First Cockatiel!

Bananerz

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Jul 27, 2015
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Parrots
Bananas - Cockatiel; 1.5yo F
Unnamed - Parakeet; ? ?
Hello all, I've recently adopted my first cockatiel, Bananas! She's 1.5 years old.

I have some misc. questions about general cockatiel stuff.
1. What are some of Your cockatiels favorite fruits&veggies? I've been trying different ones but she only samples them then turns up her nose. I'm going to keep trying over and over, but perhaps some suggestions?
2. Are there any physical or behavioral signs that she's due to molt?

Thanks all :)
:white1:
 

gracebowen

Active member
Jan 14, 2015
1,439
3
San Antonio
Parrots
Cora lovebird
Sky parakeet
Mine likes broccoli and carrots. At first hed only eat cooked. I offered daily for over2 months before he started actually eating. Now they(I have budgies too) eat eggs rice and many other foods.

Actually rice was one of the first things they ate.
 

Ann333

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Jan 8, 2015
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New Mexico
Parrots
--PUMPKIN - male YS GCC. Hatched Halloween Day 2014. Came home Jan. 4, 2015. Started talking in July '15!

-BUTTERNUT- female TYS GCC Hatched in late Jan. 2016 and came home March 14, 2016
I don't have a cockatiel, but my gcc loves bananas, corn, mangos and organic natural applesauce. Those are his favorites Maybe trying some fruit and sweet veggies like this will help open your birds mind to new foods. Then maybe you will have an easier time introducing veggies.

Oh yea! Welcome to the forum.
 
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MikeyTN

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Feb 1, 2011
13,296
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Antioch, TN
Parrots
"Willie"&"Lola"B&G Macaw,
"Dixie"LSC2, and "Nico" Scarlet Macaw.
We feed our cockatiels a variety of stuff such as broccoli, cucumber, zucchini, celery, carrots, bell pepper, strawberries, apples, bananas, oranges, kiwi, water melon, cantaloupe, grapes, mango, etc. We chop them up and feed them to everyone. Mine eats them pretty good most of the time. When you see a lot of feathers on the bottom of the cage and when they have a ton of pin feathers, that's usually a clue that they're molting. :)
 
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Bananerz

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Jul 27, 2015
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Bananas - Cockatiel; 1.5yo F
Unnamed - Parakeet; ? ?
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Thanks all :)
I've started with apples, carrots and bell pepper so far.
 
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Bananerz

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Jul 27, 2015
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Bananas - Cockatiel; 1.5yo F
Unnamed - Parakeet; ? ?
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That reminds me! How big/small should I cut her food?

Update: Never mind! I cut some bell pepper and carrots into little 'bite size' nibbles for her, and she's not just eating but feasting on them! Yaaayy!!
 
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Ann333

New member
Jan 8, 2015
1,119
0
New Mexico
Parrots
--PUMPKIN - male YS GCC. Hatched Halloween Day 2014. Came home Jan. 4, 2015. Started talking in July '15!

-BUTTERNUT- female TYS GCC Hatched in late Jan. 2016 and came home March 14, 2016
Yay great news!!
 

Notdumasilook

New member
Jul 28, 2015
539
6
Charlotte, NC
Parrots
Blue Fronted Amazon, Cookie..Sun Conure..lil Booger (RIP) Have owned Parakeets, lovebirds, cockatiels, cockatoos, pocket parrot, and quakers.
your lil cockatiel will learn to eat just about anything you do.. including things that are not so good for them. Dont hesitate to give your feathered family member some meat products too (well cooked of course). Mine love chicken, hamburger, pork chops.. Steer clear of avacado and anything salty... both can kill a bird. I have heard chocolate is a problem too.,, but before I had that bit of info mine had already had chocolate ice cream, oreos, and fudge.. with no ill effects (luckily).
 

Allee

Well-known member
Oct 27, 2013
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Texas
Parrots
U2-Poppy(Poppy lives with her new mommy, Misty now) CAG-Jack, YNA, Bingo, Budgie-Piper, Cockatiel-Sweet Pea Quakers-Harry, Sammy, Wilson ***Zeke (quaker) Twinkle (budgie) forever in our hearts
Hello and Welcome to the forums! You are going to have so much fun with Bananas. My cockatiel will eat almost any vegetable or fruit if it's chopped small enough. She loves brown rice and quinoa too, a little of either one mixed into her chop improves her appetite for healthy food. I offer my birds a sliver of cooked chicken or fish once or twice a week.

So many foods are safe and healthy for our birds, but please keep in mind, there is also a list of toxic foods that should never be offered, even in small quantities, you might get by with it, but why risk it. Chocolate in any form should never be fed to a bird. Here's a link for you.

http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-...afe-fresh-foods-toxic-food-lists-sprouts.html
 
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Bananerz

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Jul 27, 2015
21
0
Parrots
Bananas - Cockatiel; 1.5yo F
Unnamed - Parakeet; ? ?
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Thanks for the link! I knew some foods were bad for birds but wasn't sure which ones.
I think today I'll try some pasta and bananas.
She seems to prefer her food softer so I'll try cooking some veggies too and see if she likes that better.
 

Notdumasilook

New member
Jul 28, 2015
539
6
Charlotte, NC
Parrots
Blue Fronted Amazon, Cookie..Sun Conure..lil Booger (RIP) Have owned Parakeets, lovebirds, cockatiels, cockatoos, pocket parrot, and quakers.
If you can get em to eat sweet potato its really high in vitamin A.. a birdy neccesity. Also they need D3... In the wild they get D3 naturally from the sun similar to humans..except its converted on their feathers and they injest it when they preen. Doesnt hurt to get some D3 vitamins ( i use the gel caps) and pop some drops on their food once a week.. Without d3 their lil bodies cant convert calcium to bone/beak/feathers and D3 shortage can be a major cause of health issues with a captive bird thats not getting exposure to sunlight (UV). Ive had several cockatiels myself..and the females always seem to go in to egg laying sprees..so keep plenty of calcium handy. Thin eggs can cause them to get egg bound...and you dont want an egg bound bird..
 
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Bananerz

New member
Jul 27, 2015
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0
Parrots
Bananas - Cockatiel; 1.5yo F
Unnamed - Parakeet; ? ?
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OK, thanks!
 

rowdy

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Jul 28, 2015
59
0
FL, USA
Parrots
Rowdy -Blue and Gold Macaw (I miss him :''''(, ?-10/18/15)
Luna- cockatiel (deceased:'()
congrats on your new baby
 
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Bananerz

New member
Jul 27, 2015
21
0
Parrots
Bananas - Cockatiel; 1.5yo F
Unnamed - Parakeet; ? ?
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Thanks, Rowdy :)
 

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