How to get a cockatiel used to a new home?

Question by Kylie Curtis: How to get a cockatiel used to a new home?
I’m getting a cinnamon pied cockatiel from a breeder next week. He’s been hand fed and has a great personality. I have a nice big cage ready for him and I can’t wait to bring him home. My question is how can I get him used to a new home as easily and stress free as possible. I have three dogs already(don’t worry, the birdy will be in my room and the dogs are NEVER allowed in there) and they get noisy sometimes, so would that be a factor? Also, what are some toys they really enjoy and treats that are healthy? I’ve had birds before(lovebird, sparrow, parakeets) but Im new to cockatiels, so I wanna be as prepared as possible.
Also I named him Cinna after an old Final Fantasy character :3

Best answer:

Answer by LS
It should be pretty easy, you’re taking care of the important parts like keeping him safe from the dogs.

Make sure the cage is in a corner so he feels secure, and that it has a cover that blocks out a lot of light (a piece of fabric like a doubleknit or a denim or twill is fine, leave it partially draped (half) until he feels comfortable. Make sure he is not in a draft or full sunlight with no protection.

They need perches, enough room to stretch their wings, and some chew toys or millet sprays, etc. A high quality seed mix is important.

Do not get a mirror or your bird will not bond with you, and if you have a mirror in your room, seriously, drape it until he does bond to you.

If you are training him to speak, you can make a recording and play it when you leave. He’ll learn a lot faster.

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My cockatiel won’t stop screaming, whats wrong?

Question by PrincessJinx: My cockatiel won’t stop screaming, whats wrong?
My male cockatiel who is about 8 months old has recently gotten himself into a new bad habit. He used to made a little noise whenever someone let the room, one or two chirps. It was cute and made me smile. The past week it has been getting ridiculous. He wont stop screaming if I leave to go to the bathroom to get a drink or cook. Goodness knows what he does when I am not home. He has a mate with him. They are still young so I am positive they have never done anything (and she doesnt like him) mate like but he is not alone.
So if he is in his cage, he starts with the loud calls, if I let him out and he is doing his thing I am try to leave to pee he starts, and a new one today. He is sitting on my hand while I type but because I am not actively giving him 100% of my attention he is making all this ruckess.
I would just ignore him if I did not live in an apartment where I am sure they can hear him all day long. His calls do not really bother me, however today I am giving in to his demands just because it has never been so bad before. I knew he was attention hungry, but this is ridiculous. Actually right now I think he might be doing this because my husband left for work. They are more bonded.

My bird is not deprived for attention in any way, my male especially. We love to watch him when he is happy and he and my husband play together every day when he gets home and he gets to be out and about when it is just me. I worry for the day I find a job that he will go nuts. I have tried to put a cover on his cage so that he stays quiet for longer into the morning. They go to bed when we do besides their naps during the day. He has a lot of toys to amuse himself with and a playpen to hang out on. Is this just a phase? Should I ignore him or do something?
Thanks for the idea Renee. Usually I just yell “I am right here!” From whatever room I am in. I guess yelling it doesn’t help the situation lol.

Best answer:

Answer by Renee
Be happy you are now part of his flock. He screams when you leave so you do not get lost and you can find your way back. When I find myself at home more that usual my bird starts up doing the same thing. I just started talking to my bird Sierra when I leave I say “It’s ok I’ll be right back”. If I look at him and say it calmly he will calm down. It takes some training but after he does his first squawk walk over talk to him then go about your business.

Yeah yelling is just a competition. I have been staying in a one room apartment so Sierra is spoiled, he likes being able to see me:) Good Luck

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questions about my new cockatiel?

Question by Ellie: questions about my new cockatiel?
hey everyone.
i just recently got a new cockatiel yesterday. she seems a little shy and she is not tamed but i am trying to tame her.
she is about 4 months make a little older.
she doesnt seem to want to eat or drink water very much and she doesnt really leave her perch.
she hasnt really slept from what i can tell and she keeps grinding her beak.
is any of this normals for a new cockatiel? i just got her yesterday. she doesnt hiss at me much anymore. yesterday she did. im guessing she was really frightened.
do you have any tips as far as helping her eat and sleep goes?
this would be really helpful and any information would be great !
on toys,food,water,her cage, anything.
thank you so much !
she also seems to be….stretching i suppose. she will open her wings and bend them back and just grind her beak.
thanks again.

Best answer:

Answer by Kelly
She will eat when she is hungry. You should be providing a variety of food. Fresh veggies should be provided every day and not left in the cage for more than an hour or two. Pellets should be available around the clock. Seed is a treat but is a good source of vitamins for your bird so a little seed every day. My schedule was veggies in the morning while we eat breakfast, seed at night when we eat dinner. Cockatiels are very social animals and will want to be involved when you are eating.

Make sure it is dark in the evening and keep it dark throughout the night. If you have a dimmer it is good to dim the lights to mimic the outdoors. She might still be getting used to her new surroundings so I wouldn’t worry about enough sleep. Grinding their beaks means they are comfortable and you should be worried if they are NOT grinding the beak.

Stretching is also perfectly normal. My cockatiel will stretch and even extend her legs behind her one at a time.

Finally, have LOTS of toys available and switch them out often. Shred-able toys are some favorites of ours.

Good luck! Cockatiels are great pets and lots of fun.

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My cockatiel is over 3 years old and is losing feathers!?

Question by Tori: My cockatiel is over 3 years old and is losing feathers!?
i got my bird over three years a go from a swap meet in goodyear. hes always done fine, very healthy. He has always bitten the other people in my family but me. He also shakes or shivers a lot. hes main diet is bird feed, he wont eat anything ells. also he lives in a good size cage right by the dinner table he has plenty of toys and is “bathed” regularly. BUT the problem is he shivers too much i fear and he cleans himself allot .A few weeks ago i noticed while he was cleaning himself ,under his wings he has these “quill like” feather stubs. he has these under both of his wings, his tail feathers fall out as well. hes had those “quill like” feathers for a month now they haven’t gotten bigger or smaller they’re JUST THERE! whats going on with my cockatiel?

Best answer:

Answer by Chris C
A bird naturally shivers for many reasons, so that is not something to be concerned about unless he is shivering and screaming at the same time.

It sounds like your bird is bored. I know you say he has lots of toys, but cockatiels are creatures that need a lot of space and ability to play with people or other birds outside of its cage. When birds overly preen it’s mostly out of boredom. It sounds like he is healthy otherwise, so I would try to play with him or at least let him out of the cage for a few hours a day.

Another reason for major preening is when he is having painful feather in-growths after a molt. Birds molt for various reasons, usually only once a year but sometimes multiple times if you keep them at a constant temperature indoors with some light variance. When they molt they get those quill-like stubby feathers which are the casing of a feather in the making. They should shed naturally and with the help of your bird preening.

Birds preen more when they have those because they are irritating and they need to take care of them since they are blood feathers. They can harm your bird, not only irritate him, so make sure he doesn’t hurt himself by picking at them until they bleed. However, he should be picking at them to relieve his irritations.

It also helps if you can rub your birds feathers on his head or under his wings where it is hard to reach. The baths help to induce preening so if he has just had a molt, this would help to keep him on top of those feathers.

As far as the feathers not getting bigger or smaller, that has to be an exaggeration because birds always grow their feathers out rapidly after a molt to ensure they can have heat. If it seems they are growing slowly, it may be due to the temperature in your home or if your bird gets a lot of sun. When they get more sun and it is warmer, their feathers tend to grow slower because it is not yet winter and the need for new feathers is not apparent.

Still, feathers should never grow that slowly. Your bird’s health may not be in the best of shape if he has had the same feathers for a while and the blood feathers have not yet receded their quicks. I would say try taking him out and varying his sunlight hours and see if there is a change in his feathers. Give him frequent baths, perhaps every other day to see if he preens and takes care of those new feathers. If there is no change in a few weeks take him to the vet.

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Questions before buying a cockatiel.?

Question by George: Questions before buying a cockatiel.?
Now, I’ve read quite a lot about owning a cockatiel and I believe that I am ready to buy one.
I only have a couple of questions regarding care and habits.

I know that they need a cage, cuttlebone, toys and perches. And I know they need fresh fruit. But I’m not sure exactly what kind of pellets or seeds they eat. Can anyone recommend a type or brand?

I also couldn’t find what to do to prepare them at night.
Do I cover them? or do I just leave them as they are?
My room is right next to a light post so it always has some light. Mind you it’s not extremely bright, nor as if my bedroom light was on, but there is still a light source. Should I shield the cockatiel from the light source or is it irrelevant?

And I’m starting college in a week. I’ve organized my classes so that I can have an hour with him/her in the morning (9), and hour during lunch(12) and the rest of the day after 3.
Is this enough time for me to be spending with him/her or is it insufficient?

Thanks.
Thank you both for those comments.
I don’t know who to pick because both of them were so helpful.
But I sincerely thank both of you.

Best answer:

Answer by Dave Womach
Here is all the info you need on what to feed them, organic pellets are best and there are two on the market;

http://jamiesparrothelp.wordpress.com/2008/06/03/the-diet-your-parrot-should-be-on/

As for cage covers, most people cover them when they are being too noisy which should not be done so I never recommend people to get cage covers. Also, I’ve read birds need a constant circulation of air flow but you could always cover the side that faces the light post and leave the remaining sides of the cage open and uncovered.

The best toys are those WITHOUT reflections. Cockatiels can become very hormonal… and my brother’s tiel quickly got defensive over mirrors or anything reflective. It’s not a fun behavior to have to reverse! Here are the best toys (also natural/organic); http://www.birdtricks.com/parrot-toys Too many other toys on the market use bad metal, toxic dyes, etc. So be careful about all that.

Also, millet is a great treat for tiels for training but not as an everyday part of their diet.

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Take cockatiel to regular animal vet?

Question by Topaz: Take cockatiel to regular animal vet?
Okay, I’m planning on getting a cockatiel really soon and I think I have it all figured out. I’m fourteen, but my parents agreed to help me pay for the costs of keeping a bird. I’m going to get a nice big cage, I researched what they should be eating, I’ll get nice toys, perches, all of that stuff. There’s one thing I’m not sure about, though: vet care. I looked up local avien vets and the closest one is more than an hour away! I don’t think my parents would take me there. Do you think that a local vet, like one that treats cats and dogs, can treat birds as well? At least give them a checkup every once an a while? Is it necessary to take them to the vet? I think that it is. Please help?
If I thought there was something seriously wrong with my bird, I would make my parents take the long drive. They would do it if I really thought I needed to. I’m just wondering if a regular vet (my nearby vet that I take my dog to says they treat birds) could give a basic checkup when I first get my bird.

Best answer:

Answer by Parrot Expert
The best thing for you to do is to call the various vets close by to ask if they treat cockatiels. Hopefully, you’ll NEVER have to take your pet to the vet because it is VERY costly. By doing this, at least you’ll have a phone number and address ready in case you need to go to the vet rather than panicking and trying to find out the information while you are upset.

Knowing how to properly care for your bird, such as keeping it’s flight feathers trimmed and proper nutrition, should prevent situations from arising where a costly trip to a vet is required.

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should I clip my cockatiel’s wings?

Question by AMG: should I clip my cockatiel’s wings?
My cockatiel, Tre’, is about 3 years old. He’s had the privelege of flight since he first molted and grew his flight feathers out a couple years ago. When I bought him as a handfed baby, he was the sweetest thing and the way he jumped off the cage trying to fly broke my heart. I felt like it was his right as a bird to fly and I shouldn’t take that away from him. And so he flew… and things were fine.

Today, Tre’ is a troublemaking, cocky monster most of the time. He divebombs certain people, even ripped my friend’s glasses off in the process. He spends most of his time out trying to destroy my things. He lands on doors and chews the trim above them, knocks things off my walls so he can chew on them when they hit the floor, lands on my desk and chews up papers, etc.

He has a huge 33x30x18 cage filled with toys that I switch around (and I buy new ones regularly) so he can’t be bored. I even bought him a companion cockatiel (who’s wings are clipped) to keep him company. He has little interest in these things.

My question is, do you think Tre’ would be taken down a notch if I clipped his wings, too? I’m afraid he’s going to do the same heartbreaking jumps off his cage trying to fly again, and hate me for doing that to him… but the destruction and constant chasing him off of things is really getting old.

Thank you for your time.

Best answer:

Answer by StrangeQuestions
Just put the bird in another room maybe. But don’t clip its wings.Isn’t it cruel to clip a birds wings? If you cant take care of the bird just give it away. But never do something like that. My friend has a special room for his African Gray Parrot. You know that s the cost of it.

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New cockatiel, won’t eat or move from his perch.?

Question by Anna: New cockatiel, won’t eat or move from his perch.?
I got my cokcatiel yesterday. He has a huge large parrot cage (several perches), toys, big bowls of food and water. Yet he has been sitting in the same spot all day and only nibbled on some millet seed. He is not interested in the toys at all. I have been able to put him on my shoulder and he enjoyed being sung to. How can I get him to eat? He is too frightened of me right now to eat from my hand.

Best answer:

Answer by joewebb
Give him time to get use to everything,

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I’m worried my budgie is hurting my cockatiel?

Question by Purple Fizz: I’m worried my budgie is hurting my cockatiel?
I have a budgie and a cockatiel, my budgie is huge compared to average and my cockatiel is a small compared to average. Both are male, theyve lived together for two years and get along really well, but sometimes my budgie climbs onto the cockatiels back and the cockatiels walks around, he squacks, but it might just be because their playing. I’m also worried about my cockatiels tail, hes always pulling out the feathers so he only had a couple left, this means he doesnt fly very well, he climbs all the time, I know its not because hes bored, he has lots of toys, a huge cage and a companion, does anyone know why hes doing it?

Best answer:

Answer by NYMAMA_2010
Hon, your cockatiel is most likely stressed. Birds feather pluck for a few reasons, but if the parakeet is constantly bothering the tiel, this could be the cause. Try to pay attention to the both of them and if you see that your parakeet is getting a bit too annoying to the cockatiel, put him in his cage for a few minutes or take the tiel to another room. Sometimes parakeets are little pests. You may need to either separate the two birds permanently or find a new home for the keets. Personally, I’d keep the cockatiel because they are generally sweet and cuddly vs. the jumpy little parakeets. Main point here is that you need to remove the stressful elements of your cockatiels environment before he becomes a chronic feather plucker. I hope this helps you…Good luck.

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Why does my cockatiel suddenly fear me?

Question by K: Why does my cockatiel suddenly fear me?
My husband inherited a cockatiel from an ex-girlfriend about 7 years ago. The bird was only a baby, but she had been so neglected that despite being hand-fed previously, she was suddenly aggressive and fearful. So my husband purchased another cockatiel, Toni, to keep the original bird (Merlyn) happy. Merlyn was still grumpy, but the birds tolerated each other well.

Fast forward a couple of years (we’re now at about 3-5 years ago), and Toni just adores my husband. He can do tricks with her, kiss her, etc. She gets excited when he’s around and hisses at me when I get near the two of them, but she’s a sweet bird, even if Merlyn is still a little irritable.

Fast forward to about one month ago. Merlyn is now the “good” bird who doesn’t mind being handled much, and Toni loses her mind when anyone, including my husband, gets near. She flies all around the cage when he asks her to “step up”, hisses at him, and generally behaves in a manner that you’d think he abused her, which is NOT the case. He loves that bird, and this is really upsetting to him.

We keep the birds’ wings unclipped because we also have cats. Honestly, the cats don’t really care about the birds and generally leave them alone, but just in case, we wanted the birds to be able to take flight. However, Toni & Merlyn fly around the house and get caught in the skylight when we do let them out, so my husband usually only lets them out when he can supervise them. They have a large, clean cage, lots of toys, enough food/water, etc. So what gives?

Best answer:

Answer by Sarina
birds go through puberty just like humans. when they go through puberty then they can become irritable and aggressive even toward there long time owners. my dads friend nearly lost an eye handling his beloved bird while it was going through puberty. be patient and wait it out this phase will pass but it will take time and your support.

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