Ask Lafeber

Canarys and Cockatiels sharing food

I have 2 Canaries and 2 Cockatiels. They all live in together in one room. The cockatiels have their own cage, however doors are open for them to get out, same with the Canaries. The Canaries for some reason love eating out of the cockatiel’s food bowls while having food of their own (both Lafebre pellets). Is it harmful is the Canaries are eating Cockatiel pellets and occasionally the cockatiels will eat the canary pellets?

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This should not be a problem for any of the birds to share each other’s food.  The formula is beneficial for both species.  The only issue is the size of the cockatiel pellets; the canaries will have to break them up a little more than if they were eating their own, but it won’t hurt if they eat them as long as you are breaking them into smaller pieces.  If there is a concern with the size of the pellets, you can always switch to feeding them all the parakeet size or even feed both the canary size.