Hepper is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

8 Best Parakeet Foods – 2025 Reviews & Top Picks

Share

Parakeets eating bird feed inside the cage

If you’re a parakeet owner, you know just how finicky their diets can be. They require a particular diet to stay happy and healthy. So, if you’re shopping for quality parakeet food—or you’re new at this and don’t know where to start, we have you covered.

We rounded up some of the best daily diet options we could find. Here are the reviews of what we discovered.

bird divider

A Quick Look at Our Favorites of 2025

Rating Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
White Mill PURE Parakeet Food White Mill PURE Parakeet Food
  • Contains prebiotics for gut health
  • All natural
  • Simple ingredients list
  • Best Value
    Second place
    Kaytee Supreme Parakeet Food Kaytee Supreme Parakeet Food
  • Affordable
  • Nutritionally balanced
  • Fortified
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    Sunseed Vita Prima Parakeet Food Sunseed Vita Prima Parakeet Food
  • High quality
  • No artificial ingredients
  • Encourages foraging behavior
  • Higgins inTune Hand Feeding Higgins inTune Hand Feeding
  • Well-rounded diet
  • Perfect for hatchlings
  • Excellent ingredient content
  • ZuPreem Natural Daily Small Bird Food ZuPreem Natural Daily Small Bird Food
  • High protein
  • Great veggie lineup
  • Multi-bird use
  • The 8 Best Parakeet Foods

    1. White Mill PURE Parakeet Food – Best Overall

    White Mill PURE Parakeet Food

    Amount: 1.6 pounds
    Crude Protein: 10.0%
    Crude Fat: 7.0%
    Crude Fiber: 8.0%

    If you’re looking for a substantially nutritious recipe for your parakeet, let us recommend White Mill PURE Parakeet Food. We think that it is the best overall food for parakeets because it is naturally based on a wholesome formula.

    We love the ingredients in this bag, which include seeds, cereals, fruit, derivatives of vegetable origin, minerals, vegetables, egg and egg derivatives, oils and fats, and various sugars. That’s all she wrote. It’s nice that it’s so simple! However, ‘various sugars’ and ‘oils and fats’ remain widely unspecific.

    The protein content helps aid in feather and skin health, soothing the molting process and keeping your bird beautiful. It is packed with vitamins and minerals and thankfully leaves out harmful ingredients like artificial preservatives and flavors.

    This recipe also contains helpful prebiotics and probiotics to aid in gut health. We couldn’t be more impressed with this bag of food, and many other consumers seem to agree.

    Pros
    • Contains prebiotics for gut health
    • All natural
    • Simple ingredients list
    Cons
    • Unspecified ingredient content

    2. Kaytee Supreme Parakeet Food – Best Value

    Kaytee Supreme Parakeet Food

    Amount: 5 pounds
    Crude Protein: 12.0%
    Crude Fat: 3.5%
    Crude Fiber: 8.0%

    If you’re looking for a scrumptious meal for your bird that is affordable, you might want to consider Kaytee Supreme Parakeet Food. Although it seems more expensive than other products at first glance, you also get 5 pounds for this price, which is a better deal than other foods. This is the best parakeet food for the money, and you might agree!

    This seed is packed with all kinds of yummy ingredients, like white millet, canary grass seed, oat groats, dehulled soybean meal, corn gluten meal, ground corn, and calcium carbonate. This particular mix is high-quality, using a blend of seeds and grasses to deliver fiber, vitamins, and minerals to the system.

    This formula contains added perks, like biotin for skin and feather health. It also contains a substantial amount of vitamins A, B, and E. This is a maintenance diet, so it’s not necessarily ideal for juveniles or aging birds.

    We definitely think you’ll love the price tag, but don’t forget to supplement with fresh foods.

    Pros
    • Affordable
    • Nutritionally balanced
    • Fortified
    Cons
    • Not for all life stages

    3. Sunseed Vita Prima Parakeet Food – Premium Choice

    Sunseed Vita Prima Parakeet Food

    Amount: 2 pounds
    Crude Protein: 13.0%
    Crude Fat: 5.0%
    Crude Fiber: 9.0%

    If you want quality food for your birdie, no matter the price, let us suggest Sunseed Vita Prima Parakeet Food. This supreme, quality mix has a lot to offer, making your parakeet the healthiest possible with both natural and added sources.

    The first several ingredients in this recipe include white millet, oat groats, canary grass seed, red millet, corn gluten meal, dehulled soybean meal, steel-cut corn, golden German millet, steam rolled oats, ground corn, and flax seed. So, your buddy gets quite a variety of grains and seeds.

    It is fortified with vitamins like A, E, and D. There are no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. So, you don’t have to feel a bit guilty about what you’re putting in your parakeet’s dish. Plus, this food is designed to encourage natural foraging behaviors.

    We think that the quality of Vita Prima is worth the few extra bucks. How about you?

    Pros
    • High quality
    • No artificial ingredients
    • Encourages foraging behavior
    Cons
    • More expensive than some

    4. Higgins inTune Hand Feeding for All Baby Birds Food

    Higgins inTune Hand Feeding for All Baby Birds Food

    Amount: 5 pounds
    Crude Protein: 21.0%
    Crude Fat: 13.0%
    Crude Fiber: 3.0%

    If you have a tiny little baby that isn’t quite ready for pellets or bird seed, try Higgins inTune Hand Feeding for All Baby Birds Food. It has all the nutrients your little one needs to grow strong, healthy feathers and develop on par for age.

    The first several ingredients include brown rice, soybean protein concentrate, coconut oil, dried milk, cane sugar, dried beet pulp, and dicalcium phosphate. It also has plenty of omega fatty acids and DHA for growth and development.

    This particular food is meant for the first 5 weeks of life before transitioning to an adult diet. There are carefully detailed instructions on the package to tell you how to portion throughout each stage.

    Pros
    • Well-rounded diet
    • Perfect for hatchlings
    • Excellent ingredient content
    Cons
    • For parakeets under 5 weeks only

    5. ZuPreem Natural Daily Small Bird Food

    ZuPreem Natural Daily Small Bird Food

    Amount: 2.25 pounds
    Crude Protein: 14.0%
    Crude Fat: 4.0%
    Crude Fiber: 5.0%

    ZuPreem Natural Daily Small Bird Food is a natural selection with no fancy ingredients or eye-catching colors. It’s straightforward nutrition, using a mixed combination to evenly distribute nutrients for those cherry-pickers that pluck out all the goodies and leave the rest.

    The first several ingredients in this recipe contain ground corn, soybean meal, ground millet, ground oat groats, ground barley, ground wheat, wheat germ meal, sugar, and vegetable oil. It also has powerful veggies like celery, carrots, and beets.

    This formula is particularly high in protein, topping out at 14% crude protein total. It also contains a bounty of fortified vitamins and minerals to ensure proper nutrient levels. You don’t have to worry about strict measurements or skipping out on important dietary aspects.

    Plus, it works for more than just parakeets. This food is also suitable for budgies, canaries, and finches.

    Pros
    • High protein
    • Great veggie lineup
    • Multi-bird use
    Cons
    • Not specialized just for parakeets

    6. Brown’s Encore Premium Parakeet Food

    Brown’s Encore Premium Parakeet Food

    Amount: 5 pounds
    Crude Protein: 12.0%
    Crude Fat: 4.0%
    Crude Fiber: 8.0%

    We think another good food for parakeets is Brown’s Encore Premium Parakeet Food. It provides an adequate amount of nutrition to keep your parakeet balanced. This is a premium, vitamin-fortified food that provides a blend of high-quality ingredients any owner can appreciate.

    The first several ingredients in this recipe are white proso millet, oat groats, canary grass seed, red millet, wheat flour, ground corn, ground oats, corn gluten meal, dehulled soybean meal, and soybean oil. It also contains added DHA for optimal brain health.

    This formula contains artificial food dyes, so if you have a sensitive bird, this is certainly not a good option. Why do companies do this? To make the pieces more visually appealing for your pet and for no other purpose—so can you do without it?

    Pros
    • Visually appealing
    • Encourages foraging
    • Vitamin fortified
    Cons
    • Contains artificial ingredients

    7. Lafeber Classic Nutri-Berries

    Lafeber Classic Nutri-Berries

    Amount: 4 pounds
    Crude Protein: 12.5%
    Crude Fat: 6.0%
    Crude Fiber: 5.0%

    Here’s a great forage-friendly meal—Lafeber Classic Nutri-Berries. There are tons of goodies for your birdies to enjoy. There are bright colors, fun to eat pieces, and interesting shapes for mental stimulation. It’s certainly appetite-enhancing.

    The first several ingredients in this recipe include hulled white proso millet, hulled canary grass seed, oat groats, peanut granules, red millet, maltodextrin, corn, corn syrup, and wheat. There are tons of delightful aromas, and all ingredients are non-GMO.

    What we love about this recipe is that it was made right on the Lafeber farm with sulfite-free vegetables and fruits. Then, they are preserved naturally to avoid other harmful fillers and dyes.

    If you don’t need the entire 4-pound tub, you can buy the 10-ounce bag, which is much less costly.

    Pros
    • Non-GMO
    • Fresh ingredients
    • Sulfate-free
    Cons
    • Pricey

    8. Mazuri Mini Bird Diet

    Mazuri Mini Bird Diet

    Amount: 2 pounds
    Crude Protein: 14.5%
    Crude Fat: 5.0%
    Crude Fiber: 5.0%

    If you still haven’t found what you were looking for, Mazuri Mini Bird Diet might be more up your alley. These pellets offer complete nutrition for your feathery pal. There is no need to supplement with additional foods—although we strongly encourage you to in order to keep your bird’s mealtimes interesting!

    The first several ingredients in this recipe include ground corn, wheat middlings, dehulled soybean meal, corn gluten meal, flaxseed, and glyceryl monostearate. It also has added vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids for skin and feather growth.

    You can buy this recipe in two sizes: 2 pounds and 25 pounds, depending on how many mouths you have to feed! Remember that not all birds will benefit from small pellets, and it may be best for juveniles and seniors.

    These pieces were designed for small bird beaks. However, it isn’t explicitly crafted for parakeets alone. It is also suitable for other small birds.

    Pros
    • Great for skin and feather health
    • Multi-bird use
    • Very small pieces
    Cons
    • Small size may not work for all parakeets

    bird divider

    Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Parakeet Food

    When you’re shopping, it’s important to look at many factors before deciding what recipe to try. So, for your convenience, we broke down a few categories that might be crucial to you as the buyer.

    Monk parakeets eating seeds
    Image by: Uliya Krakos, Shutterstock

    Pellets vs. Mixed Formulas

    When you are shopping on the market, you will notice that there are both pellets and mixed seed varieties. So what are the differences between these two? They both have their benefits, and some parents choose to use a combination of both types of seed.

    Pellet diets mix up all of the ingredients to make a properly portioned meal. Seeds encourage natural foraging and let your parakeets sample a variety of flavors. If your parakeet is the type to go in and pick out all the goodies, leaving behind necessary nutrients, it might be necessary for you to switch to pellets.

    Quality

    Quality is crucial! Parakeets can have extremely sensitive digestive systems. Many cheaper commercial foods have pesticides and other potentially harmful additives. If you buy them unaware of this particular problem, you can leave your bird susceptible to tummy troubles and other sensitivity.

    Affordability

    Your bird’s food is a recurring expense. This means you need to be able to afford it every single time your bird runs low. Choose a recipe that you know fits comfortably in the budget. There are plenty of price-friendly options that don’t skimp on nutrition.

    Nutrient Distribution

    Proper nutrient distribution is an aspect of food that should not be overlooked. Your parakeet needs a certain amount of nutrients to stay healthy, so the food has to reflect that. Make sure to read up on exactly what a parakeet needs in their diet to stay healthy so you can purchase a food that covers all of those nutritional parameters.

    Artificial Additives

    Be careful of artificial additives in the recipe. For example, many different types of foods designed for small birds or parakeets contain dyes, preservatives, and other troubling ingredients.

    Parakeet eating from a bird feeder
    Image by: Julia_585, Shutterstock

    Dietary Sensitivities

    Like any other animal, parakeets can have certain sensitivities to particular types of common foods. If your vet has determined this is the case, they might recommend a specialized diet or tell you to steer clear of certain ingredients. If this is the case with your parakeet, make sure that you’re reading all of the ingredients on the back to avoid causing any unnecessary discomfort.

    Variety

    Parakeets prefer variety in their diet. These naturally foraging birds thrive, plucking away at different grasses and seeds. So, make sure that you’re providing your bird with nerve stimulation. If you feed a traditional pellet diet, offer colorful and nutritious fruits and other snacks, too.

    Supplementation

    Some parakeets require supplementation in their diet. They might not be getting enough of a specific kind of nutrient, which can lead to deficiencies. If you see that the food you have purchased lacks a specific type of nutrient, you can always supplement your bird’s diet with fresh or dried foods.

    bird divider

    In Conclusion

    White Mill PURE Parakeet Food is a natural, healthy mixed meal for your parakeet. It has all the additives that will keep your bird healthy and ensure all ingredients are equally distributed. It is our favorite—and we’re not changing our minds!

    Kaytee Supreme Parakeet Food is an affordable choice that still provides above-average nutrition for your parakeet pals. It is a nutrient-rich formula that really nourishes the skin and feathers for a beautiful, glossy appearance.

    Sunseed Vita Prima Parakeet Food is a prize-winning pick in our opinion. It encourages natural foraging behavior while providing just the right nutrients to keep your birdies healthy. We love the quality of these traceable ingredients.

    Hopefully, one of these parakeet dishes will be good enough for your little sweethearts and our reviews helped you make the right decision.


    Featured Image Credit: Sarib Ayaz, Shutterstock

    How useful was this post?

    Click on a star to rate (you can leave written feedback after clicking submit)

    Help us improve Hepper for pet parents!

    Your feedback really matters.

    What did you like about this post? Also how can we improve it?

    Advertisement

    Trending Posts

    Related articles

    Further Reading

    Vet articles

    Latest Vet Answers

    The latest veterinarians' answers to questions from our database

    Get the inside treat

    Sign up to our newsletter and be the first to find out about new arrivals, exclusive promos and helpful cat-related tips

    by signing up to our newsletter you are agreeing to our privacy policy

    Talk With A Vet Online

    Need expert advice for your pet? PangoVet connects you with experienced veterinarians who truly care.

    Confirm your signup

    We apologize for the inconvenience of this extra signup step. However, bots were subscribing to our list in huge numbers, so we had to add this extra step.

    Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
    List