How do i groom my cockatiels?

Question

i've had my cockatiels for a little while & they seem to love the rain & sprinkler. so i figured that's enough. but lately i get the feeling it's not. how do i groom them and is there a proffessional who will do it for me?

Answer 1

Usually if there is more then one in the cage, they will preen each other!  If  they don't, you can gently preen the top feathers on their head for them but for  nails, beak and wings, I recommend an avian vet.  Any improper handling of them that traumatizes them will make them apprehensive to future grooming so get it done by someone who knows how to safely handle a bird and do it the right way.  I used to take my cockatiel, once a year to the vet for a wellness check that including a weight check, check for any bacteria in the f***s, a flight feather trim, beak trim and feet conditioning with a special lotion.  Yes, their feet get dry and cracked especially during the winter months due to the heat in the house.  I hope this helps.

Answer 2

No and No..

spraying them with water and letting them clean themselves is the most you should ever do!

if you tried to groom them.. you might upset them and make them very sick.. they have a gland on their back (just above where the tail starts) that secrets oil, they then use this oil to coat their feathers.. this is crucial for flight and waterproofing..

why would you want to groom them? are they dirty? do they not clean regularily? i know some birds can get poo.. stuck and just cutting those feathers away is more that enough.. or using a tissue to pull the lumps of poo off..

And make sure the cage is keep clean.. so they don't get filthy.

edit- i was assuming feathers.. i clip my birds nails.. (only the tips and not near the vein which you can see is pink) for the beak, my birds have access to branches they can chew, and wings i trim in summer to stop them hitting my ceiling fans.

Answer 3

Tiels don't need to be groomed.  Keep in mind that they are from the deserts of Australia--they are used to the extreme temperatures there.

Usually the term "grooming" refers to getting the bird's claws trimmed and the wings trimmed, and sometimes getting the beak filed down if the bird is a biter.

Trust me, they love the mist they can get from the rain.  It's plenty.

Best of luck,

Phoenix