Caring for a bird on a budget

These tips are given to those with a beloved cockatiel who has fallen on temporary hard times. If you are having money issues and considering getting a cockatiel, please wait. Even though there are ways to feed and care for a cockatiel without spending much, vet care and the starting neccessities are very expensive.

• Find a whole foods or health food store. Many of these stores have containers of human grade seeds and grains. Rather then buy a bag of cockatiel seed of unknown freshness and with supplements on the husk that mostly go to waste, make your own. The local whole foods store here sells most seeds and grains for 50¢ a pound.
• Stop buying supplements. Supplements are good, but a variety of fresh foods are better.
• Try to find some local bird owners. Buy pellets in bulk and split the cost and bag.
• If you can't find any local bird owners, buy pellets in bulk and freeze what your bird is unable to eat in a month.
• Plant yur bird's seed mix in the back yard or in a small cup of potting soil. In a week or two you will have a cheap, self-replenishing source of organic greens. A container of greens makes a fun foraging toy for your bird, too
• Look at frozen and fresh veggies. Depending on the time of year one kind might be significantly cheaper.
• Only buy fruits and veggies that are in season. During summer you might find melon and peppers for less then a dollar, but during winter they might be $6 or more. During winter however pomegrantes and butternut squash might be 50¢ a pound
• Search for a farmer's market. You might find a great deal on organic produce there
• Try beans and rice. Add a little bit of vegetables, cook, and you have a healthy, cheap meal

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