I Have a Cockateil...?

Question

For your bird do you use gravel? Do you use newspaper at the bottom of the cage or do you use the sand paper you can buy? Do you use bird brushes? And do you use any special bird cage cleaners? Do you prefer clipping your birds wings or letting them fly? Is there anything you would recommend anything in perticular in the cage?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Yes, Cockatiels need fine gravel to digest their food properly.

Newspaper is the best bottom material, throw it out daily.

Not sure what you mean by "bird brushes" but birds preen themselves regularly, if that's what you mean. They also need an opportunity to take a bath daily. A shallow dish of warm water will do.

I use a mix of 1 part White Vinegar to 2 parts water to soak and scrub the food and water dishes daily. Rinse with water. You can use this with anything in the birds cage as well. Its completely non-toxic.

Clipping your bird's wings is not something a novice should do, but some pet stores and most vets can do this for you. It is typically thought to be safer to have them clipped.

Your bird should have plenty of toys to play with, make sure they're cockatiel sized toys though. The best way to keep your bird from getting bored and developing problems is to buy about 8 toys and put 3 or so in the cage at a time, trade them out for other ones weekly.

Answer 2

Gravel is not really needed among cockateils. Newspaper is fine, this is a good way to get rid of old newspapers. You don't really need to clean the cage, just the paper and any plies of poop. If it's from an attic, then wash the dust off. Wash the dishes, no soap. If there are many hazards then clipping and careful watch is good. This is helpful if the brid likes to come out, then you can slowly get it used to you and it'll come near you. A bird mirror and something that makes noise like a bell.
Self play is good for the bird, so it won't become dependant on you for entertainment. If it's a hand fed bird, then it'll be easier you to gain it's turst. Use the "action-reward" training.
Seeds are an okay diet, but not recomended. Sunflowers are high in fat and isn't good for the smaller parrots. Try to give it a varaity of fruits and cooked vegies. Cooked rice is also fine, along with grains like noodles or bread. Like humans, they need a balance diet, mainly along fruits and cooked vegies. NO AVOCADOS!!! Brids can't digest it! No chocolate or dairy either, birds are lactose intolerant. Monkey see, Monkey do. If it sees you eat something, for example rice, it'll want to try also. Make sure it's cooked and cooled before you give it to the bird.
Cockateils are docile and curious birds. The crest, the long head feathers, is a good way to tell what the bird is feelling. When the crest is completely up, it's scared or excited. When it's flat against the head, it's angry. Normal would be about in the middle, or fourty-five degree angle. Even though it doesn't seem like it, it's a good thing to know what it's feelling.
If all fails, start with the basics. About the bird, how your bird reacts to certain things. Take it to the vet and ask. Parrots are smart and will learn your daily rutine along with the entire family's.

Answer 3

i have 2 cockateils, and i use newspaper at the bottom of their cages. I dont know what birdbrushes are and i think that your birds can live without them. When i clean my cockateil's cages, i use just either regular bleach for a good cleaning 1-2 a month and use regular dishwashing soap for weekend cleaning. It depends how much time you will be spending with your bird to clip its wings. If you will have it out of the cage for long periods at a time, you should have the wings clipped because it will go ontop of furniture and wont come down. If you are keepping it is a cage or an avary you should NOT clip its wings so it can get around eaiser. Also, you should have probably 2 toys for your cockateil, so it will never be bored. Millet is a good treat for your bird and that can also be hung from the top of the cage.
I hope these facts help you, and good luck with your cockateil!

Answer 4

Pink Dagger is right. If you feed your cockatiel gravel it will die from crop impactation.

Newspaper is best in the bottom of the cage since it is cheap. I don't know what you mean about a bird brush, I've never heard of one. Cage cleaning is the biggest thing, you can use special cleaners such as poop off, or just soap and water.

Clip your bird's wings for saftey and keep toys in the cage so he/she doesn't get bored.

Here is a great website where you can read from the National Cockatiel Society all about cockatiels.

http://www.cockatiels.org/

Answer 5

I have a Cockateil. I clip his wings for his safety. If he flies away, he will be another birds prey. I let my birds out of their cage when I am at home. They need plenty of toys to keep them from being bored.Be very careful not to use any household cleaners around your bird or you may accidently kill it.
Also if you cook on teflon pans the fumes are toxic to birds. I have a square cage about 2 feet tall and 1 and a half feet wide and he seems to be comfortable.I put paper towels on the bottom of his cage for easy cleaning. Go to www.birdsnways.com...
or ask jeeves and ask about care for Cockatiels. Or you can go to your local pet store and buy a book on Cockatiel care. You can also teach them to talk. I hope this helps you. Cockatiels do not need gravel or grit because they crack open the seed before injesting the nut. Gravel or grit could be harmful to your Cockatiel. Your Cockatiel will probally not eat it anyway. Save your money for some good treats instead. GOOD LUCK with your new feathered friend.

Answer 6

No. Gravel is not necessary for hookbills because they do not require the aid of sand and rocks to digest food. Softbills and other types of birds, however, do. Especially with the fortified diets we're feeding, it's totally unnecessary because everything they're fed in captivity is 100% digestible. You can also Google this for more information.

Sand paper generally isn't good. The very best cage liner is plain black and white newspaper. It absorbs odours better than any other material out there, is inexpensive, and cannot poison or harm parrots in any way, shape, or form. Be sure to change the paper once a day and totally disinfect the cage at least once a week. The best thing to use is a 50/50 mix of water and white vinegar. It disinfects and airs out with a fresh smell (or no smell) and is not harmful in any way to people or parrots.

By bird brush, do you mean one that scrapes perches? If so, I don't use these. These are ideal for plain dowel perches which, when the only perches used, lead to arthritis and foot pain. Get different perches made of natural wood and rope. Rope perches can be cleaned by tossing them into a light wash in the washing machine. Natural wood perches such as cholla, manzanita, dragonwood, grapevine, etc. of varying size, length, and width can be rinsed in hot water and I just use a sponge and wipe them off. I also use white vinegar/water on these.

I prefer to keep mine flighted. Four of my five lovebirds are 100% flighted and the only reason the other isn't is because of her past owners. I keep them flighted for their own safety because I've taught them what their boundaries are and they're faithful to return when I have my hand out. For training purposes, you may want to get a vet to clip the wings and show you how it's done. It's easier to teach 'step up' when the bird has no other choice than to go to you, but I found with mine that gaining their trust so that they chose to come to me was better. Results will vary. :) It's a personal choice.

Make sure there is a large variety of toys in the cage to keep your bird occupied, otherwise it could get bored and possibly self mutilate or take on other destructive behaviours. Wooden toys, bells, mirrors, ropes, and shiny things are great. Make sure nothing can get snagged onto the bird (this applies to rope perches as well, they can go through some wear and tear). Cuttlebones and mineral blocks can be helpful if your bird decides it wants something to nibble on, and this also aids in keeping the beak trimmed to a safe and natural length with that.

Also, the cage should be at least twice the size of the bird with its wings spread. The bigger, the better. Round cages are typically a no-no because they can cause anxiety, what with no corners to hide in. Rectangular is best where width is bigger than height. Birds enjoy flying space and fly horizontally, not straight up.

Answer 7

I prefer to use newspaper at the bottom of the cage, it's messy but cheaper! Birds can groom and maintain themselves so no brush, I don't use a bird cage cleaner but you can if you find one specifically for cleaning bird cages without harsh odor or all natural. If your bird does not come out of it's cage then there really is no reason to clip it's wings. They like the bird seed on sticks, it's fun for them!

Answer 8

I use the grit paper in his cage,
he will need a mirror if on his own,
I thing wing clipping is good otherwise you will forever be fetching him from very difficult spots
I put fresh tree cuttings in hi cage, just tie a bunch to a perch and he happily puts it to pieces.
My bird has a little nesting box which he goes into, he also uses it as a microphone, he puts his head into it and talks, he has a few things he says, he says hello little birdie, here kitty kitty kitty, I love you, wanna scratch, and whistles the popeye tune and wolf whistles as well ( I dont know who taught him that)

Answer 9

i let them fly for like a month at a time and then clip them, and repeat the process when their wings grow back. i dont use bird cage cleaner. i dont use gravel. i just use newspaper.

Answer 10

you can use some sort of stuff for the bottom of the cage you can ask at the pet stores. you can't clip their wings has to be vet and its very imperative to do this. if you don't could lose your pet. it won't hurt them if done right they have blood feathers and it could die by wrong cutting. there are things to hang on outside of the cage for mites and stuff its all at the pet store. you should have really read about this bird before getting it so you know all this stuff.