New to owning cockatiels

Hi Everyone,

I don't necessarily have one specific question, but I'm soon to be adopting two baby cockatiels and while I've done a lot of research on what is involved in owning cockatiels but I would like to get people who has first hand experience on the do's and don'ts in caring properly for them so I have two happy birds.

Thanks in advance

Hello and welcome!
I think it is wonderful that you are doing your research before your babies come home so you will be prepared
There is a lot of info in the Budgie, Parakeet and Cockatiel forum which will help you get started:

Budgies, Parakeets & Cockatiels - Parrot Forum - Parrot Owner's Community

There is a search function on there as well which I find helpful.
And there are several members who have cockatiels who I know would be happy to help you as well.
I am glad you joined us and would love to see pictures of your babies when they come home! When are you getting them?

Hello there and welcome to the forum! You are in good company, a lot of very knowledgable cockatiel lovers here. Can't wait to see the homecoming photos!

They are only 3 weeks old right now, I should get them mid-September. Originally I was just going to get 1 of them but through thinking things through I thought it would be better to get two of them so they can keep each other company while I'm at school or work and they will be siblings so I think it will help especially coming to me at such a young age and being hand fed. I just want to make sure I do things right so they are happy.

You will be getting same sex siblings, won't you? In the wild, siblings don't pair up, but in the controlled environment of a caged bird, nature will take its course.....and while a pair of hens might still lay eggs, you wouldn't have to worry about genetic defects.....

Congratulations and good luck.....

We will be happy to help with any questions you may have! I had a male cocktail JayJay so I know a bit about cockatiels!

IMO, a night light is crucial in owning a Cockatiel, they tend to get night fright easily. Just a head light going by the window would even set them off. Since your getting two of them as siblings, you MUST play with them constantly on a daily basis or they can go wild pretty easily when there's siblings around. If you have any specific questions, just ask away!!!

Welcome to the flock! Cockatiels are fun birds. They do get night frights, prone to fatty tumors, and the females have a tendency to be chronic layers. However, there are individuals who are the exceptions to the rule. Keep your birds on a good diet that includes lots of sprouts, veggies,(cooked is okay) and a very small amount of seed. They have active minds and active beaks. They will enjoy toys that involve lots of shredding. Mine really, really, love oat hay (we grow our own for the horses).

Congratulations!

I would have recommended starting with one because its raised to train and bond with any animal one at a time. However since you've gotten two LOTS of individual time will be necessary or they will quickly revert to being "wild" or untame. There's lots of toys you can make by hand. Giving them lots of toys to entertain themselves will be good I would recommend seperate cages so they are still able to keep each other company but also won't bond so much with each other that it breaks their bond with you. Also desperate cages mean that if they are opposite genders they can't breed.

Agreed: night lights are a VERY good idea with cockatiels, just make sure they are very dim.

Agreed: Lots of fresh food including sprouts, shy away from too much dry seed, best to feed it only as treats.

Agreed: Get two babies of the same gender, male is probably best to avoid egg laying. Getting 2 of different genders will likely lead to inbreeding even if you have no intention of breeding them.

I do not agree, however, that you should only get one. Two hand fed babies handled often will stay tame, and be much happier when you are gone than one bird would be. Just be aware that they need more of your time, not less, and that they may not continue to get along and may need separate cages in the future.

Make sure you have lots of toys, and I mean CHEW TOYS not plastic ones, and no mirrors. Foraging toys are ideal! Check out the internet on how to sprout seeds - I do my regular bird seed and a few extra goodies. Brush up on what foods are not safe for birds, such as avocado is poison, and so are raw beans.

STUDY YOUR BIRDS. Yours, not the internet. Learn to read their body language, learn what they like and what scares them.

I suggest getting two Aviator Harnesses before they even come home, and watching the whole instructional DVD. A bird that can go out safely is a happy bird

On that note, read up on the whole wing clipping issue before you decide. Read both sides! I suggest reading things by Dr. Steve Hartman of Parrot University in Ohio. Read especially his article on "thinking on the wing" I suggest reading these things before your babies come home. If you decide to leave your birds flighted, make sure the breeder knows that well in advance. If you decide that your birds are safest clipped that is your choice, just be aware that CLIPPED BIRDS CAN STILL FLY AWAY under the right circumstances, and it has happened to me. Heartbreaking.

Prepare your family! INSIST on people closing the doors, turning off ceiling fans, etc. If possible, hang a curtain between the living area and kitchen that can be closed while cooking. Things like that. Hide all exposed wires in whatever room the birds will live in.

Good luck!

SilverSage said:

Agreed: night lights are a VERY good idea with cockatiels, just make sure they are very dim.

Agreed: Lots of fresh food including sprouts, shy away from too much dry seed, best to feed it only as treats.

Agreed: Get two babies of the same gender, male is probably best to avoid egg laying. Getting 2 of different genders will likely lead to inbreeding even if you have no intention of breeding them.

I do not agree, however, that you should only get one. Two hand fed babies handled often will stay tame, and be much happier when you are gone than one bird would be. Just be aware that they need more of your time, not less, and that they may not continue to get along and may need separate cages in the future.

Make sure you have lots of toys, and I mean CHEW TOYS not plastic ones, and no mirrors. Foraging toys are ideal! Check out the internet on how to sprout seeds - I do my regular bird seed and a few extra goodies. Brush up on what foods are not safe for birds, such as avocado is poison, and so are raw beans.

STUDY YOUR BIRDS. Yours, not the internet. Learn to read their body language, learn what they like and what scares them.

I suggest getting two Aviator Harnesses before they even come home, and watching the whole instructional DVD. A bird that can go out safely is a happy bird

On that note, read up on the whole wing clipping issue before you decide. Read both sides! I suggest reading things by Dr. Steve Hartman of Parrot University in Ohio. Read especially his article on "thinking on the wing" I suggest reading these things before your babies come home. If you decide to leave your birds flighted, make sure the breeder knows that well in advance. If you decide that your birds are safest clipped that is your choice, just be aware that CLIPPED BIRDS CAN STILL FLY AWAY under the right circumstances, and it has happened to me. Heartbreaking.

Prepare your family! INSIST on people closing the doors, turning off ceiling fans, etc. If possible, hang a curtain between the living area and kitchen that can be closed while cooking. Things like that. Hide all exposed wires in whatever room the birds will live in.

Good luck!

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I agree with this for the most part but everyone has their own opinions. The most important thing is learning your bird. A great foraging toy for begining birds is an unbleached coffee filter (usually available at the dollar store) filled with seeds or other treats tie it off with a peice of yarn and hang it from the top of the cage bars. Also get some shredding toys as a few plastic toys won't hurt one of my birds favorite toys (I found this out while visiting Riley shes still too young to come home yet) is loose plastic beads. Even though those are her favorites a majority of her toys will be foragaing and shredding this is for the purposes of making sure she is able to entertain her self and also because in the wild birds spend most of their time foraging for food so this will 1 help cure bordom while I'm at work and 2 play off natural instints the birds have to spend their days doing something useful. With Halloween I would hide 80 percent of her food in foraging toys to motivate her and so she had to forage and find her food as she would if she was in the wild. I fully intend to do the same with Riley when she comes home. Obviously building up to it slowly but I will also be building up to more suffisticated (sp?) foraging toys. Knowing your birds is key though they may not like what the other one likes and you may end up with one or both not being your typical cockatiel.

I made the mistake with my cockatiel Kalypso by trying to get her/him (still to yuong to tell) used to me and Kalypso did. She was more scared of the cage then me. When I put her in her cage she wouldnt move. I had to get her used to the food and water bowls. After a couple of weeks all was well. Have fun with your new additions to the family!

It sounds like Kalypso was not properly socialized by her breeder

SilverSage said:

It sounds like Kalypso was not properly socialized by her breeder

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Kalypso was hand raised in a pet store. Carol bought her as a baby and hand fed her. She was also in an aquarium not a cage.

Mmm, makes sense. There is no way a pet store can provide a weaning baby with the proper stimulation and socialization. I am glad she had you to help her through it!

SilverSage said:

Mmm, makes sense. There is no way a pet store can provide a weaning baby with the proper stimulation and socialization. I am glad she had you to help her through it!

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That depends on the pet store!!!! I have been to a pet store before where their weaning chicks are VERY well socialized!!!! It was a VERY busy pet store, they went from a small pet shop and kept growing and becoming one of the must go pet shop in the area.

I will take your word for it. I have seen lots of babies being raised in pet stores, and never have I been pleased by what was going on. I am glad someone is managing it - kudos to them!