Cockatiel Care Tips: Food & Medicine 丨How To Take Care Of A Cockatiel

About Cockatiel:

Cockatiels are birds from small parrot families from the regions of Australia. Cockatiels become famous for petting in the 1900 century, as cockatiels are calm, curious, feisty, chirp, and mimics. Cockatiel care involves providing these birds with a spacious cage, a healthy and balanced diet of pellets, fruits, vegetables, freshwater, and daily interaction and exercise outside their cage. 

It's also important to provide them with toys and perches to keep them mentally stimulated and to clean their cage to maintain their hygiene regularly. Additionally, schedule regular check-ups with a veterinarian specializing in birds to ensure their overall health and well-being.

Many variations include Grey, Yellow, White-faced, Latino, and more. The average size of a Cockatiel is 27.94-35.56cm And a life span of 10-20 years. The longest Cockatiel lived was 30 years. Cockatiels are seed eaters, and like various fruits and veggies, Coriander leaves and Sunflower seeds are their favorites. Proper cockatiel care should include nutrients of protein and calcium for prevention from diseases. 

Melanin and Psittacofulvins are pigments that decide the color of the Cockatiel. Melanin gives a grey color, whereas Psittacofulvins provides a yellow color. According to the content of dyes, different color combinations are formed. After mating, cockatiels lay their eggs after three weeks and incubate them for 20-25 days.

Difference Between Cockatiel And Conure: Which Is Better?

Cockatiel	Conure
They are bigger than conure with 27.94-35.56cm	They are smaller than cockatiels with 22.86-30.48cm
They have a life span of 10-20 years	They have a life span of 10-15 years
They are less noisy compare to conure	They are noisy
They are Calm and relax	They are more active
Less beak power	More beak power
More interaction with everyone	Interaction only with family members
Need less attention compare to conure	Need more attention to compare to conure
Less horney compare to Conure	More horney
Less playful compare to Conure	More playful

How To Get A Cockatiel For Beginners: Follow Steps

Step-1: Purchasing A Cockatiel

1. Visit a nearby pet shop to buy cockatiel.

2. Have a look at all the cockatiel.

3. The common White breed is the best breed for beginners and later they can buy cockatiels of other variants.

4. It's better to have a young cockatiel, But a cockatiel of age about 2-3 months. But if you are considering cockatiel for breeding then buy a semi-adult cockatiel of 7-8 months, As young cockatiels need to wait a least 1 year for breeding.

5. Things To Remember While Selecting Cockatiel:

• Check the eyes of the cockatiel, See eyes are black and not watering or red. The eyes of cockatiels should be clear and active.

• Check the claw to see if it's light red or brown, See claws are open and should not have red spots.

• Check cockatiel is eating well and is active.

• Check the vent area is clear, Don't buy a cockatiel if it has motion.  

• Check crown feathers are not bend it should always be upwards, if the crown is down there is a chance that the cockatiel has some disease.  

  
6. Get a pair don't buy a cockatiel alone or your cockatiel will feel lonely.

7. How to tell the gender of a white-faced cockatiel?

Male	Female
Whistle more compare to female	Whistle less compare to male
Dark orange cheek	Light orange cheek
Vent area bones have less gap	Vent area bones have more gap

8. In India a cockatiel pair is about 3000-3500₹ it may vary in different states and regions of the world.  

Step-2: Cage Setup

1. The cockatiel cage should have a dimension of length of 3ft, a height of 2.6ft, and a depth of 2ft, Length should be kept more than the height because cockatiels fly horizontally more than vertically.

2. Make sure there is no sharp object inside the cage.

3. Use a clay bowl for food and water.

4. Try that cage is placed outdoors, It is noticed that cockatiels kept indoor are deficient in vitamin d3 as. Vitamin d3 plays a vital role in the absorption of calcium. 

5. Keep the cage safe away from predictors, Use protective nets to keep your bird safe.

6. Clean your cage daily.

7. Add bird toys like swings, mirrors, and chew toys.

8. Give deworming medicine for newly purchased cockatiel.

9. Keep mud pots for breeding.

10. Don't force your cocktail for attention give time to your cockatiel to settle in their new home.

11. Cockatiel needs dark to sleep well at night.

Step-3:Essential Food And Medicine

1. Get 3 Clay bowls. In 1st bowl, you have to fill it with mixed seeds,2nd with soft food, and 3rd bowl for fresh water.

2. Buy a cleanser for cleaning the cage.

3. Nowadays, there are misconceptions that pellets should be replaced with seeds. But according to my experience seeds are better than pellet food is with food preservatives which are harmful to a cockatiel. And the natural diet of cockatiels is seeds, I won't recommend anyone to feed cocktails pellets rather than seeds.  

4. Different varieties of seeds you can give to cocktails are sunflower seeds, foxtail millet, paddy, canary seeds, Safflower/Kusum seed, and black seed(caution black seed should be given in very small amounts as it is high in heat), pearl millet seeds, whole wheat, Soya bean, and rice. Apart from that veggies, sprouts and fruits should be added to their diet. Cattle bone is also necessary for calcium intake.

5. List of medicine: Caution don't overdose on medicine it can lead to the death of a bird if you are not sure about dosage visit the nearby vet. Please consult the vet before use. Mention medicine is for those who don't have access to a veterinary doctor.

• Vimeral-It is a multi-vitamin medicine. 3ml should be added for 1liter of water.

• Growel Grow Calcium tonic-It is a supplement for calcium. 5ml should be added for 1liter of water.

• Enrofloxacin (Meriquin) 10%-It is an antibiotic medicine used to treat urinary infections, respiratory diseases, and liver. 5ml for 1litre water. The course should be for 5 days. Give it once a day.

• Brotone liver tonic-It used to keep the liver of the cocktail healthy. Symptoms are Digestion issues, Birds are fluffy, Birds are weak. 5ml in 1 liter of water once a day. The course should be given for 7 days.

•ULTRAPLEX- If cockatiel doesn't eat well. 1tsp in 1-liter water.

• Natural medicine for cockatiel Holy basil, Turmeric, ginger, and Indian Borage

Related Read: Cockatiel Care Best Medicine And Supplements For Cockatiel

Step-4: Daily Schedule For Cockatiel

1. Wash food and water bowls with soap and water as cocktails poop in their water and food causing the digestive issue, So do washbowls before providing with food and water.

2. Provide fresh seeds, vegetables, fruits, and supplements.

3. Wash the Cage daily with disinfectant.

4. Spend daily at least one hour with your cockatiel. 

5. Inspect your cockatiel if you see your bird behaving abnormally.

6. Visit the vet once a month if you have access to the vet.

Conclusion

In conclusion, cockatiels make excellent pets for those who are willing to provide them with proper care and attention. Overall, with proper care and attention, cockatiels can make wonderful and entertaining companions for many years to come.

FAQ

1. What Is Bad For Cockatiels?

• Food like spinach, fruit seeds, avocado, salt, caffeine, honey, mushrooms, chocolate, uncooked beans, onions, garlic, and excess sugar is a toxic food for cockatiels.
• Harmful gases for cockatiels are chemical odors, pesticides, firecrackers, and matchsticks.
• Metals and Non-metals which are harmful are Teflon, lead zinc, copper, and aluminum.

2. How To Take Care Of A Cockatiel?

To care for a cockatiel, offer a large cage, a nutritious and balanced diet of pellets, fruits, and vegetables, clean water, and regular interaction and exercise outside the cage. Toys and perches should also be provided to keep them cognitively active, and their cage should be cleaned regularly to preserve hygiene. 

Moreover, arrange frequent check-ups with a bird-specific veterinarian to guarantee their overall health and well-being.