Cockatiels and Budgerigars – Is This the Right Bird For You?

Cockatiels and Budgerigars – Is This the Right Bird For You?

As the smallest member of the cockatoo family, cockatiel birds are some of the most popular pet birds in the world. However, they can bite and be temperamental depending on their surroundings and how you handle them. This means that if you have grabby children that like to pull tails or squeeze birds, the cockatiel may not be the best choice for a pet.

Cockatiels are still very sociable birds and will need a high degree of interaction and companionship to not become bored and depressed. A sad cockatiel is an unhealthy cockatiel because they tend to stop eating and drinking and start plucking away at their feathers – none of which are beneficial behaviors.

The budgerigar (budgie) is a small native Australian bird that is often referred to in other countries as a parakeet. However, they make up for their diminutive size through their intelligence. You can very quickly tame a new pet budgie bird, especially if you hand feed them from the day that they are brought into your house.

Both the males and females of the species can talk; but, in general, your better bet is to buy a male budgie bird if you want to increase the chances of getting one that does. It is difficult to tell the two sexes apart when budgerigars are young but as they grow older the color of the area surrounding its nostrils on its beak will change color – blue in males, brown in females. However, there is a chance that this method of sexing your budgie is not reliable because of the different color variations exhibited by different budgies.

Feeding Your Cockatiel Well–5 Nutritious Ideas For The Cockatiel Diet

Feeding Your Cockatiel Well–5 Nutritious Ideas For The Cockatiel Diet

The old adage “you are what you eat” applies to Cockatiels too. Feeding a healthy diet is one of the most important aspects of responsible ownership.

The diet often depends on test results that show levels of nutrients in the blood, physical activity, and even previous diet if your bird is older and had previous owners.

There is a variety of thought about the best diet, but here are 5 components on which most seem to agree.

Fresh Water-Provide fresh water and change as often as needed to prevent growth of any unwanted and potentially harmful bacteria or mold. If you live in an older home where water is often supplied through lead pipes.

Be sure to let the water run until water that has been sitting in the pipes is flushed out completely before filling your bird’s dish or bottle. A bird activated water bottle will water fresher and prevent particulates from contaminating it. This is an especially good idea if you travel frequently. It’s still best to change water as often as possible.

Pellet Diet-Manufactured by using a combination of seeds, grains and as many 40 concentrated nutrients (including vitamins and minerals) necessary for good health in your Cockatiel, this is a convenient and less time consuming way to insure that your pet is getting all that it needs to meet daily nutritional requirements.

Even though many bird owners suspect high protein as the culprit for kidney disease, scientific studies have yet to confirm this line of thinking. Pellet manufacturers have been sensitive to this concern and many have greatly reduced the amount of protein found in their product.

People Food-Your bird’s diet should be supplemented with dark greens such as collards, kale, spinach, and broccoli because they are rich in iron. The orange-colored vegetables such as yams, sweet potatoes, carrots, peppers are recommended for carotene.

Fruits such as bananas, strawberries, seedless grapes, kiwi, pomegranate seeds, and peaches and plums minus the pit provide additional nutrients, visual as well as physical variation in texture, and because they just plain taste good. By the way, this is a great diet for people too.

Vitamins-When feeding a pellet diet, vitamins are not as necessary because the pellets contain all of the necessary nutrients except calcium which can be gotten from the use of cuttlebone.

Over use of vitamins can cause toxicity, so use of vitamins is a subject that should be discussed with the vet since your bird’s needs will change as it grows and develops.

Cuttlebone-A great source of calcium, this should be a staple in your bird’s cage. The rough texture serves as a sort of rasp which allows your bird to trim its beak. It also provides the necessary calcium that is so important to round out their diet.

If they are reluctant to use it, have patience and try moving it to different locations in the cage to spark use through their curiosity.

Cockatiel Toys–6 Fun Toys For Your Pet Cockatiel

Cockatiel Toys–6 Fun Toys For Your Pet Cockatiel

Cockatiels may be on the small end of the parrot scale, but they personalities are huge. Happy, fun-loving, energetic and beautiful they are one of the most sought after pet birds. They will depend on you to help keep them happy by providing interesting and challenging activities.

Providing and rotating safe yet exciting toys is an excellent way to keep your bird content. Here are 6 suggestions for toys that fit the bill on every level.

Edible Toys-Millets, pinecones that are stocked with a variety of fruits, nuts and seeds, organic wheat grass, flaxseed sprigs are just a few examples of treats that can be hung in the cage to make life fun and good tasting for your Cockatiel. Mineral block toys are also a great way to provide necessary vitamins and minerals for those birds that choose to ignore the cuttlebone.

Perches-This is a fun way to provide exercise for your bird’s feet, helps trim their nails and beaks naturally, provide an opportunity for them to chew, and depending on the composition can supply them with essential minerals such as those made of cuttlebone. These have a very natural look to them and will make your cage more picturesque to humans and more natural to your Tiel as well.

A variety of sizes are always available, so be sure to select the one that’s right for your bird and your cage. Your bird will love a platform or shelf that they can sleep on or use when they are ill or if they are handicapped in some way.

Sounds–Every cage and bird area needs toys that make sounds–bells and beads are favorites. Small parts should be removed or securely fastened so that there is no possibility that your bird can choke on them.

Foot Toys–They are probably more accurately described as foot and beak toys because they require your bird to use both to play. Many contain materials for shredding that are colorful, flavored, and refillable.

Swings–These are a favorite because they probably feel like tree branches swaying in the wild. Swings that have safe objects of different textures that are colorful and chewable serve a dual purpose.

Forage-Since birds spend hours foraging for food in the wild these toys make use of their natural instincts. These toys involve placing food or treats inside a toy that your bird must then figure out how to get. This uses their intelligence and reasoning to solve the problem for a tasty reward, and can occupy their interest for hours.

Have several or 4 that you can rotate in and out the cage as well as providing a variety of treats inside each time. Always make the treat one that your bird feels is a “must have”. Make sure woods and materials used are certified as bird safe, and that links or rope used to hang the toys are tight so there is no chance of feet or beaks getting caught.

Cockatiel Life Span – The Many Years In A Cockatiel’s Life

Each pet owner has its own considerations when deciding to bring home a pet like the cockatiel. Upon coming to a pet store and getting a cockatiel for a pet, the life span of the pet is always a major consideration. Actually, after knowing the basics and other important information about this animal, knowing how long it can stay alive as a major consideration. So that, cockatiel life span has to be thought-out in picking this wonderful animal.

Cockatiel is from the parrot family and it is the tiniest among the family. It is also called as Wiero and Quarrion. Cockatiels have the capacity to breed easily and are a famous household pet worldwide. In captivity, they come next to the very popular Budgerigar.

Generally, cockatiel life span reaches 20 years or so though the standard is 15 years. Furthermore, some reports say that there were cockatiels which lived for three decades and more and you should be lucky if the one that you got reached or comes close to this age. Like humans, suitable exercise and proper diet are the major determining factors of cockatiel life span.

Species of cockatiels are identified through their distinctive over-head crest. They are sometimes called as smaller cockatoos. They adore staying among scrublands, wet lands and in diverse portions of domestic Australia. More often than not, wild cockatiels are gray colored. The domestic types include silver, lutino, cinnamon, pearl and pied along with varied colors of yellow, peach, orange or white. They can direct their behaviors once feeling sick, terrified or curious by making use of their unique crest.

Cockatiel life span, as said earlier, starts from fifteen to twenty 20 years. It is an unusual count since they can actually survive for 30 years. Being a pet raiser, you want this pet to live longer especially that they bring much entertainment and happiness to you. To be guaranteed of cockatiel life span as well as their happiness, make every effort such as cleaning its cage on a regular basis.

Provide your cockatiel with enough exercise and fresher diet that include veggies and fruits. Should you want to extend your pet cockatiel life span, provide it with companionship and some activities especially because it is a gregarious, smart and a nosy pet. It can be a little wicked sometimes. They love hanging out with their caretakers to the extent of staying in their master’s shoulder or head.

Pearl Cockatiel – Main Characteristics And Behaviors

Pearl cockatiel is identified through its pearl markings which are usually found in its back, nape and wings. They have scallop-like feathers and they have established the third mutation of the cockatiel species. It is significant to note that the pearl in their body is the effect of their feather pattern changes ?t a color change.

The pearl cockatiel has many nicknames such as the pearled cockatiel, laced cockatiel, pearly tiels, pearly cockatiel, pearl tiels and opaline cockatiel. The part of their body wherein the wings, nape and back feathers are edged or laced with the yellow or white color is known as pearling. While there are deeply pearled birds, there are lightly pearled ones as well.

Male species of the pearl cockatiel do not lose this pearling though it can faint for some time and that only the heavily pearled ones are seen with the markings for long. Conversely, the female pearl cockatiels do not lose these markings throughout their life. Pearling patterns vary from small to big patterns. Yellow pearl cockatiels can look like cinnamon mutations with tannish brown coloring rather than gray or black. They are sometimes called as Golden Pearls.

Pearl cockatiel mutations can extend to 30 centimeters tall. Wild cockatiels travel in flocks, thus influencing their behavior during captivity. This communal ‘flock’ nature makes them suitable as pets. They can adapt readily breed and adapt to changes. What’s good about them is that they may be left by themselves for long, provided that they are properly nourished. They do not have loud noise, thus you will not complain about that.

Pearl cockatiel, just like other cockatiel species, loves to climb perches and play inside its cage. Thus, it would be very best for you to provide it with perches and various toys to enhance these habits and practices. Additionally, let them spend some time away from their cage if you have the chance to do so. Aside from that, cockatiels whistle and imitate speech. This is mostly evident in male pearl cockatiels. Telling whether a pearl cockatiel is male or female could be hard until the males lose their pearl complexion after some time. Female cockatiels never lose this coloration, thus this could be your significant indicator. From their initial molt, males lose their markings and return to gray after several years. The truth is, males never lose markings. It is just that their markings turn pale that they become unseen.

Choosing a Bird Cage for Your Cockatiel

When investing in a new bird cage for your beloved cockatiel, you will need to make a careful, well thought out final decision. Your cockatiel will be spending a huge portion of their life confined to this cage, so you’ll want it to be as comfortable, secure and inviting as possible. Follow my tips below for choosing the perfect house for you cockatiel.

Choose a large cage for your bird. In general bigger is always better. Make sure that your cockatiel will be able to spread its wings out completely without touching either side of the cage. Also make sure that there will be plenty of roaming room. Choose a square cage for your cockatiel. This will be the most comfortable for your bird, allowing it to nest in the corners. For hygienic purposes, its best to choose a powder-coated metal cage. It will be much easier for you to clean every week and it will go well with most decors. When deciding on the bar width of the cage, make sure that the bars are 1/4 of an inch or less apart. You don’t want your bird to be able to stick its head or body out of the cage. It could easily get stuck or escape if the bars are too far apart. Make sure that the door to the cage is large enough for you to comfortably remove or place your bird within the cage. If it’s too small you may injure your bird when taking it out. Look for cages that have grated floors. This way your bird’s waste won’t be sitting on the floor of the cage.

Cinnamon Cockatiel – Main Characteristics And Free Tips

A cinnamon cockatiel also goes by the tender names as the Cinnamon Tiel and the Isabelle cockatiel. Just like other mutation of cockatiel, they are short of having gray tint that is common in usual grey cockatiels. The warmth of the cinnamon color is enhanced with the yellow tails and heads. Their plumage’s color varies from balmy tannish-gray to chocolate brown.

The other exquisite variations of the cinnamon cockatiel are the cinnamon pearl cockatiels and cinnamon pied cockatiel. They are very popular species of parrots. Cockatiels are hardy, they have the capacity to easily breed and it can easily handle changes. Most pet owners prefer them over other birds since they are not as noisy as the other species. They are also even relaxed albeit when you leave them alone in their cage or area Cinnamon cockatiel as well as other cockatiel breeds, belongs to the parrot family because of their beak’s shape. They are also sometimes known as cockatoos with their tiny head crests. Conversely, cockatiels have lengthy tails than cockatoos. These tails make up almost half of their entire length. This quality gives them more resemblance to a parakeet.

Cinnamon cockatiel consumes nuts, veggies, sprouts, fruits, pellets and seeds. They need an airy cage wherein they spend quality time to fly here and there and play with their toys. They have developed as nomadic creatures, enduring diverse and rugged habitations. Cockatiels relentlessly move, changing locations along with the cyclic instability of food and water supply. This kind of habitation and the cockatiel’s adaptive approach made them fit as a pet.

The distinctive head crest of a cinnamon cockatiel erects when these birds are thrilled or stimulated. This will be one of the signals that you will notice and sometimes will find very amusing. Also, the crest seems to flatten when they are angry, defensive and meek. It is neither erect nor flat when they are in a normal state. As a pet owner, you should master these so that you can handle it well.

Similar to lutino cockatiel, cinnamon cockatiel is developed from mutations. They are one of the sex-recessive cockatiel mutations. The gene has an effect on their melanin pigment and impedes the gray and the black pigments but the pigment amount is not actually changed, just the coloring. Their brown pigment goes to their eyes, beak, legs, feet and feathers. The existence of yellow color in the chest and feathers is evident in males and female cinnamons.

Having A Cockatiel As A Pet Is A Very Rewarding Experience!

Considering having a cockatiel as a pet? Well, let me tell you what a great idea that is! Cockatiels are very friendly birds and really do not take a lot of work to keep them happy and healthy. These birds generally fit in well with any family situation including a home full of children.

However, there are some tips that can be useful before you buy your bird. Firstly there maybe some behaviors that cockatiels have that can take new unsuspecting bird owners by surprise. Whilst these birds love to be around humans and enjoy sitting on your shoulder or even your finger (once they are comfortable and are trained) they also may want to have a chew on your favorite ear rings or any other piece of jewelry you may have on. Make sure you remove anything that you do not want destroyed. Once your bird has been trained he or she should be quite at home to sit on you without doing any major damage.

Something else you may not be aware of is that when your cockatiel may be doing something naughty you may hear unusual noises such as a different sounding coo or chirp. This can especially happen when your bird is having a free range of the house. You never know what your cockatiel may find to have a good time with. There could be important papers or money for instance and you want those things to stay in one piece not shredded up into thousands of pieces! So always be aware of where he is at all times. This is also important so he does not fly outside and get lost or stolen.

As with any caged bird you should always cover its cage at night. Cockatiels can get a fright in the night by an unexpected noise and flap around and injure themselves. However, they do still like some form of light so when covering the cage with a cloth leave a flap open so some light can come in from a light that has been left on. Unfortunately some of these birds can have frights in the night on a regular basis so maybe you will have to leave the cage in a brightly lit room. If this does not help then it would be advisable to take your bird to the vet to see what they suggest you do.

Having a cockatiel as a pet can be such an enjoyable experience. These birds when trained with a guided and loving hand can really become part of the family in and out of the cage. So if you haven’t had that experience and are thinking about it then do take the step and experience the wonderful bond that can be made between human and bird.

Pied Cockatiel – The First To Develop The Colorful Mutations Of Cockatiels

Big and random bodily blotches ?ese are the major characteristics in which the pied cockatiel is known for. This mutation is any color cropping up from solid cockatiel colors. Color quantity and placement differs a single bird to the other. The tint of pied cockatiels has been a result of the feather pattern changes, not a color change. These pied cockatiels are also called as pied tiel, variegated cockatiel and harlequin cockatiel.

The pied upshot in pied cockatiel actually is a large mixture of colors in blotches or patches, such as permutation of whites and greys among grey cockatiels or a blend of yellow and cinnamon on the cinnamon cockatiels. Some stunning birds show a perfect balance of these blotches although it is not always achieved when breeding cockatiels. As a result, the variation of patterns makes it hard to determine between the sexes of pied cockatiel.

The record of this cockatiel mutation is indistinct although it has been established that it was done in California. After the death of the first mutation developer, his stock was acquired by a certain Mr. Hubbell who continued the breeding program until today. Chances are that when you had a pied cockatiel, it comes from the continued mutation which was originally from California.

The pied cockatiel was initially developed by breeders so basically these birds did not come from the wilderness or anywhere. The grey ones are seen among the areas of Australia excluding the Tasmania and Australia’s coasts. As a Cacatuidae family member, they have generally crests. These crests can go erect when these birds are agitated and enthused. Conversely, their crests level goes down significantly when they are angry or defensive.

The genes which have created the pattern in every pied cockatiel give no significant effect on the bird’s coloring. However, the color distribution is the one that is affected. Pied cockatiels have major combinations of grays and whites within random pattern. These mutations can weigh to up to four ounces and more.

Making the pied cockatiel an ultimate desirable pet is because of their behavior ?ey are not loud unlike other parrot species which are not only noisy but also are annoying. You can leave it alone it its cage or location for some time without their behavior being affected negatively. These species are steadfast and affectionate. Likewise, they love to play with toys and to climb perches which you have provided in their cage.

Signs of a Sick Cockatiel

Like most birds, cockatiels are very good at masking signs of health problems.  Most diseases aren’t detected until they have already reached an advanced stage.  Therefore, you need to keep a close eye on your bird so you’ll know when there’s something wrong.  Here are a few signs of a sick cockatiel that every owner should know.

Weight

If possible, you should try to weigh your bird on a daily basis.  Sick cockatiels will slowly lose weight everyday, so you’ll easily be able to detect the loss.  Losing weight means that your bird isn’t eating as much as usual, a sure sign that there’s something wrong.

Vomiting

One of the more obvious signs of a sick cockatiel is vomiting.  This is one of the most serious symptoms that your bird can develop.  It can be a sign that he has a crop infection or is suffering from heavy metal poisoning.  You should seek veterinary help as soon as possible if your bird experiences recurring episodes of vomiting.

Sneezing

Another common symptom is sneezing.  This is usually caused by a sinus infection.  However, sinus infections can be due to various reasons, so a veterinarian will have to determine the cause.  Bacterial infections, fungal infections, or conditions such as Psittacosis are usually to blame.

Feather Picking

One of the next common signs of a sick cockatiel is feather picking.  This can be caused by a parasitic infection or an underlying disease.  Sometimes, it’s just the result of behavioral problems.  In some cases, it can be a combination of both.  Your certified avian vet will have to rule out disease as the underlying cause.

Screeching

If you’ve kept your bird for a while, you should know how much noise it usually makes.  Excessive screeching is a sign that something is wrong.  Like feather picking, it can be caused by parasites, disease, or just a behavioral problem.

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