The beginnings of becoming a Cockatiel mom

[Mechanical8dragon]

So for the past month I've been sitting down and thinking about getting a bird. Now, I knew my limits both emotionally and financially (although all birds are fairly expensive I knew). Although I'm currently a college student on break (I stopped going to school because I just wasn't sure what I wanted to do with myself and didn't want to waste money doing nothing) until I figure out what I want to do (I'm really leaning towards some kind of animal training, but I need to do more research) but college aside as it isn't a worry for me (in terms of living in dorms and having to deal with what to do with pets) I had to think about work.

I work at Mcdonalds, so that alone should give you a rough idea of how work goes. I have varying shifts that on normal days are 8hr shifts (7am-2pm or 3 or 4) and then short 4-5 hour days that start near noon and then normally don't go past 5. So I knew that I needed to figure out a bird that would be 'okay' by itself for a part of the day. I also knew I didn't want a big bird, just too much money on the bird itself and not enough space for such a large cage)

Obviously, by the title, you probably already know where I'm going with this.

I've read and heard that Cockatiels are a great beginning bird because even though they love human attention they can be alright during the days that the human companion is gone at work. They also aren't overly noisy in terms of loudness. I've read that for the most part, they aren't much louder than say... a squeaking guinea pig for example. Which is great because I know I couldn't mentally deal with a loud bird (like say a Macaw) and I know my dad certainly wouldn't. Keep in mind I didn't choose a Cockatiel because it would do 'ok' on it's own because I wasn't going to 'love' it as much. Not at all. I plan to spend the remaining hours of the day with it once I get home.

I've read many sites about diets but a lot of them list different things (and similar things) and I want to make sure I get the right info long before the purchase of this bird. So from the members of this forum, I wish to know, what do you personally feed your birds?

I know that the bigger the cage I can afford the better (but not to get too large of a cage) and currently the max space I have for a cage is somehere between ~20in in length x ~20in in depth x whatever the height may be on the cage, one's I've seen range between high 40s to high 50s in inches. From what I've read, this is an ideal cage?

I know to have a variety of perches and toys to switch around, multiple bowls for food and water, variety of food (of course) including things such as seeds, pellets, and of course veggies and fruits (organic), etc.

I've heard mixed things on the 'substrate' for the cages. Some say leave it bare, others say if the cage is designed for it, to use things like loose bedding (avoiding wood shavings like cedar, etc. due to the health hazards), or sand, or papertowel/newspaper. I was leaning more towards paper towel but I hear people sometimes saying not to, but they don't ever explain why (this is from things such as youtube videos and website readings).

Also, does it hold true that when getting a bird, you should acquire one of opposite genders (if you're a male, get a girl, and vice-versa)?


Any and all information that you guys can provide would be much appreciated. I plan to invest in an air purifier (also because I've wanted one for awhile anyways cus this house is dusty, and dust from the bird will only add to it, and I figured an air purifier will help) and I'm also trying to think of some ways to keep the area around the cage cleaner/easier to clean up. I thought about getting one of those plastic mats people get for computer chairs that are on carpet. Figured that would help keep possible bird poop from sticking to carpet fibers. Going to get a hand-held vacuum as well so I don't have to try and squeeze a large one around the place. I know pans integrated in the cages help a bit too and I also wanted to find something that could protect the wall behind the cage from possible nonsense-flinging (if you know what I mean LOL). Maybe like a cheap shower curtain of sorts thumb-tacked or command-stripped onto the wall?

 

[gracebowen]

I have a male cockatiel and my mom who owns the house with me has guinea pigs. Jet is much noisier than the guinea pigs. He has this loud whistle type noise he makes. I've read that females are quieter but for the most part I don't mind the noise. Sometimes though it literally makes my ear hurt. I deal with it and let Jet be a bird. . I'm only letting you know because he is a bit louder than I thought and definitely louder than a guinea pig.

 

[MikeyTN]

The bigger the cage the better, I would suggest something at least 30 in size, 20 is too small IMO. I feed my cockatiels a mix of mainly small seeds with very few sunflower seeds along with pellets. With fresh fruits and veggies. The females are a lot quieter then the males as the males will chirp, sing, etc. I use newspaper for the bottom as I've been using that for many years and it works just fine.

Just make sure you can tolerate their powder dust before you get into tiels. After so many years of breeding and keeping tiels I have to give them up due to their dust cause it kept making me ill. Of course one isn't gonna be that bad but some people are allergic to them.

 

[Mechanical8dragon]

How about something like this:

A and E Cage Co. Wrought Iron Flight Bird Cage 13221 - Walmart.com

(31W x 22D x 59H inches) with 1/2" bar spacing

That would just snuggly fit in the spot I have xD like... real snuggly. I'd have to probably inch over my gecko's tank/stand a few inches to get it in right.


OR:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Prevue-Hendryx-Flight-Cage-in-Black-Birds/12438866
It doesn't tell me the bar spacing though @_@

Or this one which is practically the same as the above one but cheaper LOL and it tells me the bar spacing (1/2")


(I like the first one though, just because it looks a little higher up off the ground and seems to have better reviews)

 

[MikeyTN]

The first one looks better made! But I dislike those dishes that comes with them. But these dishes are great to attach to the cage. They also have the smaller plastic ones that twist off.

Walmart: Midwest Container Snap Y Fit Dog Bowl 10ounce - 40-10

 

[Mechanical8dragon]

Yeah, and I mean the perches and dishes can always be replaced. I know I probably won't be using the perches and if the dishes look like crappy blobs of plastic I'll probably replace them too. It's not a big issue for me. The cage alone is what I'm more focused on haha

 

[kalypso123]

My cage is a flight cage like the first one. It houses my one tiel and it could house a good 3 or 4. I hated the food dishes with the cage too. I cant believe they sell bird cages at walmart. My tiel is loudish. She is relativily quiet but she screams when she knows Im home and not with her.

 

[Mechanical8dragon]

haha, yeah. I went to my local walmart today to see if they actually had any in the store, but didn't look like it. I know I've been in walmarts in the past that did have them in stock. It's interesting... haha.

BUT I found one on amazon for 114$ + free shipping. and since I'm already going to be buying some DVDs, figured... might as well knock it all out in one yeah? It looks like the exact same design as the first one I linked, only black and... cheaper obviously.

 

[Mechanical8dragon]

So cage came in today I'm happy haha. Haven't set it up yet, or even opened it to inspect it, but I got thursday off from work so I'll do it then haha.


I'm also inclined on asking my store if they plan to get Jardine Parrots in because that would be my dream bird although I know they run anywhere from 200-500$ so I'd be saving up a few months for it unless my store sells em on the cheap but I highly doubt that.

 

[Tangie]

Cockatiels are wonderful pets! It seems you picked a good cage for your future Cockatiel. I have one for Kiko that's just slightly bigger. 32(or 33?)X35(or is it 36? Lol)Xsixty something. His comes with a tray as well, but personally I find scrubbing poop off of the floor's cage bars a hassle and a pain. I simply put his newspaper inside his cage and roll it up and take it out when it's dirty. I use black and white newspaper.

For his food I feed him seeds, TOPS pellets, homemade birdie bread, and vegetables. Which technically is only Broccoli(he only eats that. Unless I'm sneaky and add other veggies in his birdie bread). Its very important to give your Cockatiel a good variety of food as soon as you adopt him. Its a pain trying to convert an old Cockatiel to food other than seeds.

Although I wouldn't say Cockatiels are extremely loud, their screams can be annoying. But on my experience, they don't scream too often.

I don't think getting a bird that is the opposite gender of you is important. Your female bird will bond just as strong to you as a male bird will. Vice versa. I've had both genders, and I hold no preference by the way they bonded to me. I'm a female, and actually the parrot who bonded with me the most was female as well.

Some do find that Cockatiels' dust is bothersome if you have allergies. But for some odd reason I am extremely prone to illnesses and any sort of allergy, and Kiko's dander doesn't bother me a bit. Unless of course a chunk would somehow drift into my nostrils.

 

[kalypso123]

Cockatiels make great pets. I dont think the gender of the cockatiel matters when it comes to bonding with you. I feed my tiel Zuprem pellets, occasional sunflower seeds as treats, chili pepper sprays, some millet as a treat, and I am trying to get Kalypso to eat fresh veggies but no luck so far. I guess I will try broccoli and corn. Good luck. I wouldnt pick the prettiest bird instead pick the one that likes you the most if they are tame but if they are not tame then I would pick the most active one because it would seem more healthier even though birds are great at hiding illnesss. I dont know much about Jardines except that they are related to the Senegal and that they are prettier.

 

[Mechanical8dragon]

Thanks for all the information I'm actually thrilled to announce that the local family owned pet store actually has a Jardine's Parrot for sale. It's a bit expensive (about $1,160 or so) and I called, asking the owner if she'd be willing to accept a down-payment on the bird and she said yes ! Now... it'll take me until later next month to pay it all but I plan to go in next week after my paycheck and see if she'd accept ~200-300 for a start and then come in the 24th and pay about 300-400. I WAS going to wait until the 24th, but I don't want to risk the bird being bought by someone else while I wait to accumulate money. I doubt they would hold it for me anyways. 1k is a lot to 'hold' for a person. It's just how the world works.

The Jardine's looks like an adult, whether young or old I don't know but she (they referred to her as a she) has her red/orange plumage that comes from my research, age.

There are no breeders in my area and this may be my only opportunity for many years to come to get my dream bird. The second I started researching for birds that would fit me and my lifestyle I fell in love with these guys and when I saw her in the store that day... so beautiful, and she looked very healthy. Nice bright colors, and she was out exploring around her cage and everything.

When I go in Monday (or Tuesday depending on my work shift) before I make the first payment I plan to ask more about this bird. Age, her background, etc. and hopefully they'll accept the 'little amount' that I have to offer rather than wait to pay 500-600 later in the month. In the end it's still the same money and I even told her on the phone it would take me until next month to pay it off so it's not like they'd get the full amount any sooner. Not to mention she said it would be non-refundable, so it wouldn't be like they'd loose anything if I backed out.

 

[kalypso123]

Congratulations on your new fid. Next time you go to visit you should take pictures and post them on here.

 

[Mechanical8dragon]

Most definitively She's so pretty my heart melted

 

[Mechanical8dragon]

So my paycheck wasn't as big as I was hopping for today. But because she's a 'special case' (more on that later) they let me put 100$ down on her. AND THEY LET ME IN TO VISIT WITH HER! She isn't DNA sexed, but they think she's a she because she likes men more than women.

From the info I gathered, they said they've had her since she was about 6wks old and have had her for 4-some years now (got her in 2011) and she was hand raised with them. He said she's a good bird and they've been trying to find her a home for years now, hence why she's a 'special case' and why they were so willing to accept such a little amount today.

She didn't seem too interested in interacted with me (to be expected) but didn't show any outright aggression when I offered my hand to her to see if she'd step-up. She looked me up and down for a bit and did nibble my finger a bit, mainly just my finger nail, touching it with her tongue and such. She stepped up for the guy that was with me and he put her on the ground about about 10 minutes and told me to see if she'd step up for me from there, which she did, EASILY. But she very clearly wasn't ready to be pet yet (again, to be expected) as she gave my finger a good pressure pinch when I slowly tried. Which is fine. I didn't expect her to be like "Oh yeah go ahead Im chill yo".

But I asked about visiting to start building a bond, and they said that would be no problem at all. So I'll be visiting at LEAST once a week (depends on my work shifts cus half the time I don't get off till like... an hour before they close shop which means days off would be the only times I could go in and they don't really want me in on Tuesday's, cus that's when they get their weekly shipments).

All and all, I'm excited This is my dream bird, and the perfect chance for me to have a wonderful companion for my life.

I asked about her diet, and they since since they got her, she's been fed Zupreem (both 'baby forumla' and adult food of which they carry). From what I saw, she only had the 'fruit blend' food in her cage, which the guy said she enjoys the most. But they carry the regular pellets. Now... I've heard things about 'dyed foods'. Should this be something I should attempt to switch her off from? Or is she okay? I've heard Zupreem is a really good brand so I'm not overly concerned over it. They also have these 'dried fruit' bags that the guy said she really enjoys too, so at least I know two foods to get for her. She does appreciate seeds as well, but I know I want to find one without sunflower seeds, yes? I've ready they're really fatty?

Totally spaced on taking pictures, but for now I'm just focused on building a starting bond. Would it help more if I visit her in the same clothes each time for a bit until she gets more used to my face/voice?

 

[amusic20]

I'm also thinking -- for my first bird -- to get a cockatiel, as I live in an apartment. If you think those little guys/girls are loud, you should hear macaws and cockatoos! I hear screeching and all kinds of noises from the hundreds of birds at the bird rescue where I volunteer.