Be a Responsible Pet Owner

Cockatiel Birds

If you love to have a cockatiel bird but you do not know the requirements and needs of this beautiful bird, then you are in the right place that will put you on the right path to the right way to raise cockatiels correctly and know the requirements and needs of this wonderful fluffy bird.

Cockatiels are highly valued worldwide because of their lovable nature. They are easy to train, inexpensive, and easy to handle, so they are an excellent choice for beginners in ornamental bird breeding. Cockatiels are birds that live for large periods of 15-25 years with attention and care, and the longest cockatiel bird lived until the age of 32 years, and the weight of the adult cockatiel ranges between 80-120 grams, and they are Australian birds.

Cockatiel Birds Behavior:

The cockatiel sparrow is a relatively quiet bird that is more famous for whistling than talking, and they are adapted to daily activities in the house, and they also adapt to other pets that may be present in the house, cockatiels are intelligent and curious as they enjoy exploring the place around them, but they must You know that cockatiels are very social birds and require attention to satisfy their social nature.

It is highly recommended to have cockatiels in Group because they are social birds by nature and cannot live alone. Follow them everywhere.

Cockatiel bird care:

How many years do cockatiels live? Well, since their average lifespan ranges between 15-25 years, you are actually making a long-term commitment when you buy a bird or a group of cockatiels, and caring for cockatiels includes a set of points that you should keep in mind before you do the breeding of cockatiels and even if you A breeder of cockatiel finches should follow the following points to ensure that you are fulfilling your obligations towards these pet birds.

Cocktail bird cages:

You should know that the cockatiel birds will need cages as large as possible if they will be kept inside the cage all the time, but if your plan includes allowing them to go out for some time daily outside the cage, there is nothing wrong with a medium cage in this case, but the cage size should not be less than the dimensions Next, 24 x 24 x 24 inches, or 18 x 18 x 36 inches.

However, there must be a larger cage, and the spacing between the cage bars must be half an inch or less so that the cockatiel cannot push its head out of the cage through the bars, and the cage floor must be protected by a barrier that keeps the cockatiel away from its droppings so that it does not get sick As a result of eating it, and space must be provided in the cage to put toys for the cocktail birds, and do not forget to keep the cages away from strong winds, scorching sunshine, and rain so that they do not contract any diseases due to the change in the weather, and the cage must be covered with the cover designated for it to make sure that the bird will get 10-12 An hour of sleep every night.

Remember that the cockatiel bird depends on its movements and even sleeps on its feet, so a suitable perch must be provided for the birds so that they can stand and rest on them. And remember that the beaks of cockatiels are very strong and they like to use them to play, so you can provide some suitable toys for them and practice their hobby, which is best made of plastic, cardboard or soft wood.

Cockatiel Bird perch:

It is preferable to put a variety of sticks, and the size of the stick should fit the size of the foot, and the size of the stick that fits the foot of the cockatiel ranges from 4/3 - 1 1/2 inches in diameter, and the types of sticks suitable for cockatiels include:

• Manzanita stick: The manzanita stick is a very solid wood, which the cocktail bird will stand on while eating, and the stick comes in various different shapes, and two sticks are placed at different levels in the cage.
• A stick used as a treatment: This type of stick is used to limit the growth of the cockatiel bird's nails and also prevent the excessive growth of its beak, and we put one stick of this type at the highest point of the cage so that the bird can use it.
• Calcium and Minerals Stick: The Calcium and Mineral Wand provides the Cockatiel with the necessary calcium and minerals.

Cockatiel Bird Food and water containers:

Cages come equipped with food and water bowls, but sometimes cages are not quite enough.

If you choose a large enough cage, you can add non-messy food dishes, which prevent the birds from scattering excess food, and you may want to add another bottle of water inside the cage so that the bird has water whenever it needs it.

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Cockatiel birds Games:

Toys are one of the most important accessories that must be present inside the cage, and games are necessary because they stimulate the bird’s mind, and encourage him to exercise. Toys can be used as a place to hide food and the bird searches for it, as this mimics the way the bird will naturally behave in the Wild, chewing toys can keep the bird busy for a long time, and they also prevent overgrowth of the cockatiel's beak. Look for toys that include wood, coconut, yucca, and palm leaf components as a variety of chew toys. The swing is more popular with the cockatiel. It will make him spend a lot of happy times rocking with whistles all day long.

 

Cleaning schedule:

Keeping the environment in which this cockatiel lives clean helps it live longer and healthier, by:

Wash the dishes well daily before adding fresh food and water.

Change the paper at the bottom of the cage two or three times a week.

Thoroughly clean the cage once a week, including the metal mesh, litter tray, cage bars, and sticks of all kinds with toys and other accessories in the cage.

Cockatiel Birds day food:

In the wild, cockatiels eat everything from seeds, leaves, and bark to insects and larvae, and certainly, a pet cockatiel will need less energy than its friends in the wild, but their diet should be varied and comprehensive.

 

In general, processed granules should make up 70-80% of the cockatiel's diet, while vegetables and fruits do not exceed 20% of their diet, and the rest can be made up of seeds, and do not forget to provide squid bones to your birds because they are a major and important source of calcium. Especially for females who lay eggs, calcium is a very important element for making and preserving eggshells.

 

Here are some types of useful and safe foods for cockatiels:

1.  cabbage
2.  Carrots
3.  Broccoli
4.  pumpkin
5.  corn
6.  Peas
7.  Green beans
8.  buds
9.  An apple
10. banana
11. cooked eggs

And be careful not to introduce any of the following species to your pet birds, which are highly toxic to them and will surely lead to their death:

1.  Avocado
2. chocolate
3.  Fruit seeds
4. onion
5.  the Garlic
6.  mushroom
7.  Honey
8.  the salt
9. Caffeine
10. dried beans
11.  Foods high in sodium or high in sugar

 

And always remember:

Fresh food and clean water should always be available to the birds.

Fruits and vegetables that have not been eaten and that have not been eaten for several hours should be discarded.

Provide separate bowls for dry food, bowls for fresh food, and special containers for water.

Never share the food you eat on your plate with your birds, as the human mouth contains microorganisms in their mouths that are toxic to birds.

Cocktail birds

Cockatiel birds Bath:

The cockatiel bird produces a lot of powder on its feathers, so it needs opportunities for frequent bathing, and provide the bird with a bathtub that contains cold water or water at room temperature and bathing two or three times a week, this will remove the excess dirt and encourage it to shine its feathers, and if it is The bird does not prefer to use the bathtub, it is possible to use a spray bottle and use water spray instead of the tub.

 

Wing defeathering:

Cockatiels are very good at flying, so you may want to strip a cockatiel's wing feathers to reduce the chance of a bird escaping suddenly if you let the bird out of the cage. From a professional bird breeder to make sure this is done correctly, removing the feathers in the wrong way can lead to injury to the bird.

Trimming nails and beak:

The nails and beak of the cockatiel grow quickly, so if you keep putting the calcium stick in the cage, you have to trim the nails and the beak, and this can be done while the feathers are removed, and trimming the nails of the cockatiel is not easy because when you trim the nails, the bird moves its fingers and it can be cut more Than you should, but trimming the beak is more difficult than the nails so you have to be a master at trimming or leave that job to the vet.

 

Dealing with the nocturnal fear of cockatiels:

Cockatiel birds have a habit of waking up in the middle of the night and moving around the cage, and these symptoms indicate that the cockatiel is afraid and perhaps of its owners, and the bird may injure itself in the process, and the birds may wake up due to noise, or because of external light, and this can be dealt with Cover the cockatiel cage completely with a blanket or cage cover at night.

 

Cockatiel birds' health:

Are cockatiels more predisposed to disease? Like other pet birds, cockatiels can develop some health problems, especially if they are not taken care of properly, but they can also get them from other infected birds that they share their living space, and a cockatiel when purchased should be checked well at the vet, they can This helps to ensure that the cockatiel is in good health from the time of purchase, and it is preferable to follow this examination once a year thereafter, and of course, you should consult a veterinarian at any time if the bird is sick, and signs of illness include the following:

• Head and wings drooping
• Feathers are shaggy or untidy
• Bird droppings are liquid and foul-smelling
• Excrement sticking to the feathers around the anus
• Nosebleeds
• Sneezing and difficulty breathing with mouth open
• Sit on the bottom of the cage
• Lack of appetite
• Weight loss
• vomit
• Sleeping on one leg
• Discharge from the eyes or mouth
• Red or puffy eyes
• Constantly closing eyes or sleeping during the day
• Scaly skin around the face and feet

Mating behavior in cockatiels Birds:

It is easy to distinguish between male and female cockatiels thanks to the difference in color in their plumage, however, there are some behaviors that distinguish both male and female cockatiels, for example, males tend to make sounds like whistling or singing more than females, and they perform some behaviors to defend their territory And when it comes to courtship in the marriage season, the males usually start the mating ritual and try to show themselves clearly so that the female notices him, and this usually begins by showing their chest and their amazing feathers, then dances to impress her, opening his wings and feathers in his tail.

 

The male will stretch his neck and jump, and on top of all that, the male will also make loud noises to impress the female he is courting, after all his efforts, if the female sees that enough, she will show her interest in him, and finally, if he is accepted by the female, he will prepare the nest and make sure it's comfortable to mate, and once that's done, the male will invite the female to mate.

 

Before mating occurs, the male must be at least 18 months old and the female must be at least two years old, and make sure that both of them are mature enough to be able to marry and that there is no conflict when they are in one cage. It is important to know that the best time for the cockatiel to mate is the period between August and September. After mating, the female lays her eggs within 3 weeks and then sits on it for another 3 weeks, and the number of eggs ranges between 4-6 eggs each time.