Help with cockatiel please?

Question

I am looking after my neighbors cockatiel for a week, and I'm pretty clueless about what it needs. How often should I change the food and water? Do cockatiels need a lot of company throughout the day? How much time should I be spending with it? I know this cockatiel was abused by the previous owner and it doesn't like to be handled.

Answer 1

Change food and water DAILY. Just talk to the bird when you are around, they like company.

Answer 2

Be careful because the food trays will look full when they are actually just full of empty seed casings. Shake the tray and the lightweight stuff will come to the surface, then take it outside and gently blow the empty seeds off the top. Then refill it. Change the water every other day. Our cockatiel loves to be petted but it was raised hand-fed. We keep our bird by a window so she can see out and if it's nice weather we leave the window open so she can hear other birds. If we are going to be gone all day we leave a radio or tv on for company. She seems content, whistles lots of songs and appears to be healthy so I guess it's working. Good luck!

Answer 3

Hiya I am a cockatiel owner aswell, and I leave the radio on for hi when I go out so he has some background noise to listen to. They can be quite socialble birds, but if it doesnt like being handled I would check on it once a day to change its food and water, rather then stressing it out too much. You could try letting it out for some exercise if it will tolerate it and if you can get it back into its cage.
Check that he has a few toys to keep him stimulated and try feeding some millet sprey for a treat or some apple 1-2 x a week for variety.
Hope this helps and good luck!

Answer 4

Well, your neighbor should have answered all these questions for you, but here is some help...

-Change the water daily, possibly more if he uses it as a toilet
-Change the food daily as well, just dump out the shell casings (they will be in the top of the bowl) and add some new stuff
-If he doesn't like being handled, then he doesn't need much company, keep a light and radio on for him (about 3hrs. of radio)
-You don't need to spend much time with it if you can't hold it, but when you are changing the water and food talk to it.
-Change the paper on the bottom of the cage everyother day

Good Luck!

Answer 5

I have a cockatiel. They are really pretty low maintenance compared a lot of birds. Change his water once a day. Make sure he has food every day, he won't eat much. Make sure you change his food every day, though, because he'll eat the seeds and leave the hulls in his food dish, so it can look like he has food when he really doesn't. Talk to him, whistle to him. He'll probaly talk or whistle back. If he's staying with you, just talk or whistle whenever you're around his cage. If you're going over to their house, just spend 15 minutes or so with him, talking and whistling and he should be fine. You could leave a radio on for him, too, for company, if he seems to need it.

Answer 6

You should change the birds water daily. Change his food when there are only seed cases. You should clean his cage about every other day. Cockatiel's LOVE company. My bird one time got out if his cage in the night. I woke up and he was walking down the hall looking for us. Talk to him when ever you pass by him. We used to leave the screen door open so he could feel the breeze and here the birds near our back porch. Whistle sometimes and he could whistle back. That might make him more comfortable. If you want him to really like you, you need to show your face. You could possibly play hide and seek with him. Look at him. Then duck under the cage. Then pop back up.

Answer 7

He needs to be fed and watered EVERY DAY. In this instance since you're not part of the bird's regular flock, it's probably best to maybe spend some time talking to it and paying it some attention but don't try to touch it or get too close except when you're changing the water. A week is a short time, and I'm sure as long as you don't stress the bird out by being over-attentive, he'll be fine.

Answer 8

You should change the food and water each day - there should always be some available. Also they do love company so try not to leave them for ages. Millet sprays are always popular with these birds, and they usually like toys to entertain themselves with (but if it is your neighbours bird then you shouldn't feel obliged to spend out a lot at all). If it gets anxious when your hand is in the cage then talk to it gently and don't attempt to handle it - it needs to regain its confidence in people.

Answer 9

This fellow is pretty content to talk to itself if mirrors are present. Food...ensure his cup is full by checking each day. Sometimes they will signal that they are empty by tossing the cup around if it isn't secured to the cage. Water...same thing, check the cup, or bottle depending on how the cage is set up, to ensure clean water is available. If water is needed, use tepid (lukewarm -- not hot nor cold --) water. If the owner left vitamin drops...read the instructions carefully. If in doubt about the drops, don't provide them. A week won't affect him greatly without them. If you have to reach into the cage for his dishes to be filled, talk gently while doing so...he might try to fly about, defend himself...simply keep moving your hand to the dishes slowly and without sudden movement. In a few days he gets to learn you are caring for him not there to scare him.

If he has treats, make sure these are available to him but not in large quantity...he should eat his main seed most.

Talk quietly to him as you would to a human, asking how he is, telling him he's a good boy etc. No sudden moves or harsh sound to the voice. If he was abused, he may be nervous, just approach him quietly and talk softly the entire time even if its just jibberish.

The owner likely ensured the cage was clean and evreything was stocked for him...company is all that might be necessary.

Enjoy him...he'll show you he's comfortable with you by squawking...his talking...he may dip up and down...he is showing off for you. Don't continually move his cage, keep it in a place not too dark, to bright or where a cat can jump up suddenly, or a dog can knock over etc. A place within the house where he can be part of the family but not where he is in the midst of constant or loud noise, movement etc.

At night if he has a cage cover he's used to having over his cage, placing it on gently while talking to him and telling him goodnight and in the morning when uncovering doing the same thing...talking...he'll get to know quickly that you are there to care for him not hurt him.

If he's a sociable boy overall despite his abusive environment previously, you may find yourself falling in love with him by the end of the week. They can be adorable, friendly and goofy companions.

Take care and good luck

Answer 10

Cockatiles need plenty of attention. u have to handle them at lease three times a day but u may have to spend alittle more time with him. But since this bird was abused it probably bites so put a glove on and don't be afraid to handle him. Talk to him as much as u can. Change the food and water everyday. Just play with him and have fun with him. Good luck!

Answer 11

It needs to be fed and watered every morning. If its hot where you are make sure you change it in the evening and give it fresh. If it doesn't like being handled I'd not handle it. If it's allowed out of the cage, I'd let it out to relax. But with it being in a new environment the bird is going to be even more tense. I'd just feed and water and let it be.
You can give birds more than seeds..infact it's UNHEALTHY for a bird to eat only seeds. You can give it fresh veggies, leafy greens, thawed out frozen mixxed veggies, pasta, brown rice. Lots of things.