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The endearing little cockatiel, the little heckler that can tug at each and every one of your heartstrings! Once taught to wolf whistle you'll hear it all day.
Picking out your new cockatiel
If you a purchasing a first bird, have the equipment you will need ready for him before he arrives. Make sure you have located a vet before making a purchase that treats birds. If you already own a bird, make sure you quarantine the new arrival for at least 8 weeks before you introduce the new bird to the existing birds. Birds have a strong tendency to hide illness since it makes them appear weak in the wild. Have your vet that deals with avian matters look your pet over before introducing him to the other birds.
Find and locate several sources of cockatiel breeders. Check them all out. Make sure you are purchasing from a healthy stock.
Look over your selection carefully as well as the surrounding birds. Are they chipper and responsive? Do they have bright clear eyes? Look at the vent area (where excrete from), is it clean? Are they all fluffed up and unhealthy looking? Look at the droppings at the bottom of the cage, do they look normal?
When you get your bird to his new house put him in his new cage and let him be for a few days. Softly speak and coo to him, he will adjust to you and your voice helping the taming process. Use a calm voice. If you run out of things to say, you can always read stories or poetry to him! Don't try to handle him for the first 3 days. After the first 3 days limit the initial play periods to 15 minutes with long intervals of rest in-between play periods. Obtain a book on taming and training. You will need to finger tame him, and teach him the up command. Cockatiels are not great talkers, but can learn a few words and phrases. Some cockatiels are better talkers than others.
Housing: Cages and Accessories
Buy the biggest cage you can afford. If you can't afford a good size cage you can't afford a cockatiel. The wires should be a thick wire and run horizontally. Cockatiels enjoy climbing up their cage. The wire should be spaced from 5/8th to 3/4 inch. Any bigger poses a safety risk. Their little heads can get stuck.
Cockatiels need light, but don't put the cage in direct sunlight. If no light is available from natural lighting, supply a full-spectrum artificial light. This lighting is necessary for the bird to utilize vitamin D.
Make sure the cage is in a well-ventilated area. Fumes are especially hazardous to birds. One serious fume that has caused many deaths is Teflon coated pans. They emit a lethal gas when over heated. Since it's not possible to know exactly where the overheating point is. I have never, nor would I ever use Teflon coated pans around my birds. Another product that is Teflon coated is some varieties of heat lamps.
Cages should have different sized perches. The different sizes offered are really beneficial to the health of the cockatiel's feet. Natural tree branches work real well, too. Be careful not to use any trees or plants that are toxic or poisonous. Branches that make safe perches are apple, ash, almond, apricot, peach, maple and elm.
Avian water bottles are great in that the bird’s excrement doesn't accumulate in the dish. Make sure the bird has learned to use the bottle before removing the water dish. He will also need food dishes. One dish is for seed and one for fresh foods. Keep the cage cleaned. It must be cleaned everyday. The cage should be disinfected regularly. A bleach solution works well. But make sure it is dried and aired out before returning the bird to the cage. A drop through wire cage is the best. Make sure the food and water are changed daily.
Dietary Requirements
Cockatiels need calcium. At one time it was thought that just seed was good enough for birds. This is not true at all. Protein is important. Provide a good avian vitamin/mineral supplement. Please remember to follow the instructions. More is not better.
Some pet manufacturers have formulated well-balanced pellets. Many manufactures have begun offering fortified seed mixes that include the other foods that they need, such as dried fruits, vegetables, vitamins and concentrated food supplements. You should supplement other foods for nutrition and variety, after all the same old diet everyday is boring for birds, too. Supplement healthy people’s food. Serve your birds bean mixes and ready-made bird breads. A good diet helps the bird resist infection and they are stronger and healthier.
Health Management
You must take care of a bird's wings and feet. Keep the toenails cut. If you cut too close use a quick stop pencil, or a special avian powder for stopping bleeding or if nothing else is available, regular kitchen flour.
Cockatiels are very strong flyers. You must trim their wings. Even trimming their wings only slows them down. When clipping the wings be careful to watch for new growth, or blood feathers. If you do cut one, the remaining part of the feather will act as a straw and siphon blood. This can cause them to bleed to death. Grab a pair of pliers and pull the entire feather out quickly. If you are unconformable clipping wings for the first time have your avian vet do so, showing you how to do it, too.
Birds will hide their illness. Birds that are ill in the wild become easy prey to predators. It is difficult without watching your bird very carefully everyday for any signs that something could be wrong, and to not catch an illness before it is to late.
Safety issues are a great concern for your pet. There are many hazards in your home you might not recognize as a hazard. Watch your pet's access to ceiling fans, hot boiling water or oil on the stove, toxic houseplants, chocolate, and cedar. I have just mentioned a short sampling of the dangers in a common house.
Summary
Cockatiels are wonderful, entertaining, delightful animals. They are a wonderful choice for most families. People that don't have a great deal of space, a bird could be a perfect pet. Please do sufficient of research before purchasing. After all, we want these little birds to survive as much of the thirty years that they are capable of living.
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