Question for Bird Owners?

Question

I just bought a cockateil. Any others who own cockateils that could give me some advice on care and fun with my new bird?
Websites would be appreciated. Also, is 150 bucks too much for a cockateil (it's hand fed).

Answer 1

You didn't pay to much for a handfed baby. I have a cockateil, and a Cockatoo...First have his wings clipped, then start with maybe taking your finger and placing it under his stomach near his legs for him to step on...It will take time but show no fear. Also, try riding him on your shoulder. Mine will ride forever if you let him. Try feeding him with such things as crackers, baked potato chips, bread, the inside of toast, fruit and nuts. Mine will even eat baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, baked chicken, mixed vegs, and any kind of bread. Have fun they are the bomb...

Answer 2

Hey Scary, If you need to convert to a good pellet food, I found that replacing seeds by 1/4 per week helps. There is no standard for bird diets yet, but things are better. Research has found that all seed diets lead to malnutrition. Birds naturally forage for food. I place food and treats in small pieces of wax paper with twisted ends and put them in the cage. Sometimes, you may have to show the bird. You are now flock leader. These birds are pretty intelligent, so when introducing new food, eat or pretend to eat it in front of the bird. This sounds weird, but it works. Say how good the food is and act enthusiastic and the bird will get curious and try the new food or even behaviour.I found that mine didn't enjoy a warm bath which is good for times of molting and just general skin and feather health. One day, I flicked the water in the sink (laughing and simling)and the bird started to get into it. She now loves baths.Have 10-15 minutes of training everyday. Step up is the command many use to have the bird step up to their finger as a perch or on a hand held perch. 150 is steep for a cockatiel. Where I live the cost is around 60-70 dollars. Hand fed has its advantages, however, there will be times when your sweet bird may go through a biting phase or "I don't want to do what you want me to do" phase. All problems can be effectively dealt with.http://cockatiels.com/start.php?homepage=true There are many good sources for cockatiel care. Concerning diet. The pellet formulas are superior to all seed diets. Avoid avocado which has persin a toxic substance to birds because they cannot metabolize it. Chocolate is not good because it contains theobromine an alkaloid similar to caffeine which cannot be metabolized by many animals. http://www.cockatielcottage.net/ Here's another that may help you. (It's kind of corny). May you have a mutually beneficial relationship and have a great year.

Answer 3

No, 150$ is a good price. I work at a bird store and thats the average price. We do the handfeeding in store starting with 5 week olds. I have a 16 year old male normal grey cockatiel i got when i was 5 and he is the best! Basic care is simple: Changing the food and water daily, cleaning the cage weekly. Use a bird-safe disinfectant on it's toys, cups, and cage. Setting up its new home is the best part! I usually recommend the minimum size cage at an 18x18. Wrought iron cages are preferable becuase they are easy to clean and last a whole lot longer. Start with 4-5 toys . Diet is very important! Start your new cockatiel on a cooked food such as Crazy Corn or Beak Appetit. If you stick them just on seed as babies, thats how they'll stay. Here's a website with an excellent online store that provides seed, loads of toys and cleaners. www.worldofbirds.com GOOD LUCK!!!

Oh yes, COCKATIELS ARE SEED EATERS.
Do a table food, seed, and vitamin. I have seen thousands of birds on pellets... majority of them have dull feathers and poor beak conditions. Pellets are boring! Seed keeps them stimulated. Use a vitamin such as Nekton-S to make up for the nutrients not received by the cooked food and seed.

Answer 4

I paid 40.00 for my male cockatiel...he was hand fed and is so much fun. But, to me, you can't put a price on that kind of fun and love. He's now 21 months old and can talk and sing...There is a wonderful website, cockatielcottage.com, they have every tip in the world that you will need to keep your bird(s) happy and healthy. She also has some interesting and very nutritious recipes posted. And if you are looking for toys...may I suggest busybird.com...i shop there all the time for toys for my Sweetie...good luck and remember....be consistant, VERY PATIENT....and if you have a male, he'll be chatting with you in no time...Sweetie spoke his first words...Happy Birthday...when he was only 8 months old!!! OH and just remember....no chocolate, no avacados, no apple seeds....they are deadly to a cockatiel. It's all on the site i suggested.

Answer 5

$150 is a little high, but as long as it is a well socialized bird, I wouldn't have a problem with the price.


If your bird does not know how to "Step up" that is the first thing to teach it.

Here is a good website with care tips:
http://www.cockatiel.org/tips/index.html
It includes recipes, weights, toys and household dangers.

If your bird is not already on a pelleted diet, you should start to switch it to a good one. My vet reccomends Harrisons or Roudybush. Their diet should be 80% pellets, 15% fresh fruits and veggies, 5% seeds and treats.

Your bird should have several hours of out of cage time every day. You can work on training it to do simple tricks, talk, or just hang out with you.

You should keep 3-4 toys in the cage at all times. Some that make noise like bells, and ones to destroy. These toys should be rotated to prevent boredom.

Your bird should be allowed to bathe. Some like a dish of water, others like a mist from a clean spray bottle or a shower.

Here is another site that has great info!
http://www.mickaboo.com/reading-room/index.html

If your bird is still a baby, keep an eye out for it regressing. Make sure that it is really eating, and not just playing with it's food. If you start to hear a sound that reminds you of static or a fax machine, you should contact the breeder and learn how to supliment it's feeding until it is eating on its own again.

Here is an excerpt from the North American Cockatiel Society on what NOT to do:
Often you will see specials at pet stores for basic cockatiel care kits with the purchase of a cockatiel. Normally, these contain such items as: a small bag of seed, vitamins for the water, a cuttlebone or mineral block, honey sticks, grit, a mite protector, and possibly sandpaper perch covers. If you have any of these items in the cage other than the cuttlebone or mineral block, you are doing your new pet more harm than good.

Unfortunately, there are still a great deal of people who wean their baby cockatiels onto a seed diet. Feeding an all seed diet to a cockatiel is like giving your child french-fries and ice cream at each meal. Seeds are generally high in fat and low in the essential amino acids, minerals, and vitamins your cockatiel needs to stay healthy. Cockatiels, however, that have never eaten anything but seed may be extremely difficult to teach good eating habits! Also, sticks that contain a seed mix are a very high fat treat that should be avoided. Once your cockatiel has learned to eat other foods, an occasional seed treat is fine.

Vitamins in the water attract bacteria very quickly and the actual vitamin content is highly diluted by the water. Most avian nutritionalists recommend that you try to add vitamins to your bird's diet through a variety of foods instead.

Grit is an unnecessary part of the diet for pet birds, as they do not eat anything which is difficult for their gizzards to grind up. Insoluble grit can actually impact a bird's intestinal tract, causing the bird to starve to death.

Mite protectors are not necessary, as most cockatiels do not carry mites and would not be exposed to them unless they were in contact with outside birds. Putting a mite protector in the cage is equivalent to letting your bird sleep with a bag of mothballs, which are very toxic.

Finally, sandpaper perches will do nothing to trim a bird's toenails... in fact, they can cause sores on the inside of your cockatiel's feet that may get infected. Protect your bird by questioning everything you buy... would you want to stand on sandpaper?

Answer 6

both are very tremendous birds, suns are somewhat extra not ordinary as they're liable to have a blood disease that calls for them to get a great number of nutrition ok. no longer all conures have it yet you'll have your chicken examined so that you may have a good nutrition routine to circumvent major complications. both are veyr hardy birds even with the actuality that, and both may be veyr pleasant is hand raised and dealt with proper. be conscious that a sunlight conure is rather very loud. they have very intense %. screeches. So in case you stay in an position of abode or with different people9family, room associates etc) refer to them about what noise they can tolerate. And realisticly in case you stay in an aprtment then a sunlight conure is a huge threat. Even a contented sunlight can really elevate the quantity even as they favor to. Suns also require a parrot cage, with thicker bars and extra room. They chew extra also. in my opinion a sunlight conure may be nippy besides yet they're very cuddly(frequently) and that is continuously an rather gorgeous element alongside with their clown antics. A sunlight will require about 2-4 hours or extra a outing of the cage, a tiel about 2 hours. continuously bypass extra in case you could yet be consistant so that they not in any respect sense abandoned. both you likely can paintings, jsut value bieng the great distinction. So even even with the actuality that perchance a cockatiel should be extra ordinary, a sunlight conure should be achievable. they merely take extra time and their nutrition routine calls for mroe interest.

Answer 7

when ifirst go my cockateil i opened the cage sat down and watched a movie with some food in my hand (make sure you turn the volume down)he will comeout and explore

Answer 8

Cockatiels are very smart. I had a lot of fun teaching my old one, Bird(lol i counldn't think of a better name for him) songs. before he died he could sing the woody wood pecker song, the addams family theme, and a few others as well as the sexy whistle.

Answer 9

you gotta know were to buy them...should have checked craigslist and see if there are some available...i just bought 4 tiels for $150...hand-raised, tamed and friendly. (2 lutinos, 1 cinamon, and one lutino/pearl) as far of websites, here you go....

Answer 10

I have two cockatiels and if you start taking him/her out the cage everyday it will be fine but if you don't you will have trouble getting them to come out. My 2 will not come out the cage unless we leave it open and they fly out. They will let my mom bring them out but won't let nobody else.