Thinking about getting a Cockatiel

[ArtMachine]

Hello,
I am planning to get a Cockatiel. I understand that it is my responsibility to take care of the bird.
However, I have a few questions before getting a Cockatiel.
I heard that Cockatiels are more susceptible to zoonotic diseases.

There are elderly people in our home (My grandparents), I would like to know if the Cockatiel can posses any danger to them like spreading diseases like psittacosis and others.

I am planning to purchase the Cockatiel from a breeder and it is hand-raised.

Is it common for a Cockatiel to get sick with a zoonotic disease?
Please kindly help with this. I believe that it is better to be safe than sorry.
I would like to be prepared for everything.

 

[texsize]

Do your Grandparents have any trouble breathing?
I would be concerned about the dust from the cockatiel because that's a sure thing that comes with Tiels.
I know I did not answer your question, I don't have any info on that.
If you get a Tiel where would it come into contact with a disease that it could pass on?
I can only see this as a problem if you take your Tiel out and about to interface with other birds/wildlife that may be sick.
texsize.

 

[Aquila]

I have no memory of ever reading anything about parrots in particular carrying any diseases that are transferrable to humans.

Here's the wikipedia artile on zoonosis.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoonosis

When you see birds listed, it's mostly wild birds and things like waterfowl and poultry, not parrots. It's also highly unlikely a bird at home would ever acquire any "disease" unless you or they have come into contact with another bird with the disease and carried it into your home.

As texsize said, Cockatiels are dusty birds, so if your grandparents have allergies, I wouldn't recommend them. But what are you looking for in a bird? Do you want a bird to interact with, or just something to look at? If you're just looking for a bird to look at and be pretty, finches and canaries are both really good small birds to keep and easy to take care of. If you want a bird to play with, consider a green cheek conure as well!

I love my cockatiel, Willow. She's happy to just be with you and sit on your shoulder, though she's not much for being pet. She'll follow me around and land on my head too, and has flown into the shower with me on several occasions!

 

[Flboy]

Teach your cocktail to love baths!

 

[ArtMachine]

I have no memory of ever reading anything about parrots in particular carrying any diseases that are transferrable to humans.

Here's the wikipedia artile on zoonosis.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoonosis

When you see birds listed, it's mostly wild birds and things like waterfowl and poultry, not parrots. It's also highly unlikely a bird at home would ever acquire any "disease" unless you or they have come into contact with another bird with the disease and carried it into your home.

As texsize said, Cockatiels are dusty birds, so if your grandparents have allergies, I wouldn't recommend them. But what are you looking for in a bird? Do you want a bird to interact with, or just something to look at? If you're just looking for a bird to look at and be pretty, finches and canaries are both really good small birds to keep and easy to take care of. If you want a bird to play with, consider a green cheek conure as well!

I love my cockatiel, Willow. She's happy to just be with you and sit on your shoulder, though she's not much for being pet. She'll follow me around and land on my head too, and has flown into the shower with me on several occasions!

Do your Grandparents have any trouble breathing?
I would be concerned about the dust from the cockatiel because that's a sure thing that comes with Tiels.
I know I did not answer your question, I don't have any info on that.
If you get a Tiel where would it come into contact with a disease that it could pass on?
I can only see this as a problem if you take your Tiel out and about to interface with other birds/wildlife that may be sick.
texsize.

Thank you very much. I have been talking about Psittacosis and other illness listed on these websites:
Parrot Fever (Psittacosis): Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatments
Health Risks to People

Have you ever got sick from your pet birds?

 

[Aquila]

I've never been sick from my birds at all, I currently have seven birds total, and I used to work in a pet store around birds and other animals. Unless you're coming in contact with an already sick bird, your chances of ever coming into contact with diseases is extremely low. Parrots don't inherently carry these bacteria or diseases, and are most often found in wild populations.

Per the CDC website: Pneumonia | Psittacosis | CDC
Since 1996, fewer than 50 confirmed cases were reported in the United States each year.

That's an extremely low number.

Psittacosis is also part of routine disease testing for birds, and any breeders you might go to, take it very seriously, so again, unlikely that you will ever come into contact with it.

Most of those things on the second link's list also aren't anything to worry about, besides the allergy issue. The second link cites a few bacterium that can affect both birds and people, and are not something that birds inherently carry. The primary source for these infections are contaminated food or water, or like I said, poultry/waterfowl, which can then infect a bird or yourself. I think almost every one of those cite that it's acquired through contaminated food or water.

 

[ArtMachine]

I've never been sick from my birds at all, I currently have seven birds total, and I used to work in a pet store around birds and other animals. Unless you're coming in contact with an already sick bird, your chances of ever coming into contact with diseases is extremely low. Parrots don't inherently carry these bacteria or diseases, and are most often found in wild populations.

Per the CDC website: Pneumonia | Psittacosis | CDC
Since 1996, fewer than 50 confirmed cases were reported in the United States each year.

That's an extremely low number.

Psittacosis is also part of routine disease testing for birds, and any breeders you might go to, take it very seriously, so again, unlikely that you will ever come into contact with it.

Most of those things on the second link's list also aren't anything to worry about, besides the allergy issue. The second link cites a few bacterium that can affect both birds and people, and are not something that birds inherently carry. The primary source for these infections are contaminated food or water, or like I said, poultry/waterfowl, which can then infect a bird or yourself. I think almost every one of those cite that it's acquired through contaminated food or water.

Ohh, I see. Thank you very much for answering.
Did your bids ever get ill with bacterial infections like psittacosis? Thanks again.

 

[Aquila]

I've never been sick from my birds at all, I currently have seven birds total, and I used to work in a pet store around birds and other animals. Unless you're coming in contact with an already sick bird, your chances of ever coming into contact with diseases is extremely low. Parrots don't inherently carry these bacteria or diseases, and are most often found in wild populations.

Per the CDC website: Pneumonia | Psittacosis | CDC
Since 1996, fewer than 50 confirmed cases were reported in the United States each year.

That's an extremely low number.

Psittacosis is also part of routine disease testing for birds, and any breeders you might go to, take it very seriously, so again, unlikely that you will ever come into contact with it.

Most of those things on the second link's list also aren't anything to worry about, besides the allergy issue. The second link cites a few bacterium that can affect both birds and people, and are not something that birds inherently carry. The primary source for these infections are contaminated food or water, or like I said, poultry/waterfowl, which can then infect a bird or yourself. I think almost every one of those cite that it's acquired through contaminated food or water.

Ohh, I see. Thank you very much for answering.
Did your bids ever get ill with bacterial infections like psittacosis? Thanks again.

No, because again, it's generally passed bird to bird, though you can carry it on your clothes (feces, generally.) I follow quarantine procedure with all of my new birds before they're around my other birds.