New to Fourm and Pet Birds

[KellyKelly1618]

Hello! I'm new to this fourm as well as pet birds. My name is Kelly and I'm 20 years currently going to college to become a preschool teacher and I live in Sacramento, California. I'm working on reading up on them and doing tons of research before actually getting a bird. I'm leaning towards cockatiels at the moment. I haven't decided if I want to go with birds from the pet store or get them from a breeder, I'm just having trouble finding breeders in Northern California/Sacramento area. When I get time and the okay from my parents(still live with them while I'm going to college) I will build a large aviary cage which I'm going to use Martha Stewart's bird cage as insipration

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[GaleriaGila]

Welcome, welcome, KellyKelly!
Glad you found us! Lots of bird-lovers here to help you out. While you're having a look around, you can take any issue or topic which interests you, use the Search Tab and then read about it. It's a really good engine.

 

[Allee]

Hi Kelly! Welcome to the forums! Cockatiels are great birds, I would suggest purchasing from a breeder, hopefully someone from your area can recommend someone. Best of luck with your new adventure.

 

[wrench13]

Welcome. I would strongly suggest buying a size appropriate cage, rather then trying to build one, Martha Stewart not withstanding. The chance for you to use some materials that may not be bird safe are pretty high. The one in the pic for example looks like it uses some wire mesh instead of bars. Wire mesh is usuallly zinc plated and zinc is poisonous to birds. Once you get your bird, you will have plenty of chances to make toys for him/her. They go thru them quickly. .

 

[Flboy]

Welcome to you and happy adventure!

 

[Puck]

Welcome to the forum--cockatiels are fantastic birds! Love, love, love them! I would suggest going with a breeder for health assurances, but I know plenty of people who have beloved, healthy tiels that they got from pet stores if you are unable to find a breeder!

 

[Scott]

Welcome Kelly! Cockatiels are a wonderful choice for companion birds. It is also possible you may find a suitable friend from a rescue, should any exist in your area.

I applaud you for wanting to build a nice stylish cage, but please heed wrench13's admonition regarding hazardous materials. I'll post a few appropriate threads below:

http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/12857-top-10-hazards-companion-birds.html

http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/4430-parrot-safe-products.html

http://www.parrotforums.com/cages/60983-bird-cages-aren-t-actually-bird-cages.html (post #3 most important!)

 

[KellyKelly1618]

Thanks, everyone.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[sonja]

Hi Kelly - Welcome! Cockatiels are a great choice! My vote is for rescue, or even animal shelters, because there are a lot of cockatiels given up and it is tough to adopt them out because everyone things a bigger, flashier bird is better.

 

[Kiwibird]

Welcome. That kind of cage you show is beautiful, but not safe for a parrot (painted, mesh may not be a safe metal, could have zinc played hardware, sharp edges etc...) and will also be chewed up ASAP as that's what parrots do to wood- chew it. Cockatiels may be small parrots, but they still have powerful hook bills and a desire to chew. Aviary species, such as the finches and canaries shown in Martha's cage, do not chew wood nor have as much oral contact with the metal bars/painted surface of those kind of cages as a parrot would, making them usually ok for aviary species but not similarly sized parrots. Unfortunately, parrot cages which are safe and easy to clean tend not to be the height of interior design style (I'd love a beautiful cage like the one you show too), but safety must always come first.

Go with a traditional, made for parrots (and species appropriate) cage. LOOK INTO BAR SPACING appropriate for a cockatiel. Too wide bar spacing can lead to death, as small parrots can stick their heads through the bars and get them stuck. There are many colors of non-toxic powder coat cages to choose from as well as very similar styles to what you show for smaller birds. I am pretty certain these would be appropriate for a tiel and kind of that "house" style (tiel owners chime in?):

https://www.amazon.com/20-Inch-Love...1637892&sr=8-79&keywords=cockatiel+cage+house

https://www.amazon.com/Prevue-Produ...1637919&sr=8-1&keywords=cockatiel+cage+pagoda