Bea
07-28-2007, 11:25 AM
Basic Cockatiel Care
Written by Bea
To get things started in the Cockatiel Articles i thought it would be a good idea to cover some basics of cockatiel care. I'll talk about what i've learned about housing, feeding, entertaining and generally keeping your cockatiel happy.
First things first, your cockatiel will need a cage to call it's own. When i was researching cockatiels before i became a tiel owner i found varying opinions on what size a cage should be for a single cockatiel. Personally i feel that the minimum cage size a cockatiel should be kept in is approx. 18"d x 18"h x 30"w. Obviously your cockatiel will appreciate as much space as you can give it, the bigger the better! Bar spacing for cockatiels should be no larger than 5/8". For a longer lasting cage it's a good idea to look for a powder coated cage. These are slightly more expensive but will last for ages and are rust free. Definitely worth the extra money! The cage should be kept clean for your cockatiels hygiene. Cage floor lining (paper towels, newspaper, etc) should be changed every day or two and once a week everything should be wiped down and scrubbed if necessary.
Once you've got a cage, you need toys and perches to fill it with and to keep your cockatiel entertained during the hours it's confined to it's cage. What toys and perches you use is entirely up to your preferences, but remember that a variety or perch sizes/textures is important to keep your cockatiel's feet in good shape. You should avoid harsh textures like sandpaper covered dowel perches. I would recommend using rope perches, cement perches and natural branches (safe wood only of course). In my experience i've found that cockatiels like to shred things, so it's a good idea to put some toys that can be shredded in your cockatiels cage. This can be as simple as a cut piece of paper, or as fancy as a parrot pinata. Either way, something to chew is always a welcome toy in the cage. While it can be fun to find lots of new toys and perches for your cockatiel try not to make the cage over crowded or cramped. Keep some things aside and swap them around every week or two.
So you've got a cage, and you've filled it with things for your cockatiel to do! Now you need to think about what to feed it. I feed my cockatiels a mixture of seed, pellets and vegetables. I will also feed them cooked foods like egg, legumes and wholegrain rice or pasta from time to time. You will want good quality seed and pellets, both of which can usually be found in your local pet store. You want to avoid foods that have lots of preservatives and added colours. In particular you need to avoid the preservative ethoxyquin as this is extremely harmful to your bird. Never feed your cockatiel chocolate, alcohol, avocado or apple seeds. Also avoid foods high in sugar and salt. If it's not good for you then it's certainly not good for your cockatiel. Offer your cockatiel fresh veggies everyday. Some examples of good ones to try are: broccoli, carrot, sweet potato (cooked), dark leafy greens (spinach, bok choy), and other similar vegetables. Avoid watery ones like celery and lettuce as these can give your cockatiel diarrhea. At all times your cockatiel should have access to a mineral block and fresh water.
That's pretty much the basics, with one exception: playtime! Cockatiels are social birds and will want to spend as much time with your and your family as possible. You should aim to have your cockatiel out of the cage for at least one hour a day, but i'm sure that you'll find you want to spend much more time with it than that. Cockatiels can be extremely friendly and interactive members of the family. They enjoy kisses and cuddles and many love a nice head scratch from their favourite flock member. Male cockatiels are known to be rather talented whistlers which can provide hours of entertainment for everyone.
All in all, cockatiels are wonderful pets for anyone with the time and love to care for them properly. I hope you've found the information in this article helpful whether you have just found your newest flock member or are looking to find one in the future!
Written by Bea
To get things started in the Cockatiel Articles i thought it would be a good idea to cover some basics of cockatiel care. I'll talk about what i've learned about housing, feeding, entertaining and generally keeping your cockatiel happy.
First things first, your cockatiel will need a cage to call it's own. When i was researching cockatiels before i became a tiel owner i found varying opinions on what size a cage should be for a single cockatiel. Personally i feel that the minimum cage size a cockatiel should be kept in is approx. 18"d x 18"h x 30"w. Obviously your cockatiel will appreciate as much space as you can give it, the bigger the better! Bar spacing for cockatiels should be no larger than 5/8". For a longer lasting cage it's a good idea to look for a powder coated cage. These are slightly more expensive but will last for ages and are rust free. Definitely worth the extra money! The cage should be kept clean for your cockatiels hygiene. Cage floor lining (paper towels, newspaper, etc) should be changed every day or two and once a week everything should be wiped down and scrubbed if necessary.
Once you've got a cage, you need toys and perches to fill it with and to keep your cockatiel entertained during the hours it's confined to it's cage. What toys and perches you use is entirely up to your preferences, but remember that a variety or perch sizes/textures is important to keep your cockatiel's feet in good shape. You should avoid harsh textures like sandpaper covered dowel perches. I would recommend using rope perches, cement perches and natural branches (safe wood only of course). In my experience i've found that cockatiels like to shred things, so it's a good idea to put some toys that can be shredded in your cockatiels cage. This can be as simple as a cut piece of paper, or as fancy as a parrot pinata. Either way, something to chew is always a welcome toy in the cage. While it can be fun to find lots of new toys and perches for your cockatiel try not to make the cage over crowded or cramped. Keep some things aside and swap them around every week or two.
So you've got a cage, and you've filled it with things for your cockatiel to do! Now you need to think about what to feed it. I feed my cockatiels a mixture of seed, pellets and vegetables. I will also feed them cooked foods like egg, legumes and wholegrain rice or pasta from time to time. You will want good quality seed and pellets, both of which can usually be found in your local pet store. You want to avoid foods that have lots of preservatives and added colours. In particular you need to avoid the preservative ethoxyquin as this is extremely harmful to your bird. Never feed your cockatiel chocolate, alcohol, avocado or apple seeds. Also avoid foods high in sugar and salt. If it's not good for you then it's certainly not good for your cockatiel. Offer your cockatiel fresh veggies everyday. Some examples of good ones to try are: broccoli, carrot, sweet potato (cooked), dark leafy greens (spinach, bok choy), and other similar vegetables. Avoid watery ones like celery and lettuce as these can give your cockatiel diarrhea. At all times your cockatiel should have access to a mineral block and fresh water.
That's pretty much the basics, with one exception: playtime! Cockatiels are social birds and will want to spend as much time with your and your family as possible. You should aim to have your cockatiel out of the cage for at least one hour a day, but i'm sure that you'll find you want to spend much more time with it than that. Cockatiels can be extremely friendly and interactive members of the family. They enjoy kisses and cuddles and many love a nice head scratch from their favourite flock member. Male cockatiels are known to be rather talented whistlers which can provide hours of entertainment for everyone.
All in all, cockatiels are wonderful pets for anyone with the time and love to care for them properly. I hope you've found the information in this article helpful whether you have just found your newest flock member or are looking to find one in the future!