Sammy & Sally Sugar & Spice
These are our cockatiel parents. They produce all different colors of babies including cinnamons, normals, pieds, pearls, white face, yellow face and lutino. We are handfeeding babies from both of these pairs now.
Cockatiel Care
Every bird owner knows that cockatiels can be a major source of fun. Because of their small size, cockatiel care and taming is easier than some other parrot species. Cockatiels are small parrots with a variety of color patterns and a crest. Cockatiels are attractive as well as friendly and easy to tame. Cockatiels are capable of mimicking speech, although they can be difficult to understand. Teaching parrots to whistle tunes is something that makes cockatiels so lovable and cute. If you are looking for a pet bird who's antics can keep you in stitches, you may want to consider purchasing a cockatiel.
Housing:
Cockatiels need a large bird cage. They are active and like to fly and climb around inside their cage. Dimensions of 20 inches by 20 inches with a height of 26 inches is the minimum size for their cage. The best cage should have horizontal bars to aid the bird in climbing with spaces not larger then 3/4 of an inch to avoid any accidents. Make sure the cage is in a well-ventilated area. Cages should have different sized perches. The different sizes offered are really beneficial to the health of the cockatiel's feet. Natural tree branches work real well, too. Be careful not to use any trees or plants that are toxic or poisonous. Branches that make safe perches are apple, ash, almond, apricot, peach, maple and elm. Cockatiels need light, but don't put the cage in direct sunlight. If no light is available from natural lighting, supply a full-spectrum artificial light. This lighting is necessary for the bird to utilize vitamin D.
Diet:
Many manufactures have begun offering fortified seed mixes that include the other foods that they need, such as dried fruits, vegetables, vitamins and concentrated food supplements. You should supplement other foods for nutrition and variety, after all the same old diet everyday is boring for birds, too. Supplement healthy people’s food. Serve your birds bean mixes and ready-made bird breads. A good diet helps the bird resist infection and they are stronger and healthier. All of our babies are weaned to pellets, seed, fresh fruits and veggies. Try to give fresh foods at least 3 or 4 times a week. Our birds love apples, broccoli, cabbage, kale, carrots, parsley, and spinach. Caution -- remember to remove any uneaten fresh food from the cage before it spoils. You should also avoid alcohol, avocado, caffeine, chocolate, rhubarb leaves and anything high in sugar, fat, or salt. Always have a cuttlebone or mineral block available.
Avian water bottles are great in that the bird’s excrement doesn't accumulate in the dish. Make sure the bird has learned to use the bottle before removing the water dish. He will also need food dishes. One dish is for seed and one for fresh foods. Keep the cage cleaned. It must be cleaned everyday. The cage should be disinfected regularly. A bleach solution works well. But make sure it is dried and aired out before returning the bird to the cage. Make sure the food and water are changed daily.
Toys:
Cockatiels love climbing and stretching their wings, as well as playing. Keep the quantity of toys and accessories in the cage light so that you don't inhibit the bird's movements. They enjoy a variety of toys such as seed treats, swings, ladders, bells, and mirrors. Tree branches and wooden chews provide excellent exercise and keep the beak trim. Bright shiny plastic toys are for parakeets, not cockatiels! Never give them rubber toys! A tame cockatiel will enjoy a playpen outside of the cage. It makes a superior cockatiel toy and can be equipped with ladders, perches, swings and hanging toys.
Training:
A cockatiel can be trained to talk but it takes a great amount of patience.There are audio tapes available which can help in the training process but it will still require a great amount of patience. If you do want to teach your cockatiel to talk begin by choosing a single word that you want to teach to your bird. Choose a time each day that you will use for training. This should be a time when it is quiet and there is very few distractions. Softy repeat the word over and over to the bird. It will take time but eventually he may say it. Don't give up, keep trying. It takes alot of time to hear that first word. The second word you teach will probably be easier.
Handling:
Make sure you hold your cockatiel gently, do not squeeze or poke. Let them climb on you and sit on your head if they like. When taking them from their cage, be sure to hold them firmly around their bodies and and make sure you don't bump their heads or beaks. Stroke them gently with the direction of their feathers and even scratch them gingerly around their body. If you want your bird to stay tame, you need to handle them at least once a day.
Cockatiel Dust: Cockatiels, like
cockatoos, produce a powdery down that covers their feathers. Powder down can
trigger allergies and asthma attacks, so please take this into account when
considering a cockatiel