I recommend feeding your cockatiels pelleted foods, 
as sunflower seeds have too much fat for healthy birds. I
prefer Kaytee Exact pelleted diet for my "fids" and they love
it. Also, be sure they get plenty of fresh veggies and fruits. I do 
feed them cockatiel safflower mix, but only as a treat a
couple times a week. Millet sprays are also fun treats
for them, but don't use it as a regular diet.

Another point I want to stress is be sure to have your
birds' wings clipped, both for their safety and your peace of
mind. They are still able to fly with their flight feathers clipped,
but are not able to gain high altitudes and escape. It is also
a good preventative from serious injury within your house, 
such as windows. They will molt and these feathers will grow
back, so be sure to keep them trimmed after each molt.

Nail clipping is also very important so your little pal does not
end up getting his/her toenails caught in carpet, sweaters, etc.
and injuring a leg. I've heard of birds even getting caught on
rope perches and no one  home to help them, so be sure to
take preventative measures with your little birds. They depend
on us for their care and safety!!

Any further questions, you can contact me through my link on
the visitors page. Hope you've enjoyed watching my "fids" at 
play and would love to hear from you and get pictures of your 
birds!!

My birds are notorious for making up their own games and entertainment!! For instance, 
Chiko loves peeking behind pillows on the couch and waiting for me to whisper to her "what's 
that?". She then starts hissing and backs away from what she is looking at. Another game
she plays is sitting on my lap when I am at the kitchen table - she is looking at the closed
drawer in the center of the table, so I open it a little bit for her to peek in. She starts 
swaying back and forth, waiting for those famous words, and then hisses at the drawer.
She'll also crawl into dark spaces and wait for me to say "what's that" or "it's gonna get you",
and lets out a scream!!!. 

Jasper loves to play "catch me if you can". He will NOT let me put him back in the cage until
ALL the other birds are in first, and then I have to chase him all over the house. He usually
is running across the floor like a roadrunner and stands and watches me come toward him.
Then he pretends he's going to take off one direction, but goes another so I can't catch him.
This game I try not to play if I am in a hurry to get to work in the a.m. - That will guarantee me
being late for work, no doubt about that, so he doesn't come out in the mornings!! Also, Jasper
and KC love to hide behind my Dirt Devil, which is parked under the bookcase for instant
cleaning daily! When I asked "where's Jasper", he peeks over the top of the little vacuum
and then dares me to catch him. In the meantime, KC stands and watches with her BIG eyes
almost bugging out, waiting to see if she's in trouble!!! What a hoot!

DJ and Chipper like to walk around in the living room, checking out behind the couch and
seeing what entertaining things they can find to chew on. One of their favorites is shoes with
shoelaces to chew. I am missing all the plastic ends to my shoelaces!!! By the way, I've
learned the shoelaces make good toys for them - just hang a new lace in the cage and they
will be entertained for HOURS!!!

Shadow is the imitator - she walks around and attempts to copy everything all the other birds
are doing, although she doesn't really "hang out" or "bond" with the others - she's kind of a
loner, but entertaining to watch as she follows everyone around to see what they are doing!

I'd love to hear stories about other people's birds and what they do to entertain themselves
and you in the process!!!!  They are definitely very intelligent animals, no doubt about it!!