Bird Food Portion Calculator
Estimate a daily food amount from your bird’s weight, using the ~10%-of-body-weight rule of thumb.
Approximate daily food
Based on a common rule of thumb of about 10% of body weight in food per day. Weigh your own bird on a gram scale for a more accurate figure — the species default is only a starting point. Offer a measured amount, watch how much is actually eaten versus scattered, and adjust. Fresh vegetables and the right pellet-to-seed balance matter as much as the gram total.
Portioning by body weight
Free-feeding a big bowl and topping it up makes it hard to notice when a bird goes off its food — one of the earliest signs something is wrong. Portioning a measured amount each day makes intake visible. The common guideline is about 10% of body weight in dry food, which this calculator applies to either a species default weight or the actual weight you enter.
The figure is a planning estimate, not a prescription. Growing chicks, breeding hens, and birds in a heavy moult need more; a sedentary bird may need less. Use the number to set a sensible starting portion, then adjust based on what your bird actually eats and how its weight and body condition track over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much food does a pet bird need each day?
A widely used rule of thumb is roughly 10% of body weight in food per day. For a 35 g budgie that's about 3.5 g, for a 90 g cockatiel about 9 g, and for a 450 g African grey about 45 g. It's a starting point for portioning dry food, not a precise ration — activity, breeding, and moulting all change the real amount.
Should I weigh my bird or use the species default?
Weigh your bird if you can. A cheap digital gram scale gives a far more accurate figure than a species average, especially for birds at the small or large end of their range. This calculator uses a species default weight until you enter your bird's actual weight, which then takes over.
Does the 10% rule cover fresh vegetables too?
The rule is a guide for the daily amount of dry food — pellets or seed — a bird eats. Fresh vegetables, greens, and the occasional fruit are offered on top of that as part of a balanced diet, and much of a leafy portion is water weight rather than calories.
My bird scatters most of its food — am I underfeeding it?
Birds are messy and often husk or drop a lot of what's offered, so the amount that disappears from the bowl overstates what's eaten. Watch actual intake and body condition over time rather than judging by an empty bowl, and weigh your bird regularly to catch changes early.
Is more pellets or more seed better?
That's a diet-balance question this tool doesn't answer — it only estimates a total daily amount. The right pellet-to-seed-to-vegetable ratio varies by species and individual, so discuss your bird's specific diet with an avian vet.
General guidance for planning, not veterinary advice — species and individual birds vary, so consult an avian vet about your bird’s diet and weight.