I received a beautiful 8 wk. old tiel for Mom's Day--a BIG surprise! I've had hamsters, horses, and dogs, but never a bird...and to be honest, I'm scared to death. Every book I read has such cautions regarding diet, handling, drafts, and on and on! Are tiels really as fragile as all that? I want to take care of her properly, of course, but I want to enjoy her as well. So far she is very outgoing, not the least shy and is very vocal while busying about in or out of her cage.

Question: In an air-conditioned house, does she have to be kept in a room with vent closed so that it is warmer? Should her cage be covered at night? Can she have dried fruit as well as fresh? Are concentrated foods necessary if she has seeds, greens, and fruit?

Any info. for a nervous novice will be appreciated!! Thank you for your help.

Pamela J.

Dear Pamela,

Welcome to the wonderfully entertaining world of the cockatiel. A healthy and happy cockatiel can provide you and yours delight with it's endless antics, and it's desire for your companionship.

Cockatiels are hardy birds that can adapt to most enviroments when acclimated properly. You need to avoid exposing them to hot and cold extremes. They can adapt very well to temperatures from around 30 degrees up to 90 degrees. The bird should be caged in an area where it cannot chill. Avoid HVAC vents that may blow directly on the bird but whatever room temperature is confortable for you, should be fine for a cockatiel. Avoid keeping the bird in areas where you are cooking. Birds respiratory systems are very sensitive and fumes from overheated Teflon coated pans are lethal.

We think covering the cage at night would make the new member feel a little more secure, plus it would help prevent the bird from becoming as startled by flashing lights and such.

We give our birds fresh seed and water daily, but to provide all the vitamins and minerals they need, we also provide fresh, frozen, or canned vegetables. Our birds will not eat fruit but if your's will, that would be terrific. DO NOT feed avocado or chocolate. When feeding vegetables and fruits, only allow these foods to sit out for 2 or 3 hours, because they spoil quickly and become a home for bacteria. Also be sure to always have cuttlebone or mineral block available for extra calcium.

It sounds as though you are an animal lover and you will be a grand companion for the cockatiel.