Look for a cage you clean easily. Remember, birds will void every ten to fifteen minutes. Check to see if your hand can fit in the cage without problem. Your cockatiel will need enough room to spread its wings.
Don’t place perches directly over one another as cockatiels cannot fly at steep vertical angles. Try making steps or platforms using your perches to handle vertical positioning. Avoid concrete perches, as they are hard on the bird’s feet. Check that the wood is safe for the bird, such as eucalyptus. Dowel perches or plastic perches can cause foot problems due to the lack of foot exercises. Avoid perches and toys made out of Prunus or Oak trees as these may be harmful to to your cockatiel. [2] X Research source
Variety is important. Your cockatiel will be happiest if it has many toys to play with. Ask a veterinarian before adding natural foliage as not all trees and shrubs are safe for cockatiels. Cockatiels will grow tired of their toys. Rotate and clean toys every other week. Make sure that the material and the toy itself are safe for your bird. Some toys, like mirrors, huts, and some rope toys are not safe.
Some birds may prefer misting from a spray bottle or even showering with their owner. You can gently mist your bird with tempered water. Aim above the bird, don’t spray it directly. Cockatiels are desert birds. It doesn’t need to bathe more than once a week. Change the water every day to avoid bacterial infections.
Try offering corn, grapes, millet, or sunflower seeds as a treat. Try to use pellets and vegetables to keep your birds seed intake to a minimum (33% or less, preferably). An all-seed or mostly-seed diet is extremely high in fat, and will shorten a cockatiel’s lifespan. Never feed your cockatiel chocolate, avocado, caffeine, or alcohol. These are toxic to the bird. [6] X Research source
Sudden weight loss Abnormal breathing Discharge from the beak Mucus on any feathers Abnormal behavior Go for a check-up with the veterinarian twice a year. If you have more than one cockatiel, isolate the sick one immediately.
The ten to twelve hours of sleep is in addition to any naps it may take during the day. You might need a separate sleeping cage if the environment around their daytime cage cannot be quiet for at least 10-12 hours a night. Cover three sides of the cage with a blanket to stop the light and the sound. Don’t forget to let one side uncovered for oxygen circulation. Cockatiels are often prone to “night frights”. Place a small light near your birds cage to reduce its stress.
Long nails may become tangled or caught in toys or on the cage, causing injury. Perching problems can result from long nails, which in turn may cause foot injury. Nails that are long are also sharp. If your bird perches on your hand, it may be uncomfortable or hurt you. Use a grooming perch to allow your bird to trim its own nails as it moves about the cage. Try placing it next to the birds food and water to ensure usage. Grooming perches can be found at most pet stores. To help maintain proper beak length, make sure your bird has plenty of toys to play with. Play, using the beak, will help wear it down and keep it at a healthy length. Lava rocks and cuttle-bones are great things to offer your bird to help with beak maintenance.
Make sure the bird is safe. Close windows and doors, turn off fans, put cats or other pets away. Try to challenge it when outside the cage by putting down treats in different areas and allowing the cockatiel to walk or fly to them. Think about hygiene. Your bird will likely void whenever it wants, so keep it away from kitchen counters or furniture.
Some cockatiels will be more accepting of your petting than others. Birds will invite you to scratch their head by tipping their head down. Don’t forget to wash your hands before and after touching your bird. Don’t insist if your bird doesn’t want to be touched. Be gentle. Birds can easily be injured.
Talk to your bird often, even reading it stories. Start using instructions like “Up!” and “Down!” to coincide with its hopping on and off your finger. Repetition is the key to getting him to perform an action according to your words. If you aren’t available to interact with your bird, leave music or a radio on. Your bird may even imitate the song or any talking it hears. Position the bird on a tennis ball and help practice balance. The bird will eventually go on the ball on its own. Never yell at or hit your cockatiel. When training a bird, focus on positive reinforcement at all times.
Try dancing with your cockatiel. Move your head up and down, or side to side, to the beat of a song. Cockatiel’s have a sense of rhythm and will often move their head with you and the music. Play music for your cockatiel. Playing an instrument, whistling, or singing can be entertaining for you bird. With enough exposure to certain songs, it may even learn to sing them back to you. Play hide and seek with your bird. Take your bird into a room and gently set it down. Go around the corner to a new room and call out to your bird. Peak your head around the corner so you bird can see you and say “come find me!” before ducking back around the corner. When it find you, give your bird a head scratch and let it know how well it did.
Get a second cage for your new cockatiel. Place the cages apart for ninety days, checking the new bird for any signs of illness. You don’t want both of your birds to get sick. If after ninety days the new cockatiel is in good health, you can move their cages near one another. At first, schedule separate times for each bird for when they are allowed out of their cage. Eventually allow both out at the same time. Keep a careful eye on both birds as they may act aggressively towards one another. Any hissing, screaming, biting, or attacking should result in them going back in the cages. Eventually they may bond, even visiting each other in their respective cage. Never fore interaction and never force your birds to share a cage.
