Cockatiels are smart and playful parrots. Once socialized they can be extremely friendly and will happily play with you. Here's how it's done.
Step 1
Place your cockatiel in a rectangular cage at least 2 feet tall with a 20-inch width and 18-inch depth. Your cockatiel may feel more safe and secure if his cage is in the corner of a room. Non-threatening persistence should be your mantra. If your cockatiel is particularly shy, you may want to sit in front of his cage and talk soothingly to him. These birds love singing, so whistle a little tune (you are inviting her into your flock!) As the bird warms to your presence by his cage, open the door and possibly offer a nice treat on the palm of your hand. If she shies away, withdraw your hand (and the treat). Only do this for a few minutes at a time several times throughout the day. Your first goal is to get the cockatiel eating from your hand. Once this happens, you can start thinking about removing the cockatiel from her cage. Be patient and never rush your bird. Remember how much bigger than her you are! Turn off all ceiling fans and keep outside doors shut.
Step 2
Try giving him/her some fruits and vegetables sometimes, instead of food from the store; for all pet birds enjoy fresh fruits & vegetables. Make sure they always, always have seeds in their dish. Try feeding scrambled egg, mashed sweet potato, mashed banana. Always test the temperature of any heated food before giving it to your bird; aim for room-temperature, or just slightly warmer.
Step 3
Buy appropriate toys for your cockatiel.
Step 4
Buy bird treats for your cockatiel to eat as a reward for any tricks he does.
Step 5
Talk to your bird. Cockatiels are very good listeners, and sometimes they talk back. Encourage them by doing this: Nod, whistle and move your finger up and down at the same time. If he/she responds, you will problably be able to teach him anything.
Step 6
Some cockatiels are afraid of the dark; a little nightlight helps.
Step 7
If you are going to train your bird, you may want to go to an area where it is nice and quiet. You may bring one person to help you if you want.
Step 8
Cockatiels can live very long lives if you take care of it. Remember, birds are like people in a way. They have their own personalities
Tips
- Cockatiels need attention almost every day. If you only have one cockatiel, it is recommended to play with him/her each day.
- Have your bird(s) near a window (not direct sunlight). You should not have any type of bird in the basement or dark room. This could lead to depression and the plucking of feathers.
- Be gentle with these little birds; they may be able to fly into walls, but they are still fragile.
- Even after eating from your hand, a cockatiel may not want you to touch him. Remember: Non-threatening persistence. Cockatiels like to have the feathers around their head stroked against the grain. That's right: backwards. A good time to initiate petting is during molting when they are itchy.
- Don't torture your bird or spoil it or it will get used to this kind of attention. Don't give up on your bird either; this will take time.
- I have found that I wasn't able to train my cockatiel to be potty trained do to the fact he was already an adult and a stubborn little thing. If this is the case for you, I recommend going out and buying a bird leash. It acts as a diaper as well and you can take your bird out side and play with it in the grass. My bird loves to explore the wild out doors but make sure no harmful chemicals are in your grass and watch it close. (Of course, you probably know this.)
- If you want your bird to be more social with people, don't put it in a cage with another bird. It would much rather interact with other birds than with people if living in the same cage.
- There are plenty of Chat or Talk forums for birds. Consider joining one, they are packed full of information!
- Do not consider breeding birds unless you know how. It could kill your birds!
Warnings
- Your cockatiel must have access to clean and fresh water. If they go without water for more than 24hrs, they could die.
- Do not operate a ceiling fan if the bird is out of the cage as the bird could run into the spinning blades and die.
- Cockatiels like to play with mirrors and shiny object. However, DO NOT place a mirror inside their cage. They view their reflections as another bird and can get very frustrated when the reflection doesn't respond as such. This is fine for play time but if the tiel sees it all day it will put her on edge and make her cranky.
- Don't neglect your bird!
Things You'll Need
- Keep your Cockatiels active by having bird toys found at your local pet store.
- You'll need a cuttlefish bone for keeping their beaks trimmed (also available at your local pet store)
- Make sure that you have the right supplies for clipping a bird's wings.
- Patience and time
- Cockatiel size cage.
- Cockatiel food, treats, and toys
- Consider buying a cockatiel book so you will always have a reference.
