Cockatiel questions?

Question

i want to buy a cockatiel...It would be my first cockatiel!i had alot of parakeets in the past but here is what i want to know.

1.how much would i be for everything including the bird

2.what are the main things i need

3.how do i train it not to bite

4.are they good around 8 year olds

5.pros and cons

6.main things i should know about them

7. how do i train them to whistle tunes

8.are they good pets

I know thats alot but you can also email me- [e-mail]

thanks

Answer 1

I have two females I opened the door and ignored them while I worked at my desk and the first thing I knew they were on my head. Both mine were $140 and the cage around $75 now they probably have $50 in different perches sand ones and wood and various toys. Mine will fly around land where ever they take a notion and say hello pretty birds and sweet. They also wolf whisle and sqawk if they feel they need attention. However if your get the ones that are yellow and white that breed has night fright and will need a light on at all times mine will freak out in the dark and her partner does not mind the light at all. I use a regular old 60 watt bulb. Good luck

Answer 2

I don't think 8 year olds are good for any bird sometimes they can be too rough so never leave ur kid alone with the bird. But u need a big cage, they love toys, MUST have a cuttle bone. Try to get one thats already tamed but if not everyday interact with it, pet it, and it should be friendly, they do love to nibble on u alot but it's different from a bite. They are wonderful pets, they don't like to feel negleted so try to be around it when u can. It will whislte what u whistle over time. I'm sure u know cover the birds cage at night. But overall u and ur kids will absolutely love these birds!! oh ya maybe close to $200 for everything depending how much the birds are now. Never hit their nose!!

Answer 3

Fish of all, you need a BIG cage. The cage would be about 100 and so would the bird. They need alot of toys in their cage too.

You defantly need toys, cage, food, thing like that.

Do not buy your bird from a pet store!! What you can do is ask someone in the petstore if they know a local breeder. If you get it from a pet store it wont be tame and it will bite. If you get the bird from a breeder, it will be hand tamed and step on your finger. You should never punsh your bird!!!!!!! It doesnt know any better. They cant talk, so there thying to tell you that they dont like what you are doing or they dont want to be held. AND DONT HIT IT ON THE NOSE!!! THAT CAN STOP BREATHINGGGGG!!!!!!!

They are good around any age if you get the bird from a BREEDER NOT a petstore.

They p**p alot. They also need alot of love and attention so if you and your family arent home alot, donr buy a bird.

If you want them to whistle, you need to repeat a phrase over and over again. They will cetch on. Make sure you dont force them.

They are great pets:)

They live longgg!!!

Answer 4

my cockatiel was $100 and a cage can rang from 50 to 100. and food is easy to find. toys are not expensive and when you clean his cage put in a different toy in. you can hit him on his nose when he bites. they say it can live for 15 year. you talk to them or whistle every day in a few weeks he will. they are great pets.    :)  

          GOOD LUCK

Answer 5

Check with bird rescues. They have many available and they know everything about the bird that you would adopt. This actually gives you some choice about the birds characteristics and It let's you save an other wise unwanted or abused bird.

Good luck.

They are very affectionate birds. We had a pair that traveled south in the car with us.

Answer 6

I have had a cockatiel, alhough he was a baby when I got hm, so if you want one around 8 years old it will deoend on how well he has been treated in the past. Like any animal, slow approach, food treats and lots of patience will eventually win them round. Cockatiels tend to be nervous birds in comparison to some, but once confident make a super cheeky pet.

You need a larger cage than generally recommended,  as this is the bird's permanent home and all plastic perches should be replaced with wooden ones, dowling is really good jjust the right size. Also feeding bowls, a bath or bowl for bathing (if the bird ignores it you can gently introduce a spray bottle in the summer with tepid water.

Plemnty of suitable seed, different fruits and veg to try, plus some like the ready made treat sticks full of fruit etc you can hang on the cage. Some toys, but not a mirror as you want the bird to look at you, tv, surroundings not himself.

Keep talking, whistling and he should soon pick it up, mine had a terrific wolf whistle.

They like music or tv if left alone and if going out make sure a lamp is left on or will come on if you don't return till after dark.

They are very good pets if handled properly and patiently, just give him time, after all you will be like a strange immense giant looming over his cage so he has to get used to you. Once settled for a month you can try tying the cage door back and see if he wants to come out, they generally will and soon perch on your head etc (make sure windows etc closed and cats barred.) They are pretty brave and dogs don't usually phase them too much.

They generally only bite when afraid, not being a particularly vicious bird, so with time and letting him come to you, all should be well. Just let him get used to the idea of your hand going in and out of his cage for a good while before making any attempt to get him to come to you and talk to him all the time, any old nonsense will do, they just love to hear their names and people to chatter to.

I always take the metal bars out of the bottom o new cages as cockatiels like to ramble around on the floor and the bars could hurt his feet, plus he can't get at whatever he is after, play football or anything else if it is left in.

Costs?  I don't know as no longer live in the UK but take a ramble round somewhere like Pets at Home they have all you need.

Good luck and happy hunting