Written by the Birdsville team. Last updated October 2026.

Looking for the best quality bird seeds and grains in Australia? At Birdsville, 684 Botany Road, Alexandria NSW 2015, we stock only the highest grade bird seeds and grains, mostly grown on the Darling Downs in Queensland and bagged fresh on site. We carry seed mixes for every kind of bird, from finches and canaries to budgies, parrots, cockatoos, pigeons and poultry, plus our own Birdsville Blends for extra nutrition. Visit us in Sydney, or order online through Petsville (https://petsville.com.au/collections/seed-1) with delivery Australia-wide.

The rules for good seed are much the same for every species. Below, we explain why seed quality matters, how to spot good and bad seed, and which mix suits your bird, with links to a detailed seed guide for each species.  We will not trick people with marketing and make a bag almost the same as another bag 2 seeds difference and slap a picture of a different bird on it to make you think this is better because its made for one species. This is just marketing, many blends are wonderful for a multitude of species. We believe in a great simple menu that’s high grade and good quality.

On This Page

  • Why Seed Quality Matters
  • Where Our Seed Comes From
  • How to Tell if Bird Seed Is Good Quality
  • Bird Seeds and Grains for Every Species
  • Birdsville Blends
  • What’s in Our Birdsville Blends?
  • How to Store Bird Seed
  • Frequently Asked Questions

Why Seed Quality Matters

A bird expert can usually tell what a bird is being fed just by looking at it, especially when it comes in for a nail trim or a health check. Birds on low quality seed often lose the shine in their feathers and look drab, and their nails go soft. Soft nails can point to low grade seed, a lack of vitamin D, or both.

Seed has become heavily commercialised, and quality varies hugely. Talk to any show breeder and they’ll tell you seed isn’t just seed. Surprisingly, some of the lowest grade seed in Australia is also among the most expensive, sold in chain stores in bright, attractive packaging. Many of these mixes are stored in bulk for long periods and lose nutrition long before they reach your bird.

Where Our Seed Comes From

As a bird and small animal specialist, we only stock the highest grade seed, which mostly comes from the Darling Downs in Queensland, one of Australia’s best grain growing regions. We only top up from other quality sources during drought, which happens in Australia from time to time and directly affects grain prices.

All our seed is bagged fresh on site. We sell so much of it that it never sits on the shelf for long, so your bird gets fresh, nutritious seed every time. Buying straight from the people who mix it also means better value. We’re a small business that does things in a big way, and with no one telling us how to run things, we keep our seed the best of the best.

How to Tell if Bird Seed Is Good Quality

Here’s what to look for in a quality seed mix:

  • Clean and dust free: good seed has very little dust, chaff or husk in the bag.
  • Plump, shiny seed: fresh seed looks glossy and full, not shrivelled, dull or broken.
  • Little or no filler: low grade mixes are bulked out with cheap grains your bird often leaves in the bowl.
  • Fresh smell: seed should smell clean, never musty, mouldy or stale.
  • No pests: avoid seed with moths, weevils or webbing in it.
  • It sprouts: soak a spoonful of seed overnight, rinse it and leave it damp for a few days. Fresh, healthy seed sprouts well. Old or poor seed barely sprouts at all.

If you’re not sure about the seed you’re using now, bring a sample in-store and our team will take a look.

Bird Seeds and Grains for Every Species

Each species has its own needs, so we have a detailed guide for each seed type. All of these, and plenty more, are available in-store at Birdsville, with many also online at Petsville.

Finch Seed

A fine mix of millets and small seeds sized for finches. Read our Finch Seed guide (https://birdsville.net.au/seeds-grains/finch-seed/) or shop Basic Finch Mix (https://petsville.com.au/products/avigrain-seed-finch-blue-2kg).

Canary Seed

A mix built around plain canary seed, with the extra oil seeds canaries need. Read our Canary Seed guide (https://birdsville.net.au/seeds-grains/canary-seed/) or shop Basic Canary Mix (https://petsville.com.au/products/avigrain-seed-canary-mix-2kg).

Budgie Seed

Our biggest seller, rich in French white millet and canary seed. A high grade budgie mix also makes a great base for most parrots. Read our Budgie Seed guide (https://birdsville.net.au/seeds-grains/budgie-seed/) or shop Basic Budgie Mix (https://petsville.com.au/products/avigrain-seed-budgie-blue-2kg).

Cockatiel and Peachface Seed

A mix with larger seeds for cockatiels and lovebirds. Read our Cockatiel and Peachface Seed guide (https://birdsville.net.au/seeds-grains/cockatiel-seed/) or shop Basic Cockatiel Mix (https://petsville.com.au/products/avigrain-seed-cockatiel-blue-2kg) and Basic Peachface Mix (https://petsville.com.au/products/avigrain-seed-peachface-mix-2kg).

Small Parrot Seed

For conures, ringnecks, rosellas, Quakers and other small to medium parrots. Read our Small Parrot Seed guide (https://birdsville.net.au/seeds-grains/small-parrot-seed/) or shop Basic Small Parrot Mix (https://petsville.com.au/products/avigrain-seed-small-parrot-mix-2kg).

Parrot Seed

For larger parrots such as Amazons, Eclectus and African Greys. Read our Parrot Seed guide (https://birdsville.net.au/seeds-grains/large-parrot-seed/) or shop Basic Parrot Mix (https://petsville.com.au/products/avigrain-seed-parrot-blue-4kg).

Cockatoo Seed

For galahs, corellas and cockatoos. Read our Cockatoo Seed guide (https://birdsville.net.au/seeds-grains/cockatoo-seed/) or shop Basic Cocky Mix (https://petsville.com.au/products/avigrain-seed-cocky-mix-4kg).

Pigeon Seed

A grain and legume mix for pigeons and doves. Shop Pigeon Mix (https://petsville.com.au/products/avigrain-seed-pigeon-mix-4kg).

Poultry Feed

Layer pellets, chick starter and scratch mixes for chickens and other poultry. Browse our poultry range (https://petsville.com.au/collections/poultry-1).

Grain, Millet Seed and Millet Sprays

We stock straight grains and millets for keepers who mix their own, plus millet sprays (https://petsville.com.au/products/millet-sprays-mixed-100g), a favourite treat and training reward for small birds.

Browse our full seed range online (https://petsville.com.au/collections/seed-1).

Birdsville Blends

Our Birdsville Blends take good seed a step further. Each one is mixed fresh on site and packed with chillies, pumpkin, legumes, dried fruits, dried vegetables and herbs, giving your bird the variety it would forage for in the wild. Mix a blend through your bird’s basic seed for a big nutritional boost.

Learn more on our Birdsville Blends page (https://birdsville.net.au/birdsville-blends/).

For the best results, we recommend feeding seed alongside pellets, with fresh vegetables and a regular vitamin boost such as Vetafarm Multivet (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-multivet-50ml). Indoor birds also benefit from extra calcium and vitamin D, such as Vetafarm Calcivet (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-calcivet-50ml), which helps keep nails and bones strong.

What’s in Our Birdsville Blends?

A good seed mix is the base of your bird’s diet, but seed alone can’t give a bird everything it would find in the wild. Wild birds forage on fruit, flowers, greens, pods and roots as well as seed. Our Birdsville Blends bring that variety into your bird’s bowl, with each ingredient adding its own vitamins and minerals.

Chillies

Chillies are rich in vitamin A and vitamin C, which support a healthy immune system, skin and feathers. Birds don’t feel the heat of chillies the way we do, because capsaicin doesn’t trigger the same pain receptors in birds. In the wild, birds happily eat chillies and spread their seeds.

Pumpkin and Sweet Potato

Pumpkin and sweet potato are packed with beta-carotene, which a bird’s body turns into vitamin A. Vitamin A is one of the most common deficiencies in seed-fed birds, and it’s vital for healthy skin, feathers, eyesight and the lining of the mouth and airways. Both also add fibre, potassium and vitamin E.

Beetroot

Beetroot adds folate, manganese and potassium, plus natural antioxidants that give it its deep red colour.

Legumes

Legumes such as peas and lentils add plant protein, which birds need for strong feathers, muscle and breeding. They’re also a good source of B vitamins, iron, zinc and magnesium.

Dried Fruits

Dried fruits add natural sweetness, fibre and minerals like potassium, and orange fruits such as apricot, mango and papaya are rich in vitamin A. Fruit loses much of its vitamin C when it’s dried, so we also recommend offering fresh fruit a few times a week.

Dried Vegetables

Dried vegetables give your bird vitamins and minerals it would otherwise only get from fresh food. That makes them especially handy for fussy birds that won’t touch fresh vegetables.

Herbs

Herbs add flavour and variety, and leafy herbs like parsley are rich in vitamins A, C and K. Many birds love picking through a blend to find them, which gives them natural foraging enrichment at the same time.

Seed and Grains

Underneath it all is the same high grade seed we sell on its own. Millets and canary seed provide energy and protein. Small amounts of oil seeds, such as niger, add healthy fats and vitamin E without overloading your bird the way a sunflower heavy mix does.

How to Mix and Match

Mix a Birdsville Blend through your bird’s basic seed mix, starting with a small amount and building up as your bird gets used to it. You can combine blends too. For example, many owners mix Tropical Small Parrot and Tropical Large Parrot together, or Healthy Parrot with Basic Budgie Mix. If your bird is mainly on pellets, sprinkle our Seed Enhancer over the top. Fresh fruit and vegetables a few times a week, plus a vitamin supplement such as Multivet, round out a complete diet.

How to Store Bird Seed

Keep seed in a sealed container in a cool, dry place, out of direct sun and away from mice and insects. Buy only what your birds will eat in a month or two, so it stays fresh. Never feed seed that smells musty, has gone damp or shows signs of mould or weevils.

Bird Seed: Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I buy good quality bird seeds and grains in Sydney?

Birdsville at 684 Botany Road, Alexandria stocks high grade bird seeds and grains for every species, mostly grown on the Darling Downs in Queensland and bagged fresh on site. Because our seed sells so quickly, it’s always fresh. Many of our mixes and Birdsville Blends can also be ordered online through Petsville, delivered Australia-wide.

How can I tell if my bird is on a poor seed diet?

Birds on low quality seed often have dull, drab feathers that have lost their shine, and their nails can turn soft. Soft nails can also point to a lack of vitamin D. Other signs include weight problems, poor moults and low energy. A better seed mix, pellets and vitamins usually make a visible difference.

Is expensive bird seed always better?

No. Some of the lowest grade seed in Australia is sold in chain stores at premium prices, in attractive packaging. Price and packaging tell you very little. Look instead for clean, dust free seed with little filler, a fresh smell and no pests, and buy from a specialist with a high turnover so the seed is fresh.

What is filler in bird seed?

Filler is cheap grain added to bulk out a seed mix and lower its cost. Birds often leave it in the bowl, so you pay for seed that goes in the bin. Low grade mixes can also contain extra dust, husk and broken seed. A quality mix contains the seeds your species actually eats.

Can I feed my parrot budgie seed?

Yes. A high grade budgie mix with plenty of French white millet and canary seed makes an excellent base for most parrots and cockatoos. Mix a Birdsville Blend through it, such as Healthy Parrot or Cocky Mix, and feed pellets alongside for a balanced diet that’s low in fatty sunflower seed.

Are chillies safe for birds?

Yes. Birds don’t feel the burn of chillies, because the heat compound, capsaicin, doesn’t trigger the same pain receptors in birds as it does in people and other mammals. Birds in the wild eat chillies and spread their seeds. Chillies are rich in vitamins A and C, making them a healthy, colourful treat.

How long does bird seed stay fresh?

Stored in a sealed container somewhere cool and dry, seed stays fresh for a few months. Buy only what your birds will eat in a month or two. Seed that smells musty, has gone damp, or shows mould, moths or weevils should be thrown out, as it can make your bird sick.

Visit Us

Come and see our full range of seed, grain and Birdsville Blends at Birdsville, 684 Botany Road, Alexandria NSW 2015, on the corner of Gardeners Road, servicing the Eastern Suburbs and Inner South Sydney, or call (02) 9669 1766. Shop online at Petsville (https://petsville.com.au/collections/seed-1) with delivery Australia-wide, and follow us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/BirdsvilleRosebery/), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/petsvillesydney/) and TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@birdsvillepets) for live updates.

Quite often a sign of low quality seed is there will be filler,

Gouldian finch, a lover of seed.
Gouldian finch thinking of eating some tasty seed.
Canary, no birds love canary seed more than this canary.
The canary who can’t help but look at canary seed before he eats it, he knows top notch food when he tastes it.
Budgie Seed
Budgie Seed
a green and blue quaker parrot look at seed and grains
This Quaker parrot is trying to work out how to get the humans to get his favourite seed blends.
Pigeon Seed
Pigeon Seed
Poultry Feed
Poultry Seed / Feed
Grain Seed
Grain Seed
Millet Seed
Millet Seed
Panicum Millet Sprays available at Birdsville.
Panicum, we have been selling this delicious gold for over 40 years

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