I have some questions about the 2 month old normal gray 'tiel I am buying at a pet store.

  1. He is always very eager to see me and comes toward me to be petted. It seems the little guy REALLY wants to get out and see me. Is this normal to be so attentive. I would think it would be a sign of neglect.
  2. What exactly does quarantining entail. I know I should wash my hands before handling my 2 year old Patagonian conure Alex but should I even be handling the new 'tiel until a month has passed.
  3. Also, I want to take my new baby to the vet the day I buy him but the place is a little out of the way. Should I wait a day or so to take him, I really want to make sure he is not sick before he even breathes the same space as my other baby (too paranoid?) Would the drive affect him though.
  4. I'm almost positive that the new baby is a normal gray but his cheeks are pale orange instead of a vivid cherry. As he is so young will he receive his brighter feathers in a few months?
  5. My last questions have to do with his new roomy cage I bought him. What cleaning products should I use on the cage. I've heard of Avisan and diluted bleach-which is better. Also, should I boil his manzanita wood perch to sterilize as you do with fish (I'm not a fish person, my parents are) and know a very important question.
  6. The pet shop owner I bought the cage from strongly suggest that I take out the grating of the cage (I'm leaning towards this because the spacing between the metal is wide enough for a birds feet to fall through). But I heard that the bird can digest contaminated food and feces this way. Another onliner suggested I put a towel on top of the grating for the first few months to get them used to it and then take it out.

I'm sorry for the length but I worry so for my babies!

Thanks a bunch,
Amanda

Amanda,

For clarification, we'll answer your questions in your order.

  1. Really tame 'tiels can crave attention. As a matter of fact, some 'tiels become so demanding for attention, they can make you nuts.
  2. Anytime you introduce a new bird into a home that already contains birds, quarantining is essential. For proper quarantine, a bird should be completely isolated which would include air space. When tending to the bird during quarantine, the feeding and cleaning routine should be done after you have attended your other birds. It is fine to play with the new addition, as long as you thoroughly wash your hands afterwards.
  3. It is preferred that you have the new bird examined by an avian vet the same day as you pick it up, for if there is a problem, you may need to get back to whoever you obtained your bird from in order for them to honor the guarantee.
  4. A 'tiel's cheek patch is orange. The orange color varies in intensity.
  5. Nolvasan, Aviasan, and water diluted bleach are all excellent disinfectants. If you thoroughly wash and rinse the articles we feel there is no need to boil.
  6. The grate in the bottom of cages is there for specific purposes and we strongly recommend you leave it in. When we initially introduce baby cockatiels to a cage, we fold and place a piece of newspaper on part of the grate. The paper is quick and easy to change as needed and allows the bird "to get it's feet."

Hi,

I have a 10 week old 'tiel named Pretty Boy (hopeful, aren't I). As a first time bird owner, I have a few questions. I got my little one from a friend who has bred her 'tiels for several years. Therefore, he is well socialized. I have had him for 2 weeks and he has adapted well to his new surroundings. I had him for a week before I was able to bring him to the vet. My vet is not a specialist but I would call him an avian vet because he has a cockatoo in his office and a pair of smaller birds. Also, a member of his staff breeds 'tiels. Anyway, for the first week, I allowed Pretty Boy to fly around the room, both for exercise and to help him get his bearings. Also, I fed him millet sprays and avi-cakes during that first week. During the visit with the vet he had one wing clipped (vet's preference) and the vet suggested fruits and vegetables and fish and meats as variety in his diet. The vet also suggested that I cut back on the seed to encourage Pretty Boy to try other things. So far, he doesn't like anything I have tried. The only thing I have managed to give him is a quarter of a hard boiled egg yolk coated on the millet spray. Oh, by the way, my vet tested Pretty Boy for chlamydia and other bacterial infections. So far the results are negative. I am still waiting for one test to come back that has a longer incubation period.

    Now for my questions:
  1. How much does a baby 'tiel eat? I'm guessing each one is different, but how much should I cut back to encourage him to try other foods? Or, is the millet spray, avi-cakes and egg yolk enough variety? There is also a cuttlebone in his cage that he picks at occasionally, but he ignores the mineral block.
  2. What is a crop? Lately, I have been reading about the crop on a 'tiel and I am guessing it must be a kind of pouch where their food accumulates before it is digested. Can you see it? Where do you look?
  3. I know it's too soon to visually determine his sex, but he seems to be getting yellow between his eyes, around his cheek patches and on top of his head (the crest?). Do both sexes get yellow in these areas or is it too soon to tell?
  4. I've read references to molting, at what age do they start to molt and what is it? Do they lose their feathers? All of them at once? Do they preen differently when they molt?
  5. I'm considering joining NACS, but does my bird need to be banded to enroll him? Do I need to know his lineage? Beyond his parents, I don't think my friend has any records.

    Thank you for the opportunity to ask questions. It is wonderful to have a place to exchange information about our little friends.

    Sincerely,
    Loraine

    Loraine,

    You have just entered the fun and fascinating world of the cockatiel. You have asked several questions, so let's get to it.

    How much seed does a cockatiel eat? The answer to that depends on whom you ask. Since your objective is to cut back on seed to induce him into eating a more varied and nutritional diet, here's what we suggest. Measure out 1 cup of seed daily for Pretty Boy, and at the end of each day, check the seed cup to see how much he has eaten. You'll have to do this over several days to determine his intake, but it is the only way to know how much your bird is really eating. Once you have determined how much seed is being eaten, you can cut back accordingly.

    While millet, avi-cakes and egg yolk offer some variety, it doesn't provide enough. Fresh greens, such as collards, turnip greens, kale, broccoli, and carrots, sweet potatoes, squash and corn on the cob, plus fresh fruits, offer all the essential vitamins and other minerals needed. Be sure to rinse any fresh food well and we offer them uncooked.

    You are correct to assume the crop is where food is stored before being digested. The crop is located in the upper breast area. It is harder to clearly define the crop after a bird has feathered out, but if you look closely at the area before and after it has eaten, you will be able to notice a fuller looking breast area after eating.

    Ten weeks is too soon to expect feathering to indicate sex. You noted you know his parent's lineage and that could be enough to genetically determine the sex now.

    Molting is the natural process through which a bird grows new feathers. A fully mature feather is shed to make room for a new feather to grow. During a heavy molt they sometimes will loose several feathers from their wings and tails simultaneously, but unless they are ill, they don't loose them all at the same time. Molting is very demanding on a birds body chemistry and a very nutritional diet is of utmost importance during this time.

    The North American Cockatiel Society would welcome you and Pretty Boy into our family, whether he is banded or not. We do encourage banding as a means of identification and it is a quality breeder's first source of information when pairing mates. The NACS newsletter provides something of interest to all, be you a single bird owner or breeder, plus our membership includes lots and lots of the top cockatiel people in the country. Check the NACS web page for a membership form. We look forward to seeing your name in our membership roster soon.