Hi guys. I am new to Cockatiels and have just taken in my father's Cockatiel. He is 88 years old and as much as he has loved this Tiel he is not properly taking care of him or her due to his age and health. I just brought him or her home to live with me. I estimate this little one to be at least 10-12 years old, although he says 20. He himself was the second owner, took it in two years ago when the owner could not keep it. The Tiel had a friend a little parakeet but the parakeet passed away last year. Anyway, I was told there is a way to tell by color the sex? Also, the cage and condition of the cage is terrible and small so we are buying a new cage tomorrow. I found a nice size Kings cage with 3/4 inch spacing that I am picking up tomorrow so there will be more room and we are of course getting new toys. This little one has been fed Walmart cockatiel mix, so I would like to start to integrate a better food and eventually get him or her on a healthier diet. Seems a bit thin to me. I have a little Hahn's Macaw and tonight I gave them both some fresh veggie pasta which the Tiel seemed to enjoy. Looking forward to learning more from other Tiel owners. It is a bit tough for me as I have bad allergies and asthma to the powder. I am going to mist her tomorrow and trim the nails. She is a bit hand shy, as she has not been handled much bit does not bite. Anything you would suggestions? thank you Elaine e
New to cockatiels.
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WhirlyBirdy
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It depends what colour your cockatiel is if it's a pure grey typethen that's very easy, the males tend to have a more bright coloured face, in general that is that case but if you don't have the oppisite gender it's not always as clear.
MikeyTN
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"Willie"&"Lola"B&G Macaw,
"Dixie"LSC2, and "Nico" Scarlet Macaw.
Yes depending on the color og the cockatiel in order to determine gender if it's a grey or a pearl. As male greys have yellow heads with bright orange cheek. And only female pearls retain the pearl coloring. Same with grey whiteface as the males have white head as the females don't.
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Hi everyone.yes, I found out today that he is a he. He is settling in nicely. He got his first bath and loved it. And we picked up his new cage, new toys, a sleepy hut and he has a lot of room. He spent a good part of the afternoon on my shoulder and my Hahn's on my other shoulder. Hahnna my little Hahn's is actually a bit timid of the Tiel, whose name is Clicky. Later in the day, they shared a snack together and did very well. I will try to post pictures. Oh and i weighed him and he is 105 grams.
aether-drifter
New member
Thank you for giving him a good home! I'm sure he will really appreciate it. 105 grams is a good weight, so no need to worry about that at least (if anything, he may be on the chubby side). 
If he is a really picky eater, I recommend picking up some tiel-size Nutri-berries for him. Crush them up and serve them mixed with (or instead of) his regular seed mix, and he should take very readily to it. Since he's been so deprived of vitamins and other nutrients his whole life, I don't think it would hurt to switch his main food source entirely to Nutriberries for now. He could use the nutrition boost. You can also start by offering very small pellets, if he only likes small seeds like millet (pretty common with cockatiels). Harrison's extra-fine or Zupreem canary-size should work, and you can work him up to bigger sizes. I recommend serving seed and pellets in a separate dish, or he's likely to ignore the pellets. Of course fresh foods are important, so you can start offering those, but he may not realize it's food right away.
Can you post some pictures of the little man and his new setup soon? I just love tiels!
Oh, and one more thing: I don't recommend sleepy huts for cockatiels. They don't tend to use them, or if they do, it's usually because they start viewing them as a nesting area and they can get territorial over them. It's less of a concern with a male than it would be with a female, but still. They are not really necessary and not likely to get much use anyway.
If he is a really picky eater, I recommend picking up some tiel-size Nutri-berries for him. Crush them up and serve them mixed with (or instead of) his regular seed mix, and he should take very readily to it. Since he's been so deprived of vitamins and other nutrients his whole life, I don't think it would hurt to switch his main food source entirely to Nutriberries for now. He could use the nutrition boost. You can also start by offering very small pellets, if he only likes small seeds like millet (pretty common with cockatiels). Harrison's extra-fine or Zupreem canary-size should work, and you can work him up to bigger sizes. I recommend serving seed and pellets in a separate dish, or he's likely to ignore the pellets. Of course fresh foods are important, so you can start offering those, but he may not realize it's food right away.Can you post some pictures of the little man and his new setup soon? I just love tiels!
Oh, and one more thing: I don't recommend sleepy huts for cockatiels. They don't tend to use them, or if they do, it's usually because they start viewing them as a nesting area and they can get territorial over them. It's less of a concern with a male than it would be with a female, but still. They are not really necessary and not likely to get much use anyway.
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Thank you for giving him a good home! I'm sure he will really appreciate it. 105 grams is a good weight, so no need to worry about that at least (if anything, he may be on the chubby side).
Can you post some pictures of the little man and his new setup soon? I just love tiels!
Oh, and one more thing: I don't recommend sleepy huts for cockatiels. They don't tend to use them, or if they do, it's usually because they start viewing them as a nesting area and they can get territorial over them. It's less of a concern with a male than it would be with a female, but still. They are not really necessary and not likely to get much use anyway.
Thank you! Yes tonight. i will post. i tried the other day but a dorum message said I was out of room. i guess I will have to delete some of my Hahnna's pictures. LOL. he is eating, all the fresh veggie pasta chop with sweet potaoes that I make for my Hahn's. they bith sat on the table this morningtogether eating the mix. I also stopped by Platinum Parrot by me, Lisa Bono and she gave me a good Cockatiel mix I think by Gold or Higgins and we added a veggie fruit blend to it, but I will look for bite Nutriberries in the Tiels size. Is there a good supplement to give this old man for arthritis? He is very arthritic in his feet. Also, he is fully flighted but seems to have trouble lifting his wengs and definately cannot fly. i am thinking maybe because he has been in that small cage so long, possibly athripy in the muscles? He loves his new cage and is very eager to come up on me and talk in my ear.my Hahnna seems to be excepting him and seems to want to sit next to him but she is strong and has that very pointy beak so I am not allowing it. i am afraid she may nip the poor old guy. Thanks again and I will post pics tonight.
Maria_Metropolis
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- Nov 12, 2013
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White Face Cinnamon Pearl Pied Cockatiel - "Muffin"
Hatch Date: October 4th, 2013
RIP July 4, 2014
I already have a tiel, and now I'm looking to get a Hahn's macaw. Sounds like you have everything perfectly in order for the tiel. Good luck and thanks for taking him on.
aether-drifter
New member
Great news that he is eating fresh foods! That's fantastic. His health should really improve now. My tiels ignore dried fruits and veggies in seed mixes (in fact, they won't touch any fruit whatsoever), but will eat fresh leafy greens or veggies that I chop super fine in the food processor and mix with their grain and bean mash.
I think you are right about his muscles. Being confined to a small space and not moving much for years is bound to have some effects on the body. Not much you can do for him except allow him the space to move around, and have lots of comfy perches for his feet (rope perches, platforms, etc). If he is prone to falling, maybe pad the bottom of his cage with fleece. He should become more confident and less clumsy with time.
I'm sure there are herbal supplements you could give him that might help, but I can't think of what they are off the top of my head, sorry.
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Then this is his new cage we got him the next day. Much bigger with all new toys and we made an area for him to sit on lined with fleece because he is very arthritic. Also changed him to new food and he loves the fresh mash I made for him and my Hahn's.
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My Hahn's Hahnna sharing breakfast this morning with the little old man. Hard to believe he is 20 years old. He will be 21 in July. We will give him the best life for however long God gives him to be with us. My Hahnna talked to him last night, she said Cricket, Cricket, what are you doing. Then she said hello then Cricket started peeping and Hahnna told him to shut up. Lol
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