I was given a cockatiel,, don't know anything about them,,she is older but dont know what I can feed them?

Question

what can I feed them? she wont come near me, the woman who had her passed away. help!!! need any info I can get.

Answer 1

Call a pet store and ask them what they recommend.

Answer 2

I have a cockatiel and a conure. The tiel only needs the following.

A cage min size of 19 inches wide 19 inches deep and 24 inches tall. Bigger is better. Both of my cages are a lot bigger with a play top on them which both birds love.

Cockatiel food a mix of seeds and extruted pellets. You can buy it pre mixed. Kaytee® Fiesta® for Cockatiels is what I use. I get the same brand and mix but for Conures for my other bird. Your tiel can eat the Counure mix but the bites are a little large for his little mouth.

Clean water each day and clean the cage out as it gets dirty. Keep a broom and dust pan close by becaue you will be sweeping the mess up many times a day. They are messy.

My tiel loves peppers. The hotter the more she seems to like them.

Then you need to get is a few small toys. And talk to the bird a lot and carry it around on your sholder.

You might want to get a book and learn to clip the wings. This will make the bird depend on you because it can't fly. Plus it will not be able to fly out the door when someone comes in or out.

Answer 3

Cockatiels will eat all kinds of seed. There are mixtures made for them at the pet shops; but they will also eat budgie seed. They like canary grass seed and millet but will eat sunflower and hemp when the weather turns cold. They enjoy a bit of fresh food too; in summer I pick wild grasses for mine (making sure it has not been sprayed with pesticide etc.) and I also give them a fresh salad every day made up from beansprouts and spinach stems and chopped walnuts. I also saw some young cockatiels in the pet shop really enjoying some lettuce leaves ... most green veggies are good for them.
Mine like a tiny bit of bread to pick at; they don't like bits of apple or mango, but I have read that it is good for them.
Some people even say that cockatiels can survive by eating the left-overs on your plate! Maybe, as long as you are a vegetarian and don't use too much oil!
They aren't so difficult to look after; invest in a good book and enjoy your bird! They love to be loved, and are very clever.

Answer 4

First do you have a cage? A tiel doesn't need anything big, but you could get one by looking up freecycle on yahoo.

Next, look up rescues. Tiels are very sweet but if she didn't let others hold it, it could be a 'one person bird' meaning it's a long road to it becoming kind to you. But it can be done. Rescues know the steps and tricks. I would look up rescues other than JUST tiels. Look up macaw and cockatoos...which by the way are very different from tiels..so don't freak out!! But they are harder to train, so there are lots of rescues for those birds.

Next, find out what she was feeding him. More than likely a tiel food you can pick up at walmart. It's a couple of dollars a bag. But finding out if she went the extra mile and only fed veggies and pellet style, then it would help if you knew.

Start out by just sitting next to the bird's cage and cooing. Yep, cooing. Make no moves to get him out for a week or even two or three. When you go to change his water etc, make the same gentle cooing noises, move slowly.

If you can ask someone who knew the lady, find out what noises and sounds and other actions SHE did with the bird. Doing the same things will help.

Good luck. Tiels are wonderful, but he's surely upset by not seeing the person he saw daily.

Answer 5

i am assuming you got the cage as well as the bird,go to a pet shop, buy an iodine, cuttle fish, some budgie millet and cockatiel mix seed and vit a pet to mix into the food.
give the bird fresh water, and mix the seed with vit a pet oil and place in the cage, the cuttle fish and iodine block will help to keep claws and beak down.
i also suggest you try the bird with fruit ie apple, orange, grapes and a bit of plain toast.
never give the bird chocolate or ice cream.
your hen is having to adapt to a new home and will probably be grieving for the last owner, all i can say is be kind and patient, yes i know it will be a long job, but when it happens that she takes food out of your hand, you will feel great.

Answer 6

Sunflower seeds or Parrot Mix (the stuff with mixed seeds and red pppers in). Cockatiels basically eat anything. They like a little bit of cheese, toast, chicken etc. But never give them chocolate as that is bad for any bird's heart.

Give your Cockie fresh water everyday. Some like veg and fruit. Some love bean shoots and lettuce.

Try your bird on a few things. He'll soon tell you what he likes and dislikes.

Answer 7

Food go to the local pet store and find a mix feed which is normally for budgies and cockatiels. The bird will relax soon just be patient she will come near you soon.

Answer 8

Most of the foods mentioned are fine for cockateils. However, you may find that she eats only a few different foods. You'll soon notice which ones she prefers. I've tried to feed my cockateil Jack the proper mix but he just throws out anything in his feeder that's not sunflower seeds. He loves a nice plain biscuit, crisps and a bit of apple. I rescued him 14 years ago and he's still fighting fit. When you talk to her make sure its in a nice mild voice, and try not to startle her, she'll soon get used to you. Hope all goes well.

Answer 9

Pet stores carry a variety of cockatiel food. They also like fruits and vegetables raw or cooked

Answer 10

We have had one for three years now so hes about five I think.Anyway you have to give it time to get used to you.They love company and to be talked too.pet shops sell cockatiel food,NEVER give it chocolate as it will kill it.Get yourself a good book on them or advertise him to a good home if all this is too much for you.if you go out leave a radio on or even the telly.best guard dog we ever had.

Answer 11

Cockateils are very easy to care for. You can get "cockateil" food at the local pet store and many other grocery stores. Just make sure they have food, water and a clean cage and it will be just fine.