Whats a healthy diet for a Cockatiel?

Question
Hi Chrys,

 I was wondering.. We've got two Cockatiel's, and their food is almost all seed, with some sunflower seeds.  Is this bad? I've heard many people say that an all-seed diet for a bird is awful.. But I don't know the truth.. I figured I should ask someone, 'just incase'.  So, what do you suggest? I love seeing the birds content, or happy, so I'd be happy to cook them something, or give them diced up fruit.. But I'm not so sure they'd accept it.  Although they do seem to be taking to their new food, it is simply a seed and sunflower-seed diet.. So I don't know how they would react to fruit or veggies, or anything other than seeds.  Here's a little more information, incase you need more:

Charlie: He's a male Cockatiel, full-grown and pretty old.  Very nippy, and will bite whenever taunted, or threatened, or when he's just in a bad mood.  He knows how to talk, and when in a good mood, will whistle (sing), talk and 'kiss' (Make the noise) for hours.. But when we once brought him home food that wasn't all seed, and was colored, and had what looked like cheerios in it, he refused it.  We really thought we were getting him a treat.. But I guess not.  Which is why I'm not sure if he'll accept fruits.

Banjo: About Charlie's age.  A very content bird, doesn't talk/sing/blow-kisses (lol), but occasionally gets out of the cage, and comes on your finger.  I don't know TO much about her diet, because she's not my bird she's my aunts.   We're just keeping her, because she's mated with Charlie.  She's been hand-fed as a baby, and is very sweet.  She won't bite, ever! She'll pretend to, but she's to sweet.  I think she would probably accept any new foods, but if she doesn't, I wouldn't know what to do.  

 Now that you 'kind of' know the birds personalities, perhaps you can tell me; should I start by feeding them only small portions, or start with allot.. Should I feed either of them by hand(taking the risk that Charlie may bite)?  

                                   God Bless,
                                        Shiri

Answer
Hi again, Shiri.

Yes, an all-seed diet is a terrible diet for a bird.  Seed is high in fat and low in nutritional value.  Wondering if their poor diet has anything to do with the breeding problems?  Birds will not eat food they don't recognize as food.  They don't know if what you are putting in their cage is food, a toy or something else!  They will be scared of it at first until they learn that it won't hurt them.  You have to keep offering new foods to your birds every day until they eventually try them.  Older birds are harder to convert because they are more set in their ways, but yes it's possible to convert them over to a healthier diet.  You have to remove any seed from the cage at the same time you are offering other foods.  Then replace the seed after a couple of hours when you remove any of the fresh food they didn't eat.  You have to make diet changes gradually.  In other words, don't just put a dish of some new food in their cage and expect them to eat it!  If you change their diet, mix the old and new together, gradually increasing the amount of the new food over the other food.  Try getting your birds used to eating pelleted food, as well as other healthier foods, such as cooked brown rice with veggies and other mixed in, corn bread, multi/whole grain breads, etc.  Healthy foods for you are healthy for your birds.  Most fruits are mainly water, so watch what you give them (melons are better than grapes for example).  Veggies are better nutritionally.  I consider a lot of fruits "fun food."  Also, try offering fruits shredded or in cage bars, etc.  But remember, they won't eat food they don't recognize as food, so keep offering other foods every day.

It's not necessary to handfeed, but you can if you want.  Just provide other foods in a separate dish or other way.

Chrys