I really want to get a cockatiel...?

Question

I'm getting a cockatiel in a few weeks but i want to know if it's best to buy a baby and help it grow up or get an adult. If you have a cockatiel can u throw in some extra advice because i want to be able to properly care for my new pet. thank you!! :]

Answer 1

get a young healthy, tame one!!!!!  good luck.

Answer 2

It's best to get a handfed baby that has just weaned.  It will be tamed already and will bond easily to you.

Answer 3

I would advise you never to get a cockatiel. I've had one since I've been 4 years old. They're noisy, messy, and they'll wake you up when you don't want to be woken up. But if you insist on getting one, it's better to buy a baby. The best cockatiel my family has ever had was Chico, and he was raised by us starting as a baby. If you choose to get a cockatiel, be sure you can spare a couple hours each day to spend with it or else it will squawk its head off all day. My sixth grade teacher gave up hers after one month.

Tip: Don't get two cockatiels to quiet down one. We tried this and it just got twice as noisy.

Tip 2: Don't place your Cockatiel directly in front of a window: in the winter it is too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer. Plus, it doesn't like direct sunbeam. Also don't place it in the kitchen: vapors, hot burners, cleansers and other substances are poisonous or pose a threat to birds.

Answer 4

YESSS!!! These are the BEST birds EVER!!! Cockatiels originally come from Australia and are the most affectionate birds out there....they DEMAND attention... They have to constantly be played with and have interaction. They love people and kids. They can also be trained to speak but are known for their whistling abilities. They can also be trained to perform tricks! It is best to feed cockatiels vegetables (fruits have sugar) because if they are put on an all-seed diet, they can live about 15 years. If fed vegetables (sometimes fruit) they can live up to 30. You should definately get a young cockatiel. I got mine at 1 month old and had to visit it at the breeder until it was time to take her home. She is now two years old and is the best pet in the world lol. She screams every time i leave the room and can tell when i get home. It is best to get a cockatiel at a young age because theyll grow more attached to you and they will love and trust you. Also, it is easier to teach them to whistle if youre interested. There are many different mutations of cockatiels...

Pied - http://animal-world.com/encyclo/birds/co...

Lutino (my birdy!!) - http://coe.sdsu.edu/people/skidder/image...

Pearl - http://www.dkimages.com/discover/preview...

Whiteface - http://www.asnu.org.uk/tiel5.jpg

Cinnamon -http://www.cockatielsociety.org.au/image...

Yellow cheek - http://www.tieltreasures.com/Mutation/Do...

and most commonly, Gray - http://www.cockatielcare.co.uk/cockatiel...

Mutations can also be combined, as in the yellow cheek cinnamon pearl (the yellow cheek picture i gave) or my favorite, the lutino pearl....http://www.cockatiels.org/mutations/Elut...

it looks like it has freckles =]

lol so this is just some basic information that i used to tell my customers (i used to work at a pet store)

please adopt one of these birds... you will not regret it lol they are amazing.... good luck!!!! =]

EDIT: males whistle, females dont

ask the breeder or employee the s*x of the bird... there are markings on some of the mutations =]

Answer 5

Hi, my favorite was a grey faced - very funny bird - would mock the microwave sound, gave kisses on command , whistled tunes, etc... He loved boiled eggs ( just about 1/2 tsp. at a time then refridgerate the rest ). Tortillas, bread, cornbread. Never give onions,avacado, or chocholate which are posionous. Keep away from fans or doorways to avoid a cold. He also would unchain necklaces & bracelets.Learned " step up " immediately by placing my finger under his breastbone. Fresh water daily and newspaper on bottom of cage changed often.

Answer 6

my first one was 3 months old and so he was still tame when i got him. we were very gd frens and he was my favourite. very gentle and tamed and lovable too. he also came to me when i called him. my seond cocaktiel was older and because he was exposed to other birds, he was fierce and bit me really hard. however, after much time with him, he became more tamed and now although he always threatens to bite, he never does anymore. but he does not respond to his name nor allows you to stroke it. i suggest getting a young bird, not a baby one though. last time we had a baby bird, it died because rasing the baby isn't very easy. get one that can already eat millets and with time and patience, i'm sure it will grow close to you.