The cockatiel is one of the smallest parrots in the parrot family and is a likable and intelligent pet. Cockatiels are friendly pets who will imitate your voice and happily perch on your finger or shoulder. This article will show you how to take care of the pet!
Step
Part 1 of 3: Buy Equipment
Step 1. Consider whether the Cockatiel is the right pet for you
Cockatiels require daily care, attention, can be noisy and make difficult pets. With proper care, it can live for more than twenty years! Before buying a Cockatiel, you should consider the following questions (and involve the people you live with in those considerations):
- How much money should be prepared? Although the Cockatiel is not very expensive to buy, it does need a large enough cage, toys and other items. In addition, you will need to take him to the vet for annual testing.
- How much time should you spend with your Cockatiel? Unless someone is home all day, a Cockatiel will be lonely. A pair of Cockatiels will require less attention, but you should still give them daily care and attention.
- Am I sensitive to noise and clutter? Although Cockatiels are not very noisy, they will sing in the morning and evening and can create a lot of noise. If you don't like or hate getting up in the morning, Cockatiel might not be for you.
- How long am I ready to care for a pet? Since Cockatiels can live more than twenty years, consider your dedication carefully before buying. If you are a student, consider who will look after Cockatiel if you are on campus.
Step 2. Purchase a cage
The cage must be at least 2 meters wide by 50.8 cm wide and 45.7 cm deep, but it is recommended to use a larger cage. The cage must have a bar no more than 1.9 cm. Recommended stainless steel enclosure. Since zinc and lead are toxic to birds, the cage must also be guaranteed not to contain these materials. Also, since Cockatiels like to climb around their cage, the cage should have at least a few horizontal rows.
Step 3. Purchase other required equipment
Cockatiels, like other pet birds, need something to cheer them up in their cage. You will need to buy.:
- Two bowls of food and a bowl of water. You will need separate bowls for dry and wet bird food (wet food such as fruit, ripe nuts, etc.).
- A pack for the cage to catch the tossed seeds.
- Lots of bars for the cage. Cockatiels love to climb and perch so having lots of bars will make them very happy. You will notice that the cockatiel will choose one of the bars as her home base (the place where she will sleep).
- Some toys for your Cockatiel to play with. Buy a few toys and combine them every week so your bird doesn't get bored. Cockatiels love to chew, so toys like stick balls or raffia and coconut husks work best.
Step 4. Purchase additional supplies (optional)
While it's not necessary, it's a good idea to purchase cleaning supplies, such as a dirt cleaner and a handheld vacuum. You'll also need to buy cuttlebone for calcium; this is especially important for female Cockatiels, who usually have problems laying eggs (females will lay eggs without the male, they will just be fertilized).
Part 2 of 3: Buying and training Cockatiels
Step 1. Learn more about Cockatiels
Before buying a cockatiel a thorough research on caring for cockatiels is necessary. While this article covers basic treatments, more in-depth research is highly recommended. Better sources include the Internet, libraries and pet stores, which will usually provide books and other sources of information about Cockatiel care. In addition, interacting with Cockatiels is recommended, as well as talking to Cockatiels owners about their experiences caring for their birds.
Step 2. Buy Cockatiels
While you may be tempted to buy the cheapest Cockatiel you can find, buying birds from a pet store is not recommended. This is because the pet store birds are unhealthy and often not socialized (which makes taming them more difficult). You can buy baby birds from specialty bird shops or bird breeders. Purchase a Cockatiel that is about three months old or slightly older. A novice should never feed a baby Cockatiel by hand.
- Bought a cockatiel from the rescue center. Before buying a pet bird it is generally better to try to adopt a bird. While many Cockatiels from rescue centers make great pets, adopting from a shelter is not recommended for beginners, as these Cockatiels can be unhealthy or have behavioral problems.
- Purchased cockatiel from previous owner. Sometimes, there is one thing that makes owners have to give their pets away. As long as you're sure the owner didn't give you the bird because of a behavior problem and you're given a history of the bird's health, this can be a great way to buy a Cockatiel, especially for beginners.
Step 3. Tame your bird
If your cockatiel is tame, you can move on to the next step. One of the main parts of taming a cockatiel is making it adapt to your presence. When you first bring your bird home, place the cage in a place where there is a lot of human activity. Sit next to your aviary and talk or whistle for 10 minutes. This will allow the bird to get used to your voice and presence.
When the bird comes to the side of the cage where you are and seems fine with you, start interacting with it (see step one in the next session on what treatment should be). After about a week of doing this, open the cage door, allowing your bird to come out of the cage door. The next step is to place the food in your hand and make the birds eat from the palm of your hand
Step 4. Train your bird to the next step
' After taming your cockatiel and he eats food from your hand, next teach him to step into the hand. How you do this depends on whether you have a pecking bird or a friendly bird. Do not try to take the Cockatiel directly or force it, as this will slow down its taming. Step 8.jpg|center|550px]
- If you have a bird that likes to peck: Move your finger quickly and smoothly over its paw, as if you were running your toes. Your bird will automatically move. Give him treats and praise as soon as he does this. If your bird begins to peck aggressively, stop the training session and try again later.
- If you have a bird that rarely pecks: place your finger on your bird's belly between its legs. Apply a little pressure and he will most likely be hooked soon. When he does this, give him treats and praise. The next time you do it again, say "stand up straight". Eventually he will associate your words with the act of 'standing up'.
Part 3 of 3: Taking Care of Your Cockatiel
Step 1. Give your bird time to adapt the first time it's in your home
If your Cockatiel is baby friendly, this can be a short process. Non-social babies will usually need two or three days to adapt to their new environment. During the adjustment period, don't handle the bird, but do a routine of cleaning, feeding and talking slowly to the bird.
Step 2. Give your Cockatiel a healthy diet
Bird pellets should make up about 70% of your Cockatiel's diet. The seeds are very good, but don't overfeed the food. You should also feed your Cockatiel fresh vegetables and sometimes fruit; Cooked beans and spaghetti are examples. When you choose fruits and vegetables to feed, organic ones are recommended. You should also thoroughly clean fruits and vegetables before feeding them.
- Don't feed your Cockatiel with chocolate, avocado, alcohol, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, caffeine, or raw nuts, they can be toxic. Very sweet or fatty foods like candy are also unhealthy for Cockatiels.
- Remove any uneaten fresh food from the cage within four hours or it can attract harmful bacteria (and will only make a mess.)
Step 3. Make sure that your cockatiel consumes clean water
You have to change the drinking water every day. You should also replace it when you see food or dirt in it. You must give consumption water as your own consumption.
When washing the water bowl, be sure to use hot water with a little soap. This will ensure that mold does not grow which could make the bird sick
Step 4. Treat your Cockatiel
If your Cockatiel is already tame (or has already tamed and trained - see part two,) you need to spend at least an hour a day on it to stay tame and friendly. Unless you're buying bird diapers, you may want to interact with the bird in a chair covered with a towel or in a room with a glossy-clean floor.
Step 5. Understand why your Cockatiel pecked you
You may feel hurt or angry when a Cockatiel pecks you, but it's important to realize that birds peck because they're reacting to a stressful situation, not because they're trying to be rude. A bird will peck to express that it is scared or angry and don't take it to heart. Think back to what you were doing when Cockatiel pecked you and tried to see things from that point of view. For example the Cockatiel will bite if you try to catch it or if it is too careless or rude to handle it. In addition, many Cockatiels are protective of their cage and may become aggressive if you try to place your hand on the cage.
- If the Cockatiel bites you outside the cage, put it back in the cage and wait for it to cool down before picking it up again.
- If your Cockatiel is aggressive in the cage, train it to step onto the stick or perch. That way, you can retrieve it from the cage, instead of having to put your hand in the cage.
Step 6. Teach your Cockatiel how to talk and whistle
While males are best for talking and whistling, females can also learn how to whistle and will occasionally learn a few words. It's recommended that you start teaching the Cockatiel how to talk before teaching him how to whistle, as it can be more difficult otherwise. To teach a Cockatiel to speak, speak the same words often, and say the words you want - "Mama!" for example, let's say every time you approach your Cockatiel. If you hear the beginning of a word or phrase, treat your Cockatiel immediately with treatment and attention.
Teaching a Cockatiel to whistle is the same - often whistle in front of the Cockatiel, and pay attention if she starts to whistle
Step 7. Recognize the signs of illness in Cockatiels
Since Cockatiels often hide their illness, you must have a keen eye for signs of illness. When Cockatiel was sick he would sit down patting the fur on the bottom of the cage. A bloody Cockatiel was also clearly injured. Signs of a sick bird:
Easily irritated or biting; napping more often than usual; a decrease in your bird's weight or the amount of food eaten; not wanting to eat or drink water; coughing, sneezing, or breathing irregularly; lameness; lump or swelling; inflamed or crusty eyes and nostrils; Cloudy eyes; dirty ventilation; or headaches, wings, or tails
Step 8. Take your bird to the vet regularly
You should take your Cockatiel to the poultry veterinarian for a yearly "bird-health" test. Also, contact your veterinarian immediately if your Cockatiel exhibits any of the symptoms listed above. Remember that it can be expensive to go to the vet, birds will often become sick in no time and it's not a good idea to "wait and see" as Cockatiels are rather tricky creatures.
Step 9. Realize that cockatiels can be afraid of the night
Some cockatiels are afraid of the dark and have a "fear of the night" where they basically panic in their cage. To prevent this, provide a night light in the room your cockatiel sleeps in, and not completely cover the cage at night.
Once you figure out which bars your cockatiel uses to sleep on, you'll want to make sure that there aren't any roosting toys perched on it. If your bird has a fear of the night and gets entangled in toys, he could be seriously injured
Tips
- Be careful with little birds; Cockatiels are very fragile and can be easily injured.
- Keep your bird near a window (but not directly). You don't have to have birds in dungeons or dark rooms. This can lead to depression and behavioral problems such as hair loss.
- Cockatiels like to be petted around their heads, against the tide. A good time to start petting them is to scratch when they itch.
- Sing to the bird so it gets used to your voice.
- Cockatiels need daily attention. If you work all day, consider buying a pair of Cockatiels, so they can keep each other company.
- On very hot days put some ice cubes in your bird's water bowl.
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Don't breed birds unless you know how.
It can kill your bird!
- If you want your bird to socialize more with people, don't put it in a cage with other birds. This allows him to interact with other birds than with other people living in the same cage.
- There are many chats or discussion forums for birds. Consider joining one, they are packed full of information!
- To prevent your bird from hurting itself by flying into ceiling fans, hot water in the kitchen, windows, etc., you should clip its wings. Ask an experienced bird owner or veterinarian to show you how to do this before trying it yourself.
- Buy another cockatiel so they won't be lonely unless you have a lot of time with them.
Warning
- 'Do not operate' the ceiling fan if the bird is out of the cage as the bird may fly into the rotating blades and die.
- Cockatiels love to play with mirrors and shiny objects. However, do not place a mirror in their cage. They see their reflection as another bird and can get very frustrated when self-reflection doesn't respond. It's nice to play but if Cockatiel sees him all day it will isolate him and make him cranky.
