Cockatiel Adoring and Charismatic

Cockatiel:
                "if we were suddenly denied the pleasure of all our birds except one, we would unhesitatingly choose a  cockatiel to be that one pet." This quotation, from the widely read book Parrots and birds by Henry Bates and Robert Busenbark , epitomizes the feelings of cockatiel enthusiasts who have experienced the unique joy of owning a tame cockatiel. In addition to its delightful, loving personality, a cockatiel is relatively easy to tame and makes an excellent family pet and devoted companion bird. They are also easy to breed and come in a myriad of  color mutations guaranteed to fit most price budgets.

 The cockatiel, Nymphicus hollandicus, is a small parrot. As the sole member of its genus, it rightfully belongs to the cockatoo family known as Cacatuidae, sharing many of the characteristics of its larger relatives. Like other cockatoos, the cockatiel has a retractable crest which it raises up and down in response to alarm, excitement and other emotions. Owners can learn to understand their bird's emotional state in part, by observing the position of its crest.

 Just like cockatoos, cockatiels generate a "powder-down" which is responsible for the white powder that gives unbathed birds a "dusty" feel. While regular bathing is highly recommended, owners should use only plain, clean water. It is important not to administer any additives to the bath water or shower spray, because foreign substances could interfere with the natural powder-down that protects the cockatiel's plumage.

Cockatiels generally don't defend them-selves well and can at the mercy of dogs and cats. Every small children can unintentionally harm a cockatiel and should be taught how to properly hold the bird and gently stroke its crest.

While cockatiels make excellent family pets, select one person, initially, to be in charge of training. This will help the new bird to become familiar with the trainer and develop trust quickly. Once the bird settles in and is responding to training, it can gradually be introduced to other members of the household. Obtain a young bird. Cockatiels are fully weaned and independent of their parents by 8 to 10 weeks of age. This is the perfect age to tame a bird and teach  it  to eat a well-balanced diet.

Older birds are more difficult to train and require work and patience. It is also more difficult to convert an older bird to a healthier diet,  if it has not learned to eat nutritious food. If you must have an older bird, be certain that you will have time to work with the bird on a daily basis.   Training must be done consistently. Nothing is more heartbreaking than to see a bird condemned to sit in a cafe because it  has not been properly trained by its owner.

 If you do  not have the time to train your new bird, it is best to purchase a hand-fed baby. Hand-fed babies are taken from the nest at 2 to 3 weeks of age and fed a formula several times a day, by hand , until the chick is weaned. This is the best method to produce tame birds. The act of gently handling the chicks during feeding causes the birds to become tame. They lose their fear of human hands and associate them with food.

    

One exception to purchasing an older cockatiel is acquiring a bird which is already tame, or was hand-fed as a baby.  However, some hand-fed birds, if ignored for long periods of time, can revert to a wilder, demeanor. While hand-fed cockatiels are generally confident and willing to step up on a friendly hand or finger, new owners should realize it takes time to nurture a growing relationship between you and you new bird. As you being to get know each other, over time, a bond of trust will develop. Your bird will soon learn to fly to you, sit on your shoulder, and show interest in being part of your daily activities. 



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