Caring For Your Cockatiel
Cockatiel Care Tips
Diet: Your cockatiel should be fed a balanced diet. I like to use a
fortified seed and quality pellet. I also feed fresh greens, whole wheat
bread, hard boiled eggs, carrot, cheerios, egg food and millet sprays.
Offer all fresh foods in small quantities and throw away before they
spoil. Fresh drinking water should be available at all times. Cuttlebone
and mineral blocks are given regularly for calcium. Never feed your
cockatiel avocado. It is toxic to them. Also avoid sugars and salt.
Cage: It is suggested that your cockatiel's cage be 18x18x24H.
Square or rectangular is recommended. Cockatiel's will be
extremely social, requiring daily attention. Have your cockatiel
in an area where there is plenty of interaction. Keep in mind that
cockatiel's need daily sunlight to maintain good health. I recommend
using avian vita lights near your cockatiel's cage. I do not suggest
covering your cockatiel's cage at night. Simply dimming the lights
should be sufficient. To avoid night frights, I also encourage bird
owners to have a night light on.
Toys: Offer your cockatiel plenty of safe, appropriate toys
in the cage. You can find a variety of bird safe toys like rings,
swings, mirrors and wooden chew toys. This will help keep your
cockatiel content and boredom free when you are not home.
Cleaning: Cages should be kept clean regularly. Food and water
dishes are washed daily to avoid bacteria growth. Keep perches clean
and dry as well. Always use cleaner's that are bird safe and remove
the cockatiel from the cage when cleaning. Never spray cleaner near
your bird's face and eyes. Keeping your cage clean is very important
for your cockatiel's health. Dust and bacteria can irritate your bird
and sometimes cause health issues. I use Avi Safe By Vetafarm.
Wing Clipping: I personally recommend that all pet cockatiels have
their wings clipped. To avoid serious injury or your cockatiel escaping,
it is best to keep the flight feathers trimmed regularly.
Molting: Molting is when your cockatiel begins to loose old
feathers. Generally, your cockatiel will molt twice a year. You may
notice that your bird is less appealing feather-wise. Offer lots of
extra foods at this time, wheat bread, millet sprays. Lightly misting
your cockatiel with water each day will help improve your bird's molting.
Once your cockatiel has completed the molt, they will be in fine feather
again. Cockatiel's should be sprayed with water or offered a bathing bowl
as part of your regular weekly routine.
Whistling & Talking: As cockatiel's begin to mature, they may become
very vocal. It is suggested that the male cockatiel can learn up to 30
words and many different whistles. Cockatiel's owner's have reported
females talking as well. You can try to encourage your cockatiel to
repeat words like, Hello and Pretty bird.
Emergencies: Always seek the advice or medical attention of an avian
certified veterinarian when needed in emergencies.
Common Sense: The best advice I can give any bird owner or novice
breeder is to use common sense and do research. Talk to other cockatiel
owner's and breeder's with experience. Join local bird clubs or
organizations for advice and encouragement. There is always a helping
hand within the avian world.
Take The Time: Spend time with your birds. A healthy, happy cockatiel
is a loved one.
Teflon: After my own experience with Teflon coated pans, I must warn
all bird owner's not to use this product near your birds. If at all
possible, choose all non-coated cookware and bakeware. I use the same
caution regarding scented candles and air deodorizer's.
Best Wishes,
NJM
Diet: Your cockatiel should be fed a balanced diet. I like to use a
fortified seed and quality pellet. I also feed fresh greens, whole wheat
bread, hard boiled eggs, carrot, cheerios, egg food and millet sprays.
Offer all fresh foods in small quantities and throw away before they
spoil. Fresh drinking water should be available at all times. Cuttlebone
and mineral blocks are given regularly for calcium. Never feed your
cockatiel avocado. It is toxic to them. Also avoid sugars and salt.
Cage: It is suggested that your cockatiel's cage be 18x18x24H.
Square or rectangular is recommended. Cockatiel's will be
extremely social, requiring daily attention. Have your cockatiel
in an area where there is plenty of interaction. Keep in mind that
cockatiel's need daily sunlight to maintain good health. I recommend
using avian vita lights near your cockatiel's cage. I do not suggest
covering your cockatiel's cage at night. Simply dimming the lights
should be sufficient. To avoid night frights, I also encourage bird
owners to have a night light on.
Toys: Offer your cockatiel plenty of safe, appropriate toys
in the cage. You can find a variety of bird safe toys like rings,
swings, mirrors and wooden chew toys. This will help keep your
cockatiel content and boredom free when you are not home.
Cleaning: Cages should be kept clean regularly. Food and water
dishes are washed daily to avoid bacteria growth. Keep perches clean
and dry as well. Always use cleaner's that are bird safe and remove
the cockatiel from the cage when cleaning. Never spray cleaner near
your bird's face and eyes. Keeping your cage clean is very important
for your cockatiel's health. Dust and bacteria can irritate your bird
and sometimes cause health issues. I use Avi Safe By Vetafarm.
Wing Clipping: I personally recommend that all pet cockatiels have
their wings clipped. To avoid serious injury or your cockatiel escaping,
it is best to keep the flight feathers trimmed regularly.
Molting: Molting is when your cockatiel begins to loose old
feathers. Generally, your cockatiel will molt twice a year. You may
notice that your bird is less appealing feather-wise. Offer lots of
extra foods at this time, wheat bread, millet sprays. Lightly misting
your cockatiel with water each day will help improve your bird's molting.
Once your cockatiel has completed the molt, they will be in fine feather
again. Cockatiel's should be sprayed with water or offered a bathing bowl
as part of your regular weekly routine.
Whistling & Talking: As cockatiel's begin to mature, they may become
very vocal. It is suggested that the male cockatiel can learn up to 30
words and many different whistles. Cockatiel's owner's have reported
females talking as well. You can try to encourage your cockatiel to
repeat words like, Hello and Pretty bird.
Emergencies: Always seek the advice or medical attention of an avian
certified veterinarian when needed in emergencies.
Common Sense: The best advice I can give any bird owner or novice
breeder is to use common sense and do research. Talk to other cockatiel
owner's and breeder's with experience. Join local bird clubs or
organizations for advice and encouragement. There is always a helping
hand within the avian world.
Take The Time: Spend time with your birds. A healthy, happy cockatiel
is a loved one.
Teflon: After my own experience with Teflon coated pans, I must warn
all bird owner's not to use this product near your birds. If at all
possible, choose all non-coated cookware and bakeware. I use the same
caution regarding scented candles and air deodorizer's.
Best Wishes,
NJM
