large parrot have very different beak strength and feeding needs, and mixes are generally sized and formulated with this in mind — a mix built for a small bird is a poor match for a large parrot's stronger beak and larger appetite, and the reverse is just as true.
Check the packaging for the species or size range it is intended for rather than assuming any parrot mix will do. This matters more with parrots than with many other pets, given how much variation there is between species kept as pets.
Treats and variety, without overdoing it
Fruit, nuts and dedicated bird treats are a good way to add variety and enrichment to a parrot's diet, and many parrots are genuinely food-motivated, which makes treats useful for training and bonding as well as simply feeding.
As with any pet, treats should stay a smaller part of the overall diet rather than the main event — a good base feed, whether seed, pellet or a mix of both, should be doing most of the nutritional work, with treats used for variety and enrichment on top.
What we stock
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Beaphar XtraVital Parrot Complete Bird Food
A complete seed and fruit food for parrots, with echinacea and a real egg component
£10.99
Vitakraft Australian Parrot Food
A seed-based feed for Australian parakeets, with grit and trace elements
£7.05
Johnston Jeff No 1 Parrot Food
A traditional seed, nut and grain mix for parrots, with a dozen named ingredients
From£5.59
Johnston Jeff Premium Parrot Fruit
A broad seed, fruit and nut mix for parrots, with no fixed percentage breakdown
From£9.99
Vitakraft Amazonian Parrot Food
A seed-based feed for South American parrots, with grit and trace elements
£7.05
Vitakraft African Parrot Food
A seed-based feed for small parrots, with essential vitamins and minerals
£7.05
Johnston Jeff Parrot Lean Fit
A low-fat seed and grain blend for parrots on a maintenance diet
From£8.65
Johnson's Cockatiel/Parrot Nut & Honey Bar
A 50G seed, nut and honey bar treat for cockatiels, parrots and similar birds
£1.89
Beaphar Egg Food for Parakeets & Parrots
A seasonal egg-food supplement for parakeets and parrots, scaled to breeding, moulting and quiet periods
£9.99
Bestpets Tropical Parrot Mix
A tropical seed, nut and dried fruit mix for parrots, including peanuts in shell
£40.99
Johnston Jeff Low Sunflower Parrot
A low-sunflower, 26-ingredient seed and fruit mix for large parrot species
From£11.29
Common questions
- Is seed or pellet food better for parrots?
- Neither is universally better, but pellets have the advantage of stopping a bird from selectively eating only their favourite parts of the mix, which can happen with seed alone. Many owners feed a combination of both rather than choosing one exclusively.
- How do I switch my parrot from seed to pellets?
- Gradually, rather than all at once — introduce pellets alongside the existing seed mix and slowly increase the proportion over time. Some parrots take to pellets quickly and others need a longer transition, so patience matters more than speed here.
- Can I give my parrot fruit and nuts as treats?
- Yes, in moderation, and many parrots respond well to them for training and enrichment. They should stay a smaller part of the diet alongside a good base seed or pellet mix rather than replacing it, since a varied but balanced diet works better than treats alone.
- Does the size of my parrot affect what food I should buy?
- Yes, mixes are generally formulated and sized for particular species or size ranges, reflecting differences in beak strength and appetite. Check the packaging for the size or species range it is intended for rather than assuming any parrot mix will suit your bird.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.