The First Few Weeks

As a general guide for the new bird owner, here are some words of advice about the first few weeks.

1. On arrival, have your birds immediately examined by an experienced person or an avian veterinarian.
   
   
2. Quarantine new birds by keeping them isolated from existing stock for at least two weeks, in a totally separate room to avoid infectious diseases.
   
   
3. Allow your new cockatiels time to relax. Put them in a place where they will not be bothered by loud noises and harassment from other animals such as barking dogs. Leave the bird alone as much as possible. Do no show them off to all your friends and visitors and avoid excessive handling at all times.
   
   
4. House the cockatiels in a rectangular cage, NOT A ROUND ONE, because it will make the bird nervous. The cage should be as large as possible, with the perches arranged.
   
   
5. Maintain a stable temperature of approximately 27 degrees Celsius.
   
   
6. Provide your cockatiel a high-protein formula diet that is palatable. Diets that contain Lactobacillus predigested proteins ( an easily metabolized source of quick energy )
   
   
7. Avoid placing your bird in the total darkness at night. Provide a small night light so they will be able to find their perch, water, and food.
   
   
8. Avoid insecticides, paint fumes, smoke, open windows, direct sunlight (sunstroke), unwashed vegetables and fruits, and spoiled drinking water.

The New Cockatiel in Your Home

Well now you've done it. You visited the neighborhood pet store one too many times and that beautiful cockatail near the front of the store has given you the eye and stolen your heart. (Why do they put these charming birds so near the entrance where it is impossible to miss them?) Before you realized it the credit card came out, a few words were spoken between you and the store owner, your budget was suddenly busted and lo and behold the bird now belongs to you.

This new member of the family will bring some changes to your home. Some will be obvious while others will surprise you. Your experience with the new bird will be much more satisfying if you make yourself aware of what you should expect and be prepared. Hopefully you only bought one to start with. Bringing two birds in at once may be more than you can handle if you are a novice bird keeper. Adding more than one bird at a time could also place lots of anxiety on the birds.

You will find it much easier to establish a bond with your new bird if it is the only one in your home at this time. Your bird will of course be unsettled by it's new surroundings and it could take several weeks to adjust. The first thing you may notice is that your new bird demands lots of attention. This surprises many new bird owners who are used to dealing with other types of pets who do very well on their own.

If you allow your cockatail freedom outside it's cage do not be surprised to find him following you about the house as you attend to your chores. You may find him suddenly alighting on your shoulder and of course like any pet he will always be open to accepting treats.

All of this friendly and more often than not welcome attention from your bird may sometimes be diminished as you struggle with the messy cleanup which is always part of cockatiel ownership. There are no litter boxes for these birds. They tend to do their business wherever and whenever it suits them. It will also be necesary for the family to adjust to some new noises throughout the home. This may be unwelcome during times that the home is normally quiet. The birds do not come with on and off switches.

However the companionship that you will feel as the bird alights on your shoulder as you sit quietly reading will most times override your discomfort at the new chores and other changes your new pet will bring to your home. Most cocktail owners feel they are repaid many times over by the charm and beauty of these intelligent and friendly creatures.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chet_Hastings

Author: Chet Hastings

Do Cockatiels Fit Your Lifestyle?

Keeping cockatiels requires great deal of consideration. You must also remember that keeping cockatiels is a long term commitment because cockatiels will live up to 12 years of age! There are additional aspects that are worth considering in advance.

• Cockatiels are messy. If you have a cage in the house, water will be splashed around with the seed….. Are you prepared for this?
• The food and water dishes will have to be cleaned daily and the cage must be cleaned at least once a week.
• Are you prepared to give your bird fresh food and drink?
• Is there somebody that you can rely on to look after your birds if you are on vacation?
• Are there any avian veterinarians in the area you are living in?
• Cockatiels do screech especially in the early morning and at dusk.

Do You Really Want To Keep Cockatiels ?

What comes first is that you do not consider keeping cokatiels "just as something to do." If you do not have the enthusiasm, it is best not to become involved with aviculture. If you do love birds in general and cockatiels in particular, and if you have patience, understanding, and enthusiasm, then it is possible that you may become a "TRUE COCKATIEL FANCIER!"

Keeping a cockatiel as a pet costs money. The amount depends upon your budget. If you decide at the outset to buy several cages and to have aviaries built to order from the best possible material, then this can become extremely expensive. But if you start off modestly, cockatiel keeping will not cost that much. As long as you still have two hands, you can build your own breeding cages and the price of one or two pairs of cokatiels is not going to break you.

As long as you restrict yourself to one or two pairs of cockatiels, you should be able to manage your feeding budget. In time you will master the hobby and become a fully qualified breeder. At this point, if you have the necessary spare time and space, making a modest profit is not out of the question. And theoretically, over the years, it may even be possible to make a significant sum from the sale of cockatiels. I say "theoretically" because the actual outcome maybe quite different. Consider the example of a hobbyist friend of mine who retired from his job. With many years of breeding experience behind him, he decided to undertake a large breeding project. That man took no risks. He had everything carefully worked out: the cost of cages and aviaries, the cost of foodstuffs, the work involved, and even the price he would have to charge for young birds to make profit. The true rewards of the cockatiel fancy cannot be reckoned in terms of monetary gain. And if the love of the hobby does not come first, then the pleasure will be lost. Anyone who looks at birds as investments is totally on the wrong track.