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Thread: Cockatiels

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    Default Cockatiels

    So I purchase a young female cockatiel today. As of now she is napping in her cage and doing well. I have experience with birds, among many other animals (I owned 23 Parakeets at one point) and thought I'd try this bird. Anyone have one and would like to share some tips or things their birdies really enjoy?

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    Default Re: Cockatiels

    My family has had these before. You'll find these guys do not mind walking on the floor, and will often do so when you let them out. If you don't want them to develop hi pitched calling, make sure your phones or other electronic devices that ring are set to a lower pitch.

    These birds will think it is another bird is calling and imitate it. I can remember a few mornings when my father was startled at by the phone ringing, only to find the birds had imitated the phone. They will chirp at sunrise and sunset.


    They can be nice pets if they don’t pickup the high pitched calling.
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    Default Re: Cockatiels

    my family has raised them for about 20 years. now we are down to 5 spoiled rotten birds. they are not animmals that you can just throw in a cage & feed-n-water once or twice a week, they need attention or they get bored & will pull all their feathers out. they need toys to keep them busy when your not there to fuck with them. they also live for at least 10 years if well taken care of, it used to be around 15-20 years but the inbreeding has knocked their health down alot in the last 10 years or so. if you have time they like to be let out of the cage for at least 1/2 hour a day & will have a fit if you don't let them out after they get used to it. fun little birds but they can also be a pain in ass if you don't have time for them

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    Default Re: Cockatiels

    Ha! Sounds much like spoiled parakeets. I'm in the stages of getting the bird used to me, so I can eventually finger train it and take it out of the cage, since now she is quite scared of me. I can't wait!

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    Default Re: Cockatiels

    My old cockatiel was like a little yellow person who would walk around my desk and sit on my hand. I got him from a friend who taught him to say a few words and phrases, but I never had the patience to teach anything new. They like it if you very lightly spray them with water sometimes. And they will sing at dawn, so if you're a late sleeper, make sure the room is very very dark.

    Oh and Beaker lived at least 20 years.

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    Default Re: Cockatiels

    Ah...I have my one and only "king of the house" baby...named Bird (yes, I know...his naming is a long story). He is the biggest brat of a pet I've ever had, and we get along just fine.

    He can be a bit loud if he wants something (out of the cage, food, etc.) and he gets grumpy around his bed time, but he is the most fun of any pet I've had (besides the ferrets, of course).

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    Default Re: Cockatiels

    They definatley love water...whenever I spray mine down they spread their wings and dance in the mist! Spray them down once a week and it will cut WAY down on the dander(that fine whitish dust that gets all over everything near the cage).

    Also...I dont know what you are feeding them, but a seed only diet is lacking in a lot of nutrients. If you cant convert to pellets(which mine have never taken to) make sure you offer a LOT of human food. Fruits, veggies, unsweetened whole grain cereals(mine are partial to Cheerios and Kashi!). You can also bake corn muffins and put shredded veggies in the batter for healthy treats. No avacado though..it is toxic to birds. As are several other things....you can google it for a list of toxic foods and plants.

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    Default Re: Cockatiels

    ^ Bird likes the water, too. He's out of the cage most of the time, and if he'll fly to the shower (when someone is in it) and hop right in!

    Bird is BIG on people food, too. The pararkeets aren't really into anything I give them, but Bird will grab anything off your plate if you let him. He actually dunked his head into my cereal bowl to steal a Cheerio once (when I wasn't paying attention...d'oh)!

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    Default Re: Cockatiels

    the females aren't nearly as vocal as the males are, some will only make a very low chirp when you talk to them. they are scared of anything new & it will take a few days for them to get used to different stuff around or in their cages.

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    Default Re: Cockatiels

    We had one when I was a kid. Apparently, they mate for life and she picked my dad. She wasn't ever very nice... a biter.
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    Default Re: Cockatiels

    Quote Originally Posted by Bella21
    We had one when I was a kid. Apparently, they mate for life and she picked my dad. She wasn't ever very nice... a biter.
    Teehee...I think Bird picked me. He follows me around everywhere I go, and he screams really loud if I leave him alone. I left one day and could hear him screaming for me as I was getting into my car.

  12. #12
    exotisch23
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    Default Re: Cockatiels

    I had a female cockatiel when I was kid, I loved that bird although she did have a very high pitched chirp that woke us up in the morning She loved scrambled eggs and accidentally got outside one day and flew away
    Last edited by exotisch23; 09-11-2006 at 06:38 PM.

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    Default Re: Cockatiels

    Make sure you use rope perches! Those round ones give a birdy sore feet!


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    Default Re: Cockatiels

    Rope perches have their dangers too(any rope toys, etc...too) Just had to have one of my babies toes amputated because he somehow got a piece of the rope off and tangled around his toe. By the time I found it..it was prob a few hours at least and it was too late to save the toe. He's fine now...but still..be careful.

    natural wood(manzanita is REALLY strong and fairly cheap at most pet stores) has a lot of twists and differant girths so it allows them to excersize their feet.
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    Default Re: Cockatiels

    if your bird gets out and flys away try to stay in sight of it but DON'T try to catch it, they will ussually fly back to you or another person within about a hour if they are tame. they get hungry & look for people to feed them. if you loose sight of it put the cage outside & sometimes they will return to eat if they don't fly to far off. alot of people make the mistake of chasing after them & it just scares them even more & they keep flying.

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