Cockatiel Information
Cockatiels are one of the most popular
pet birds. They are small parrots with an
affectionate, kind temperament and though
they rarely talk, they are exceptional
whistlers and can learn tunes. Their
handsome colors and jolly crest on their
head make them very attractive to bird
lovers.
Things to Consider Before Purchasing
Cockatiels live up to 20 years, so the
purchasing of a cockatiel will be a decision
you'll likely live with for the rest of your
life. Cockatiels are native to Australia
where huge flocks gather at water sources in
the arid regions of the country. Bans on the
export of all wild birds from Australia
means that the cockatiel that your buy will
have been bred in captivity. Nevertheless,
it is important that the bird was hand
raised and is comfortable with humans, if
not you will have a difficult time with the
bird. A badly behaved cockatiel is something
you and your family want to avoid.
To check the temperament of the cockatiel
before your buy it, put your finger out near
the bird. If it readily hops onto your
finger it was likely hand raised. Cockatiels
love human contact and once they have become
accustomed to it, they crave a scratch on
the head, a pet or a ride on their human's
shoulder. If the cockatiel refuses to get on
your finger or tries to bite, you'd rather
move on to another breeder or pet shop. Only
purchase a hand raised cockatiel with good
temperament.
Also, like with all birds, ensure that
the bird is healthy. Birds sitting on the
bottom of cages, having fluffed up feathers,
dripping noses, sneezing, or with dirty
vents are sick. Don't purchase such a bird.
With cockatiels the sex of the bird
matters. If you are looking for an
affectionate friend, the female cockatiel is
your better choice. Males, on the other
hand, are better whistlers and are more
likely to be able to learn to pronounce
words clearly.
Cockatiels, unlike many birds, can live
alone without a partner, but if they are
alone they will need a lot of attention from
their owners. They will begin to see their
owner as their mate and will want to be in
regular contact with them. Owners have said
that often when they are out of the room the
cockatiel will scream loudly. This is more
of a call to ask, "Where are you?" "Are you
okay?" than a sign of bad behavior. Some
owners will respond with an occasional
whistle to let the cockatiel know that their
'mate' is okay. If the owner is not able to
spend a lot of time with the cockatiel, then
a second bird should be purchased for
companionship but the owner must keep in
mind this will make the bird less attached
to them.
Cockatiels preen a lot and have a white
powder that is often rubbed off on toys, the
cage and anything else that it might touch.
Like most birds they are quite messy so that
must be taken into consideration when
deciding on one for a pet.
Cockatiels are very docile and do not mix
well with other species of birds. Even birds
much smaller than itself will bully it. If
they must be housed with other birds, care
should be taken to ensure that they are not
being brutalized.
Cockatiel Cages
Cockatiels need a large bird cage. They
are active and like to fly and climb around
inside their cage. Dimensions of 20 inches
by 20 inches with a height of 26 inches is
the minimum size for their cage. The best
cage should have horizontal bars to aid the
bird in climbing with spaces not larger then
3/4 of an inch to avoid any accidents.
The cage should have a variety of bird
perches, in different sizes and different
textures to keep the cockatiels feet and
nails healthy.
Cockatiels are very susceptible to strong
smells such as insecticides, smoke and air
fresheners. Their respiratory system is so
efficient some of these can kill a
cockatiel. For example the coating on Teflon
pans, if they are heated to too high a
temperature, can give off a poisonous gas
that can kill a cockatiel. Because of this,
keep the cage completely away from such
odors. They also do not like drafts so
keeping them away from windows and doors is
important. At night cockatiels like to have
their cage covered to stop drafts.
Cockatiel Food
Cockatiels love bird seed. Seeds are like
junk food to birds and they will eat them
exclusively if given the chance. Seeds are
high in fats and do not contain all of the
nutrients required to keep your bird
healthy. They should make up no more than
30% of your bird's diet. You'd rather feed
your cockatiel the scientifically prepared
cockatiel pellets .
In addition to this, cockatiels will also
need fresh food. Putting bite size pieces of
melons, apples, sweet potatoes, grapes,
spinach and other fresh fruits and
vegetables in their cage daily will keep
your cockatiel healthy. Do not give your
bird avocados, though, as they are poisonous
to birds. You should also occasionally give
your bird some additional protein in the
form of beans, cooked meat or eggs. Bean
sprouts are an excellent food for your
cockatiel. Fresh water should always be
available.
Cockatiel Care
Cockatiels love to preen themselves. They
can be seen often preening their feathers.
Putting a shallow bird bath in their cage
every few days to allow them to bathe is a
good idea. Never put any soap or detergents
in the water as this will harm their skin
and the natural oils that are used to preen
their feathers. Also never apply any oily
substance on the bird as it can make them
very sick.
Occasionally cockatiels will pull out
feathers when preening. This is normal, but
occasionally if the bird is having emotional
problems such as lack of contact with humans
or limited stimulation, they may begin to
pull out their feathers continuously. This
is a behavioral problem that if mild could
be addressed by providing more activity and
interaction for the bird. If it continues
the avian veterinarian should be consulted.
If the cage is equipped with a cuttle
bone, it is unlikely that your cockatiel
will need its beak trimmed at all.
Occasionally, if your bird's nails become
too long they must be trimmed. You should
use a bird nail clipper. Hold the foot up to
a strong light so that you are able to see
the vein clearly then just snip off a tiny
bit from the end of the nail. Keep styptic
powder handy in case you accidentally cut
into the vein so as to stop any bleeding. If
you do not have styptic powder you can use
flour or corn starch.
Some people recommend trimming your
cockatiel's wings to ensure that they do not
accidentally fly away. Experienced bird
handlers and owners can use wing clipping
scissors which are designed specifically for
this application.
To keep your bird healthy, it is
important to thoroughly clean the cage on a
weekly basis with bird cage cleaners.
Monthly disinfect the entire cage and its
contents after cleaning with a mixture of
3/4 cup bleach in 1 gallon of water. Rinse
off the bleach mixture thoroughly and leave
the cage outside in the sun to dry. Any
wooden perches or toys should be replaced
when they become dirty with droppings as
they are unable to be disinfected. On a
daily basis, wash the water bottles and food
dishes with water and dishwashing soap.
Remove any fresh food, such as fruits,
vegetables and proteins after four hours of
feeding.
Cockatiel Illnesses
A healthy parakeets has:
smooth feathers
clear bright eyes
normal stools
a healthy appetite
normal level of activity
Like most birds, once a cockatiel shows
signs of sickness such as loss of weight,
sitting at the bottom of the cage for a long
time, sneezing and dripping from nose and
mouth, the bird should be taken to an avian
veterinarian.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a devoted friend a
cockatiel is an ideal pet. They will give
you back all of the love that you shower on
them ten fold. They are not as noisy as
other parrots and not as needy either, so
they are ideal for working people who want a
faithful friend for life. If you are looking
for more information you can purchase a
cockatiel book or cockatiel audio CD. |