Cockatiel owners?

[Liberty Belle]

My son bought himself a cockatiel today ("Cookie"). It's a sweet little thing and seems to be adapting well to his/her new cage. We've done research online and feel fairly confident about its care, but would like any tips any of you have.

I'm a little annoyed that the guy at the pet store told us to get a tall cage when I read online that wide cages are best for cockatiels. I hope it's ok. My son spent a lot of money on it.

He's sleeping now.

 

[LoraJ]

I had a cockatiel for 14 years. I loved that little guy so much and was so heartbroken when he died. They are great pets. Very affectionate. He loved to have his head rubbed. He would make a purring type noise when I would do that.

Is Cookie already hand tamed?

If you have carpet, be sure to get its nails trimmed. Mine used to get caught in carpet. eep!

Don't feed it chocolate or avocados. I would have it eat pellet food over seed. I could never wean mine away from seed.

Mine loved attention, so place the cage where there will be a lot of activity. Any time I left the room or his sight he would "complain".

When no one is home, leave on a radio to keep him company.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I had a cockatiel for 14 years. I loved that little guy so much and was so heartbroken when he died. They are great pets. Very affectionate. He loved to have his head rubbed. He would make a purring type noise when I would do that.

Is Cookie already hand tamed?

If you have carpet, be sure to get its nails trimmed. Mine used to get caught in carpet. eep!

Don't feed it chocolate or avocados. I would have it eat pellet food over seed. I could never wean mine away from seed.

Mine loved attention, so place the cage where there will be a lot of activity. Any time I left the room or his sight he would "complain".

When no one is home, leave on a radio to keep him company.

Thank you! Yes, Cookie's been working with the girl at the pet shop and my son handled him fine right away. He's been acting like he's going to bite us when we put his hand in his cage now, though. We haven't had him out yet at home (got him around 6 this evening).

We bought pellet food. The pet store girl said they'd been getting seed and pellets, but she recommended just giving pellets.


We have hard wood floors, but have rugs down. Do we take him to the vet to get his nails trimmed? How often?

 

[sunnyday123]

I had one named Noah when I was little and was absolutely heartbroken when he died. It still makes me cry to think about him. They are really great, although mine whistled Yankee Doodle Dandy over and over. And over. It kinda annoyed my parents but he bounced his little head up and down when it did it, so funny!

Ok, back from my trip down memory lane. Get his wings clipped regularly,make sure any glasses or tea cups ( anything with water-toilets included!) are emptied or watched carefully, they are curious and I had a friend who's parakeet drowned in a glass of iced tea. ( he got stuck in the ice cubes) Also make sure doors and windows are closed when he's out. They can't tell there is a window there if they see the glass. And you don't want him to get out. Make sure he has lots of fun toys to play with, and can't get his head stuck in between the bars of his cage.

They do love to have their head pet and will sit for hours if you are willing to! Mine used to walk towards you with his head down, just to give you a little hint.

 

[Lassie Lynne]

The best advice I can give you (one parrot owner to another) is buy the book "Parrots for Dummies_ by Nikki Moustaki.........it is a great reference and will answer almost any question you have, I still refer back to it everyone now and then!

Good luck with Cookie!

 

[WDWBarb]

I've had several cockatiels in my life (and loved them all dearly). They are wonderful companions!

The only advice I have is to ensure that they keep their water bowls clean (every one I have EVER had liked to perch on the water bowl -and poo in it!), to cover them at night, to keep they far away from any drafts in the house and to give them lots of love and entertainment. They are social animals and another cockatiel for company is not a bad idea.

And he might act like he's (she?) is going to bite you - they hiss and carry on something awful until they feel safe. Just approach them slowly and give them the time they need to adjust. It happens quickly

 

[Liberty Belle]

I've had several cockatiels in my life (and loved them all dearly). They are wonderful companions!

The only advice I have is to ensure that they keep their water bowls clean (every one I have EVER had liked to perch on the water bowl -and poo in it!), to cover them at night, to keep they far away from any drafts in the house and to give them lots of love and entertainment. They are social animals and another cockatiel for company is not a bad idea.

And he might act like he's (she?) is going to bite you - they hiss and carry on something awful until they feel safe. Just approach them slowly and give them the time they need to adjust. It happens quickly

Thank you all for the advice.

Barb, I just went to give him a little treat and when I put my hand in the cage he hissed at me. Last night he was hopping on our fingers and letting us pet and carry him around.

 

[LoraJ]

Did you talk to him for a little bit before you stuck your finger in? When mine was moody I would usually talk to him for a couple of minutes and by that time he would want me to pet his head.

Your little guy may just be trying to adjust to his new home.

 

[Violet Crayon]

Growing up my family had four cockatiels at the same time, Sydney, Carly, Cinder, and Margot. We mostly fed them seeds (Kaytee brand) with some pellets on occasion. Their favorite snack was millet! They would zoom across the cage to nibble on it. Every morning we would cut a stalk in half and clip it to the inside of the cage. They liked Booda ropes and hoops that we would twist in fun ways for them (just a little harder to keep clean). It was also recommended a cuddle bone to chew, and my mom baked couscous recipes for snacks here and there.

At night we always covered their cage because they can spook easily. I don't know if you already have learned about the veins in their wings? If a bird flaps violently in a cage it can break the feathers with the veins and it can be a serious problem. We had a few times that for whatever reason they would spook and my parents would be out of bed and trying to quiet them down. They had to gently wrap them in wash cloths and cuddle them until they stopped shaking (like a baby upset in the night). On a few occasions there was blood and my parents had some sort of substance on hand that would seal the wound.

But they do really love having their heads scratched and will bow when you put your hand near them, love to chew on jewelry (eek), and run hair through their mouths like they are preening you. Their natural sounds are really fun as well as whistling and words they can pick up. And if the bird seems to want to bite, the best way to approach is offering your hand but not confronting the bird until a trust is built. Hold food with one hand across your arm so they have to jump on before getting the treat, stuff like that.

 

[DawnCt1]

My mom had one which I inherited after she passed away. When he was about 16 years old, (that's old) he stopped perching on the perch and was hanging out at the bottom of the cage all of the time. My mother fingered that it was just old age. I took "Baby" to the vet who had an interest in birds. She drew his blood (if you can imagine that), and found he had a vitamin D and E, and cesium (sp) deficiency. Within a week, he was on the perch again, talking and back to his old self. She gave him an injection, and vitamin supplements and he outlived my mom! He passed away at home at the age of 22! while I was at WDW with the kids and he was home with DH. I called the vet and she was amazed. She said that she never knew of a cockatiel that lived to that age.

 

[pumba]

keep your seed in the fridge so that the moths that may be in some dont come flying out.....took us a few years to figure out where these moths were coming from......we bought seed in bulk.....another thing dont have them hanging near the heat during the winters......makes them dry out fast...We raised babies for a few years........Loved them all

 

[WDWBarb]

Thank you all for the advice.

Barb, I just went to give him a little treat and when I put my hand in the cage he hissed at me. Last night he was hopping on our fingers and letting us pet and carry him around.

He's probably just getting used to his surroundings. My 'tiels always fussed at me and then, when I went to pet them, bowed their heads down and acted all friendly. Once he starts to feel at "home," he'll actually get a little more protective of his territory. Last night everything was new and he was just "going with the flow." He'll come around - don't give up!

Do try and have contact with them daily - they will start to become unfriendly unless they are consistently interacting with humans. And they do learn to recognize people - I had one who was so gentle and loved me so much. I'd leave her cage open when I was home and she's always fly to my shoulder

 

[kacaju]

I used to take mine in the shower with me!!

 

[chisnpeke]

I'm interested in getting a bird. My brother has an African Grey parrot and I've grown to love it. How much do Cockatiels usually cost? Also, would they be ok with a dog barking? Would that scare them too much?

 

[Liberty Belle]

I'm interested in getting a bird. My brother has an African Grey parrot and I've grown to love it. How much do Cockatiels usually cost? Also, would they be ok with a dog barking? Would that scare them too much?

My son's "fancy" cockatiel (I think it's a Pearl Cockatiel) cost $90. I asked about our dog barking and the person at the store (who has cockatiels at home) said they get used to it. When you think about it, there's lots of noises at the pet stores.

 

[chisnpeke]

My son's "fancy" cockatiel (I think it's a Pearl Cockatiel) cost $90. I asked about our dog barking and the person at the store (who has cockatiels at home) said they get used to it. When you think about it, there's lots of noises at the pet stores.

Thank you!!!

 

[veraletta]

Just make sure you keep his wings clipped, it will make him easier for you to handle him, as they can fly really fast even in the house.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Just make sure you keep his wings clipped, it will make him easier for you to handle him, as they can fly really fast even in the house.

His wings are clipped now. How often do we have to do it? Is it something we can do at home or do we take him to the vet?

 

[BratTink]

His wings are clipped now. How often do we have to do it? Is it something we can do at home or do we take him to the vet?

I have two, Sticks and Princess. I don't clip their wings, I think its mean. Its bad enough that we're holding them captive. I think they should be allowed to fly and get proper exercise. My male is very friendly and loves to have his head rubbed and he wants to eat with me. My female is not so sweet but comes to me when she's scared or sick. Right now we have three eggs. I think one is fertile. The best advice has already been given: make sure to interact daily and a lot as they really are social animals.

 

[sunnyday123]

Clipping their wings will prevent them from flying a long distance and possibly injuring themselves. We let my birds wings go and he flew into the front (glass) door. He had a really bad wound on his head, and we had to keep an eye on him for a few days after rushing him to the vet. They can't tell there is glass there. It's more of a safety thing, and doesn't hurt them at all.