Q&A: i am thinking about getting a cockatiel. any helpful tips from bird lovers out there?
Question by Brin: i am thinking about getting a cockatiel. any helpful tips from bird lovers out there?
i have wanted a bird ever since i was young and i have done lots of research on breeds, housing, everything. its a serious thing taking care of something for years and years. i am willing. but would love some tips or advice:) thanks!
Best answer:
Answer by Barefoottrimmer
Tiels are great little birds – very smart -and so much fun but birds are messy. I had a male (Jessie) for many years. He was such a great little talker. I taught him to sing different songs and he would sing on request. He knew what I was asking for. He learned words and phrases very quickly. I have two friends that have females and they never talked at all. I’m not sure what that means but I thought I would pass it on. Jessie started talking at 6 months and he never stopped. I raised him from a baby so he did not have any bad habits. A common mistake I have seen people make with birds is to misunderstand some of the ways they communicate. Remember that birds don’t have hands so they use their beaks like hands. While some of them will bite and it hurts, you can’t freak out when they reach for you with their beak. Jessie used to hold on to my lip and my nose and he would never bite me. Birds are very smart and if they learn bad stuff, it’s almost impossible to change it. Also, birds really need companionship. They need attention and company. If there is another bird around, they will not bond as strongly with you. You have to be their mom and their buddy and they will be very bonded to you. Also, no mirrors in their cages – that is not good for the bonding because they see the “other bird”. Feed should be a good balanced extruded food. Do not give them seed other than an occasional treat. Feeding a domestic bird seed is like putting a human on bread and water. It is not a complete diet and can cause health problems. Good clean water is a must usually needing to be changed at least twice a day (no antibiotics in the water). Birds are great but need a lot of care. If you have to be gone, you have to have a birdy sitter. It is a lot of responsibility, but a tiel is a wonderful choice.
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