What are some important care tips to know when I bring my new pet bird home? I am getting my first pet bird and am learning all I can to care for it and keep it happy. In two weeks, I will be bringing my new, beautiful cockatiel home.

Thank you .

Kimmie

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First of all, CONGRATULATIONS Kimmie ! You have made a very good choice as a first pet bird. Cockatiels are wonderful and will give you many laughs and much love.

I have composed a list of Basic "do's and don'ts" which will hopefully provide you with any information you may be seeking.

So...here we go......

The cage

The cage will be your bird's home. It provides a place to live, security and comfort. A bird's physical and mental health is also dependent on their homes. (caging) The cage should supply the following:

1. "Room to stretch" meaning the cage should be large enough for the bird to completely stretch and flap it's wings without touching any part of the cage. The largest cage one can possibly afford is always best.
2. Perches. The cage should not be cluttered with perches. It's important to supply a variety of sizes in perches for the health of the bird's feet and legs. I am fond of and recommend natural wood for perches (not manzanita for tiels and smaller) and my birds enjoy the rope perches and some dowel perches. Other than being offered for a toy to chew up, sandpaper perches are of no benefit and useless for a birds nails or beak and unless forced to, a bird is not going to stand on sandpaper.
3. A cage door large enough for the bird to enter and exit easily.
4. Food and water dishes. These should be placed conveniently near perches. Never place them directly below perches, and if placed in the smaller type doors that hold food and water cups it's important not to place a perch over the dishes. By doing this the birds droppings will contaminate the food and water. The dishes should be cleaned at least twice a week. I clean mine daily.
5. A removable tray at the bottom is perferable for easy cleaning. For the benefit of you and your pet bird, cleaning and disinfecting the cage should be done at least once a week.
6. No sharp objects, loose or broken cage wires, or rough edges.
7. A rectangular shaped cage will be much preferred by parrots. Cylindrical, tall shapes (or tall, round shapes) are not as functional due to the fact that parrots move from side to side, not up and down.
8. Bar spacing should be narrow enough so that the bird cannot poke it's head through the bars.
9. The cage location should be in the area of the home where there is high activity. Birds are social, love attention, and desire to be involved in the family activities. The cage should be placed in an area that has the wall as a backing for added feelings of security. Never place a cage on the floor, near heating/air conditioning vents, drafts, or in direct sunlight.
10. A variety of toys should be supplied or added in the cage and out of the cage. Parrots enjoy chewing and it is a natural behavior for them, so it is only logical to provide them with safe toys that can be chewed and yes....even destroyed. Plastic toys are okay for some of the smaller species such as budgies and cockatiels, but they will always prefer the chewable toys over plastic. One thing my budgies and cockatiels enjoy are feathers. I buy feathers by the packs and hang them and they spend lots of time tugging, playing with and chewing the feather shaft. Toys or items to keep their active minds busy are vital to a birds mental health. When the mental health is in good condition then normally the physical health will be also.
11. Baths. Most Parrots enjoy a bath. Offering a bathing dish/pan may be cheerfully accepted. A spray mister is another way of offering baths. They should receive a bath at least 3 times a week, though misting daily will not be unappreciated. This is especially true when birds are molting.
12. Plenty of out of cage time. A Birds natural instinct is flight/freedom. A pet parrot kept continually caged will not be a happy pet. Rest. At least 10-12 hours sleep each night without disturbances.

Food

A variety of foods is very important for a bird's nutritional needs. Provide vegetables which are dark green, (as in spinach), orange (as in sweet potato, carrots, tops also), and fruit for those that will accept it.

Wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly, feed the freshest possible, and always remove the uneaten portions after a few hours. Table foods are acceptable excluding those that have heavy seasonings, are greasy, have excessive sugar or chemicals.

Pellets can be offered as a supplement to seeds. Seeds should be dust free and fresh. Water should be kept plentiful, clean and fresh. For healthy birds receiving a nutritional diet, vitamins are not necessary, but can be added preferably to the food.

Cooked eggs provide many nutrients and are accepted readily by most parrots.

Mineral blocks and cuttlebones should always be in plentiful supply.

I also feel that a treat cup of soluble grit should be supplied at least once or twice weekly. Grit supplies necessary minerals since it is typically composed of iodine, magnesium, iron and calcium.

Other helpful items include: T-stands, play stands (floor or table top models), or any type of activity center for out of cage entertainment. A pet carrier for any trips and there are a huge variety to choose from.

Healthy bird treats or snacks that do not contain preservatives. Millet sprays are a favorite but should only be offered as a treat.

Persistence, patience, lots of love and attention and being included in family activities is a must. Parrots are not human and cannot think like one. So we have to try to "think like a parrot." By providing them with what is natural to them and learning to understand our pet birds is an important key to their health and happiness.

We need to always read, research and ask questions on our particular birds that we keep. This is necessary as some parrots may require different diets than others or may require extra vitamin/mineral supplements and housing.

This is general parrot care basics. Please continue to learn about your new cockatiel's needs and requirements and Good luck to you and your new "first" baby cockatiel.

Until next week............

Sharon a.k.a. Feathers Logically