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I am not a vet and can only offer information from my own experiences :)
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| Should I get a Male or Female?
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| Should I cage my bird when I'm not home?
| My eggs have hatched, when and how much do I feed them?
| A simple brood tank for your new babies.
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Q: What do the birds eat?
A: These birds will eat a variety of foods. Seeds, pellets, veggies, Boiled eggs etc. A general rule is if its safe for you its safe for them.
A few exceptions: Pretzels and chips, while some bird owners will argues this point. These types of treats are high in salt and fat and can cause liver and kidney trouble. Chocolate, candy and cookies. Super tempting treats with too much fat, sugar and artificial colors.
Q: How long can my bird live?
A: Given the proper diet and exercise a Cockatiels can live 15 to 20 years.
Q: Should I get a male or a Female?
A: Both male and female can be a great addition to your family. Males tend to be more vocal and can be taught to talk and whistle tunes. Females may give an occasional call or two but are normally very quiet. The choice is yours.
Q: Should I buy one or two?
A: The choice of a single bird or a pair is entirely up to you. These birds do very well alone, if your thinking about a pair consider your reason for this choice. If your worried about companionship for a single bird due to your work schedule or any other reason, a Parakeet can make a great playmate for your Cockatiel. Most pairs will not breed unless introduced to the proper breeding triggers. So this should not be a concern if you feel you must have two.
Q: To Clip or not to clip
A: First of all clipping wings will not hurt or harm your bird in any way if done properly. All of our babies are clipped before they are purchased for a number of reasons (ceiling fans, open windows, open doors, stoves, sinks, etc). And a clipped bird will have to depend on your help to get around this gives you both time to get to know each other. My sister recently forgot her baby cockatiel was perched on her shoulder and walked out the door. The bird was not clipped and she lost it.
Q: Should I cage my bird when I'm not at home?
A: I would never recommend leaving any bird unsupervised. I sold a bird last month to a person that said they've owned birds for years and always left them out. Well this was fine until one morning the bird fell asleep on the top of the bathroom door. In a hurry to get ready for work he closed the door and broke the birds neck.
Q: My eggs have hatched, when and how much do I feed them?
A: The times listed on this chart may be altered to fit your daily schedule but should be a big help.
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Age
of chick
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Feeding
time
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Feeding
amount
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1-
4 days
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Every
two Hours
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1 -
2 cc's
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5 -
7 days
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Every
three hours
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2-
3 cc's
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8 -
14 days
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7:00
AM, 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM, 7:00 PM, 11:00 PM
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4 -
6 cc's
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15
- 24 days
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7:00
AM, 12:00 PM,
5:00
PM, 11:00 PM
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7 -
10 cc's
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25
- 34 days
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7:00
AM, 5:00 PM,
11:00
PM
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11
- 15 cc's
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35
- 44 days
(fledgling)
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7:00
AM, 7:00 PM
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11
- 15 cc's
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44
days to
weaning
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7:00
PM
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11
- 15 cc's
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A simple brood tank for your babies.
You will need a warm place for your babies if you plan to hand feed them. I wouldn't recommend feeding any baby under 12 days old without plenty of experience. You can make a simple brood tank with a 10 gallon fish tank a heating pad, some shavings and a digital thermometer. Make sure the tank is new or very clean, place a couple paper towels on the bottom of the tank (this will make cleaning up a lot easier). You will need about an inch of pine shavings or similar material in the bottom of the tank on top of the paper towels. Next take the outdoor probe on your digital thermometer and tape it about four inches from the bottom of the tank (inside the tank), place a heavy towel or blanket over the tank. Place the tank on top of the heating pad and let it run a couple days to stabilize the temperature.
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Age
of Chick
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Temperature
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1-
5 days
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94
- 96
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6
- 9 days
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93
- 95
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10
- 14 days
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91
- 93
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15
- 21 days
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86
- 90
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22
- 28 days
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81
- 85
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29
- 35 days
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76
- 80
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36
days to weaning
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70
- 75
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Q: What about natural perches and swing?
A: Due to cost and availability manufacturers use wooden dowels in the cages they sell. There are many benefits to using natural branches for your birds perches and swings. One single size perch can harm your birds feet. While you can add different size dowels to your cages, your birds will enjoy natural branches much more. An added benefit to using natural wood is your birds ability to chew this almost endless supply of perches. If you choose to make your own perches or swings be sure to wash them thoroughly and bake them till the are dry. Baking will also ensure that you do not introduce any parasites or bacteria to your birds. Whatever you decide to use for your own perches or swings research the material to be sure you have made a safe and fun decision. A simple design is almost always best for your bird, try not to over do it. To many items on the swing may frighten your friend.