Cockatiel Care » Cockateel Care http://www.cockatielcare.net Happy, Healthy & Pleasant Sounding Cockatiels Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:20:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 en hourly 1 Cockatiel Care – 3 Tips For a Healthy and Happy Cockatiel – Get Started Right! http://www.cockatielcare.net/cockatiel-pets/cockatiel-care-%e2%80%93-3-tips-for-a-healthy-and-happy-cockatiel-%e2%80%93-get-started-right http://www.cockatielcare.net/cockatiel-pets/cockatiel-care-%e2%80%93-3-tips-for-a-healthy-and-happy-cockatiel-%e2%80%93-get-started-right#comments Sat, 05 Sep 2009 19:52:59 +0000 admin http://www.cockatielcare.net/cockatiel-pets/cockatiel-care-%e2%80%93-3-tips-for-a-healthy-and-happy-cockatiel-%e2%80%93-get-started-right

If you are new bird owner I am going to share with you 3 tips for successfully starting off right with your cockatiel.

Get an examination by an Avian Vet

Within the first 2 weeks of having your cockatiel you should have an experienced vet. A little word of caution here, most veterinarians specialize and the ones who don’t almost specialize by default because most people will bring their dogs and cats to these types of veterinarians. Find a vet that has an area of expertise in birds, also called avian vets.

Quarantine Your New Cockatiel

If you have more than one bird, do not put all the birds together. You need to keep new bird away from the birds that are already in the house. You will also want to put you new cockatiel in a relatively quiet place, loud noises stress cockatiels out.  

Resist the urge to “show off” your new cockatiel. Do not invite a lot of people over to have people look at your new pet. That kind of attention is unwanted by your cockatiel. Wait until your cockatiel is “completely” comfortable in its new surroundings.

Housing Preferences

You may be tempted to get a cage that is ornate or round. This is a big mistake. Studies have shown that cockatiels get nervous when inside a round cage. This hold true for old ornate cages too, most of them are round, but the dangers with these cages are that cockatiels (and any other small birds) may get their head stuck in these cages.

Rectangle cages are the best, the bigger the better. Remember, these are bird and they need to fly. Proper Cockatiel Care starts right from them beginning.

 

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]]> http://www.cockatielcare.net/cockatiel-pets/cockatiel-care-%e2%80%93-3-tips-for-a-healthy-and-happy-cockatiel-%e2%80%93-get-started-right/feed 0 Cockatiel Care – Signs of a Sick Cockatiel http://www.cockatielcare.net/cockatiel-care/cockatiel-care-signs-of-a-sick-cockatiel http://www.cockatielcare.net/cockatiel-care/cockatiel-care-signs-of-a-sick-cockatiel#comments Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:55:59 +0000 admin http://www.cockatielcare.net/uncategorized/cockatiel-care-signs-of-a-sick-cockatiel Cockatiel care involves looking for signs that your cockateil may be sick, below you will see a few of the common signs of a sick cockatiel.

Most birds have a natural ability to hide that they are sick, this is a defense mechanism that they need in the wild, cockatiels are no different. A cockatiel can hide a disease from detection  until they have already reached an advanced stage. This means that you need to keep a close eye on your bird. Paying close attention is something you should be doing with your cockatiel anyway, because they thrive with loving attention and by giving your bird this kind of attention might save their life.  

Here are a few signs of a sick cockatiel…

Weight

It might not possible too, but you should try to weigh your bird on a weekly, if not on a daily basis. A sick or weak cockatiel will slowly lose weight and body mass daily when sick, so you’ll easily be able to detect the loss. The loss of weight will tell you that your cockatiel is not eating, a tell tale sign of illness.

Feather Picking

One of the next common signs of a sick cockatiel is feather picking. This can be caused by a parasitic infection or an underlying disease. Sometimes, it’s just the result of behavioral problems. In some cases, it can be a combination of both. The vet will have to rule out disease as the underlying cause.

Vomiting

One of the most clear sign of a sick cockatiel is vomiting. This is a one of the worst symptoms that your bird can develop. It may be a sign that he/she has an infection, blocked bowels, or is suffering from various types of poisoning. You should seek veterinary help as soon as you can if your cockatiel experiences recurring occurrences of vomiting.

Sneezing

Sneezing is a common illness. This is usually caused by a sinus infection. Sinus infections can be due to a lot of reasons, so your veterinarian will have to determine the cause. Possible causing bacterial infections, fungal infections, or causes such as Psittacosis are usually to blame.

Screeching

Watch out for the amount of screeching your cockatiel does, simply gauge it by the “normal” noise level your bird usually makes. Excessive screeching is a clear cut sign that something is wrong. It can be as simple as a behavioral problem, but can be parasites or a disease as well, causing your cockatiel pain.

Hopefully, if you keep an eye on your cockatiel you can have success warding off unwanted illness. For more tip about proper cockatiel care look around this site some more.

More resources can be found below…

Behavior problems

The Right Cockatiel Diet

Cockatiel Handbook

 

 

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