Can cockatiels eat ice cream?

Better not: cockatiels shouldn’t eat ice cream. The Merck Veterinary Manual lists sweets and milk products among foods not to feed birds, and Purdue says sugar and candy should never be offered. The AAV says not to feed xylitol, an artificial sweetener that can potentially cause fatally low blood sugar in birds.

Good to know: If your cockatiel got hold of sweets containing xylitol or seems unwell, the AAV says to get help from an avian vet immediately, even if you only suspect it.