Cockatiels are delightful companions, and as a lifelong bird enthusiast, celebrating milestones like my cockatiel Clara’s first gotcha day on September 1st, 2025, called for a special treat. I turned to the new Wild Harvest healthy benefits crunch bars, now available at Walmart under the formerly Hartz brand. At just $2.97 per package, they seemed like a budget-friendly option compared to pricier seed-based treat sticks—until I examined them closely.
Package of Wild Harvest healthy benefits crunch bars on store shelf
These treats promise nutrition with fruits and veggies, but the reality is far less appealing for cockatiel owners seeking quality snacks.
The Deceptively Small Package Size
One of the first red flags with Wild Harvest crunch bars is their minuscule portion size. The entire package weighs only 27 grams—less than one full ounce—yet contains 18 tiny bars, each barely an inch long. In-store shoppers might pass them by due to the obvious small scale, but online or from a distance, the packaging misleads. For context, standard seed treat sticks offer far more volume for the price, often double or triple the quantity at similar costs.
This isn’t just about value; it’s about practicality for bird care. Cockatiels, like many parrots, enjoy foraging and nibbling over time. A package this small disappears quickly during playtime, leaving you restocking sooner than expected. Experienced avian keepers know that treat portions should align with daily nutritional needs, typically 10-20% of a bird’s diet from seeds, pellets, and fresh foods, per guidelines from the Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV).
Ingredients That Miss the Mark for Granivores
Cockatiels are granivores by nature, thriving primarily on seeds from native Australian grasses in the wild. Their diet in captivity should mimic this with hulled seeds, pellets, and limited fruits/veggies to avoid digestive upset. Wild Harvest crunch bars list sweet potato, papaya, oats (the sole seed), green beans, tapioca starch, vegetable glycerin, pineapple, and vitamin E supplement—followed by artificial additives that raise concerns.
These New World fruits and vegetables are foreign to cockatiels’ South Pacific origins. While larger parrots like conures or macaws might tolerate sweet potato or papaya occasionally, green beans and oats dominate here disproportionately. I dissected several bars and found just one oat seed per piece—hardly a granivore’s delight. Artificial glycerin and starches can lead to obesity or nutritional imbalances if overfed, as noted in avian nutrition studies from Cornell University’s Lab of Ornithology.
Health risks are real: excess sugars from fruits like papaya can cause yeast overgrowth in the crop, a common issue in pet birds. Oats, better suited to budgerigars, provide minimal appeal and nutrition for cockatiels. No reputable avian vet, such as those affiliated with the World Parrot Trust, would endorse this as a staple treat.
Close-up of a Wild Harvest crunch bar revealing sparse oats and veggie bits
Real-World Test with My Flock
To confirm suspicions, I offered the bars to my cockatiels, Arwen and Clara. Arwen meticulously picked out the single oat seed from one bar and discarded the rest, a classic rejection behavior. Clara flung them from every bowl, uninterested from the start. Compare this to traditional seed sticks, which vanish halfway in 24 hours amid enthusiastic shredding.
This mirrors broader feedback from cockatiel forums like those on Avian Avenue, where owners report similar disinterest in fruit-heavy “health” treats. Birds’ picky eating stems from survival instincts—avoiding unfamiliar foods reduces poisoning risks. My decade-plus experience with cockatiels reinforces that treats must prioritize seeds for engagement and health.
Better Treat Options for Happy Cockatiels
Skip Wild Harvest crunch bars and opt for proven alternatives. Seed-based sticks from brands like ZuPreem or Kaytee offer millet, safflower, and sunflower seeds—true granivore favorites. For variety, try fresh millet sprays or homemade seed mixes with chopped veggies on the side. Always introduce new treats gradually to monitor for allergies, and limit to small amounts to prevent obesity, a top health issue per AAV data.
Consult your avian vet for personalized advice, especially if your cockatiel has dietary sensitivities.
In summary, Wild Harvest healthy benefits crunch bars disappoint in size, ingredients, and appeal, wasting money better spent on seed treats your birds will love. Prioritize your cockatiel’s natural diet for long-term health and joy. Check out our other guides on cockatiel nutrition and care for more tips!
References
- Association of Avian Veterinarians: Dietary Guidelines for Pet Birds
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Avian Nutrition Resources
- World Parrot Trust: Feeding Parrots in Captivity
