General Information
Diet
Cage
Sexing
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Cockatiels are nomadic natives of the arid Australian interior. Wild cockatiels
are primarily gray, with yellow on the head and crest, white on the sides of the wings, and orange on cheek patches.
Breeders have developed numerous other mutations over the decades.
They can live for over twenty years, are small and relatively quiet, can talk
(although not as readily or as well as other parrots can), and can become adept whistlers.
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For years seeds have played a role as the staple diet of pet birds, but in the past several years
pelleted, or extruded, diets have grown in popularity. The case for pelleted diets is strong. They are formulated
specifically for a bird's nutritional needs, akin to processed foods for dogs and cats, and unlike with fortified
seed mixes, a 'tiel can't hunt and peck for favorite seeds, so she is guaranteed to get a proper balance of nutrients.
However, they can be difficult, if not impossible, to introduce to an older bird. Many pet cockatiels fed with
just seed mixes that have lived to be over 20 years old. Without going into specific seed combination, any one
of the brand name cockatiel seed mixes will suffice, supplemented with fresh fruits and veggies.
Note: Green, dark leafy vegetables are better for birds
than fruits; spinach, kale, broccoli, carrots, and sweet potato.
Note Water soluble vitamins tend
to break down from sunlight as they are left in a bird's water, and they can cause bacterial growth (guess they
make something healthy). Powdered vitamins, sprinkled on seeds, are wasted: 'tiels remove the hull of their seeds
just before eating them, removing the vitamin coat.
Grit, along with those vitamins, is found in many pet
stores and in those starter kits that come with many cockatiel cages. Grit, along with those vitamins, is unnecessary,
and potentially dangerous to cockatiels. A lot of people with tell you that pet birds need grit to aid their gizzards
to grind up food. However, cockatiels and other hookbills hull the seeds they eat, so their gizzards do not need
the extra abrasion grit provides. Insoluble grit will stay in the gizzard, and can cause intestinal disorders --
even death. |
| Make sure the cage allows enough room for your 'tiel to beat
his wings inside his cage. Do not clutter the cage with toys, and make sure the bars are horizontally placed, as
'tiels love to climb. |
Males tend to be noisier than females. They sing or screech
a lot. Females usually make noise when they call for someone or need something.
Most female Cockatiels have horizontal bars on the underside
of their tail feathers. Males don't have them. They can be seen under a bright light unless you can already see
them.
If a young Cockatiel has spots under its wings and they
go from the tip of its wing to the feathers next to the body, its usually a female. If they have spots, but don't
go all the way across the wing span it may be a boy. This is accurate, but some Cockatiels defy this theory.
Place your finger over your birds vent and you should
feel two bony ridges. If the bird
is a male these ridges are close together. If it is a girl, these ridges are
further apart and tend to be more flexible than the boys. This only works for adult Cockatiels. |
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