Cockatiels have high-pitched voices. They are not always the very best talkers, but they can be trained to talk with lots of patience and repetition. Males are generally more prone to learning to talk than females.
Types of Birds
Cockatiel Breeding:
When talking about the types of birds, it is surprising to realize that there are many beautiful varieties of cockatiels that have occurred over the years. Starting in the mid 1900's with the natural colored Grey Cockatiel, selected mating's have created the pieds, cinnamons, lutinos and pearly mutations. Later the beautiful white-faced, silvers and albinos were developed. All this has stirred quite a bit of excitement in aviculture. A recent development is an orange crested male, where its orange cheek patch extended into the face and crest.
Today breeders are strengthening early varieties, for example they are working on eliminating the bald patch behind the crest of the lutino Cockatiel, and they are also excitedly watching for new breed developments.
Cockatiel Mutations:
Natural Cockatiel:
Cockatiel :
As the U.S.’s favorite bird, the cockatiel’s talent lies in its whistle. Male cockatiels are more inclined to come up with elaborate songs; either made up, renditions of popular songs or mixtures of both. Indeed, a home with a cockatiel can sound like one with piped-in Muzak; a cockatiel can turn practically any song into a whistled version.
Cockatiels can also be the perfect cuddle bug, often preferring to perch on their favorite person’s shoulder, and play with their hair or nibble on their jewelry. Female cockatiels have a reputation for being particularly friendly and easy going. Of course, for your cockatiel to want to spend time with you, you’re going to have to earn and maintain its trust.
A cockatiel is pretty good at expressing its mood. A cockatiel that wishes to interact is likely to jump to the front of its cage in anticipation of interaction when you approach. Another time, another day, that same cockatiel might not budge from its perch and instead hiss at you if it doesn’t want interaction. A happy cockatiel is likely to break out into song, especially if it has a mirror to look into (or any reflective surface, including appliances, glass photo frames and metal cabinets).
Cockatiels in the wild are ground foragers, meaning that they fly to the ground to forage for food. A companion cockatiel will happily eat from a bowl, but it will also enjoy “foraging” for treats sprinkled on the floor of its cage. If your bird’s cage has a wire grate, cover it with paper so the food doesn’t fall through, or remove the grate temporarily for foraging time.
Cockatiels are some of the most popular pet birds, and they make excellent companions!
Affectionate and clever, Cockatiels are one of the most popular pets. Since early Europeans first returned home from Australia with these endearing little birds, they have continued to grow in popularity. Today, besides the standard grey cockatiel, there are a variety of cockatiel mutations to choose from. You will find these gentle little birds vying for the 'top pet bird' position, with only the Budgerigar (parakeet) and some of the Canary breeds giving close competition
Cockatiels, sometimes simply known as 'tiels', have so many positive traits as a pet, it is hard to know which characteristics are the most important. They are low cost, hardy, clean, intelligent, gentle, inquisitive, playful, quiet, adaptable, undemanding, easily trained, easily bred, and the list goes on! They can often learn to talk, especially the males, and can easily be taught all kinds of tricks.
Do you live in an apartment or condominium? Are there children about? Are you on the go a lot or gone for extended periods of time? Do you have a limited pet budget? Do you like to be greeted and admired? If so, then the cockatiel could very well be just the pet for you and your family!
Cockatiels are one of 52 species of parrot native to Australia. An interesting fact about them is that they are one of Australia's fastest flyers. Australians call them the "Quarrian", and they are also known as Weiro.
Characteristics of Birds :
Cockatiel Behavior:
Because of their intelligence and their well rounded personalities, cockatiels make great family pets. They make a very sweet family pet and are considered by many to be the parrot of choice for children. They have a gentle and more even tempered demeanor than many parrot species and they are a lot less prone to to develop nervous habits or other psychological disorders.
Both sexes are friendly and gentle, sometimes to the point of being dominated by other pet birds such as budgergars or lovebirds. So be sure to take care and have a watchful eye out if keeping them with other small parrots
Taming Cockatiels:
Taming cockatiels and cockatiel training is best when your pet is a juvenile. A young cockatiel at about 12 to 14 weeks of age is the easiest to tame. It's also best to just work with one bird at a time to keep it focused on you.
Cockatiel Training:
All bird training starts with trust, takes a little bit of preparation, and it does take patience.
A couple of quick tips for cockatiel training:
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Have your birds wings clipped to reduce flight.
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Work in a small room with few distractions.
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Have several short training sessions each day, lasting about 20 minutes each.
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Speak softly and move slowly.
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Start from the floor and approach your bird from the side rather then straight on.
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Reward with treats.
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If your bird is a biter, train it to step up on a stick first, then move on to your finger.
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After your bird learns basic behaviors, you can start with more advanced tricks.
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Be sure to socialize your bird with other people so it doesn't become too attached to just its trainer.
Initial cockatiel mutations include:
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1st Mutation:Pied Cockatiel - They have white and yellow spots on their bodies wherever they lack black pigmentation. Pied Cockatiels can be either a light-pied, heavy-pied, or a clear-pied.
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2nd Mutation:Lutino Cockatiel - Lutino is where they lack black pigmentation. The female generally becomes more brilliant than the male.
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3rd Mutation:Pearl Cockatiel - They have white and yellow feathers with dark gray borders. However the males will molt back to gray, while in the females the coloring holds.
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4th Mutation: Cinnamon Cockatiel - Where the black pigmentation turns brown.
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5th Mutation: Silver Cockatiel - THis is a paled gray, resulting because the black pigmentation has been partially reduced. It has red eyes and the beak and feet are pink.
Further cockatiel mutations include:
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Cinnamon Pearl Cockatiel is a double mutation with the coloration of a Cinnamon Cockatiel and the feather pattern of a Pearl Cockatiel. There is also a Cinnamon Pied Cockatiel mutation.
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White-faced Cockatiel is one of the cockatiel mutations that lacks the yellow coloration and they have no cheek patches. The males will have a whiter head while the females will have more of a grayish head. The females will also have the barred markings underneath their tail feathers. White-faced Cockatiels come in all the different color varieties like gray, pearl, fawn, pied, and albino.
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Albino Cockatiel is a multi mutation, a combination of the White-faced Cockatiel and Lutino Cockatiel mutations. This bird lacks gray, yellow, and orange and has bright red eyes.
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Yellow-cheek Cockatiel is a newer mutation, It has yellow cheeks rather than orange.
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Fallow Cockatiel resembles the Cinnamon cockatiel but has more yellow and red eyes.
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Emerald Cockatiel, also called the Spangled Cockatiel or Olive Cockatiel, has small patches or splotching's of varying yellow to gray colors.
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Pastel Cockatiel looks just like its normal counterpart but the colors, yellows, oranges, browns and grays, are softer. Also its cheek patch is a yellowish orange rather than orange.
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Platinum Cockatiel is primarily a light gray with a brownish cast to its chest. The Outer wings and tail are darker.
Pet Birds: Cockatiels as Pets
Choosing a Pet Bird:
Cockatiels are active and curious. They are also very friendly, making them excellent pet birds. When choosing a pet bird there just a couple of considerations. Unless you are looking for breeding stock, you will most often find juvenile cockatiels for sale.
There are many color varieties to pick from and though not necessary, you may want to choose a particular sex. The color mutation doesn't matter as all varieties of cockatiels make equally good pet birds.. Also when choosing a pet bird, both males and females will make great pets. The difference in sex primarily determines how vocal or loud your bird will be. Males cockatiels will usually be the better talkers while females tend to be quieter overall.
Cockatiels for Sale:
When choosing a pet bird from a variety of cockatiels for sale, it can be difficult to determine sex, especially if the birds are young. Often cockatiels for sale are offered as babies just shortly after they have been weaned. If you buy a juvenile you will need wait until it has matured a bit in order to determine its sex.
A Grey Cockatiel can usually be visually sexed at about six months of age. Males have a more brightly colored cheek patch than females. All juvenile Grey Cockatiels have barring on the underside of the tail. This barring is lost as the male matures but is retained by the female. Though some of the color varieties of cockatiels can be sexed visually, many are not visually dimorphic and will need to be DNA sexed.
Cockatiels :
"Cockatiels are one of the most popular pets!" ( Please click on the name or the picture to guide you to the Animal-world.com data base :
Cockatiels don't necessarily make good pets for very young children because they startle easily, and may bite if frightened by sudden hand movements; they can make good pets for well-behaved older children."
Nymphicus hollandicus
Nymphicus hollandicus
Nymphicus hollandicus
Nymphicus hollandicus
Nymphicus hollandicus
Nymphicus hollandicus
Nymphicus hollandicus
The Cockatiel was first discovered in Australia in 1770. It did not become popular until the Australian gold rush in the nineteen hundreds.
The fumes emitted from cookware coated with Teflon can kill your Cockatiel.
Cockatiel seeds, how do you know if they are good and nutritious? Sprout them! If less than 70% of the seeds sprout, they have died and also its nutritional value. Place some cockatiel seeds on a container covered with a paper towel. Soak the seeds with water. Make sure you keep the seed moist for the next few days by just spraying them, they should sprout in about 4 to 5 days. You can wash them and can give them to your tiel, they are very good and nutritious.
Do you know what a Galatiel is? Is when a cockatiel and an Australian bird named Gallah have chicks together.
In the wild, you'll see immense flocks of cockatiels circling the sky in search of large bodies of water where they can rest, breed, and escape from the Australian heat.
Cockatiels are very sociable birds and will get depressed if they are left alone for long periods of time. They may hit their heads against cages, pull their feathers, refuse to eat, or become angry. It's best to get a pair of cockatiels if you know you'll be out of your house for long periods of time.
Male cockatiels are better are talking and whistling than female cockatiels. In the wild the male cockatiel use sounds to attract females.
Cockatiels can be considered as the most widely kept parrot other than parakeet or budgie.
Hand fed cockatiels are more likely to talk than the parent fed ones.
If having a talking bird is your prime goal you might consider a larger parrot before getting a cockatiel. It's easier for a cockatiel to whistle than to talk.
The cockatiel life span can reach up to 25 years, though the standard is 15 years. This life span is based on proper care, nutrition and environment where your cockatiel lives.
Drafty areas in your house can be very bad for your cockatiel, it can even kill yout bird by making your it very sick. Don't place the cage where there might be a direct or indirect draft like air conditioning vents. If you want to find out if there is a draft you are not aware of, place a candle in the area you are thinking of placing the cage. It if flickers, there's a draft there, so find another area for your cage.
It's best to have your cockatiel check annually by an avian vet. Make sure you allocate one before getting a cockatiel. Would you get a car if you did not know who could fix it for you? Not all vets are created equal. Birds are very different in anatomy and physiology to dogs and cats, so avian vets must seek out coursework and residencies that are beyond the scope of a standard veterinary school. For an Avian vet in your area you can Google your location or do a search from the Association of Avian Veterinarians.
As always the information offered here is to provide guidance and is not intended to be a substitute for the good advice provided by your own avian vet. When in doubt always consult your own veterinarian.
Getting a new cockatiel can be the beginning of a joyful experience. You can look forward to many years of pleasure with your bird, if you learn how to care for it properly. Your investment in time will be paid back a hundred fold by a healthy, happy and lovable pet.
Diet :
Wild cockatiels normally feed on seeds, grasses, leaves and bark (from trees, bushes, and other vegetation). Additionally, cockatiels will eat grubs and different insects. Birds in captivity are less active and thus need less energy. However, like their wild brothers, they also require a varied diet.
Experts in the field of aviculture and veterinarians (as well as pellet manufacturers) often recommend that pellets should make up at least 90% of your bird's diet. I have not found a pellet that my birds really like. I have also found that if my birds are on diets consisting of totally pellets, they tend to have more trouble with gout.
Though all my birds do eat pellets, the amount is not more than 70% or 80%. The remainder of the diet consists of some seeds and all the fresh, frozen or canned (without salt) vegetables they want. Some vegetables and other foods my birds like are peas, corn (on the cob is their favorite), carrots (either mashed or shredded is preferred), leafy green vegetables such as turnip, beet or dandelion greens, broccoli (they prefer the tops), mixed vegetables, red peppers, sweet potatoes (cooked), rice, pasta, and some cereals such as Total, Shredded Wheat, Cheerios and others which are low in sodium and sugar. I don't allow my birds to have foods which are high in sodium or sugar due to the possibilities of salt toxicity or health problems from sugar. My cockatiels won't eat a lot of fruits, but most of them will at least taste oranges, apples, kiwi, bananas, mangos, strawberries, and some melons. They also love cranberries.
Since vitamin A deficiency is frequently found in cockatiels, I try to provide vegetables that have a high amount of vitamin A or Beta-Carotene in them. These include carrots, leafy green vegetables, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin. I've found my birds love breads, muffins and cookies with carrots, pumpkin or sweet potato in them. And, for those picky eaters who prefer not to eat pellets, I generally switch them by putting the pellets in their other foods (such as the breads and cookies) until I know they are eating them. At present, every bird in my home eats pellets to some extent.
I also sprinkle Spirulina (I've used it for almost 5 years of use with no problems), Echinacea, enzymes, and Bene-Bac on all soft food items.
Food items that are toxic such as avacados, chocolate (in any form), any item containing caffeine (including soft drinks and coffee) or alcohol are strickly off limits to my birds.
Be sure that anytime you give fresh foods to your birds (including cereals) that you remove them from the cages within a few hours or they become a bacterial breeding ground.
Calcium is a must for your birds. Provide them with cuttlebones and mineral blocks at all times. If they won't eat these, you'll need to scrape them onto your birds' food. Cockatiel hens are famous for egg binding problems. Single pet hens WILL lay eggs, they just won't be fertile. Another means of getting calcium into your birds is to give them crushed, sterile (cooked in oven until light tan color) egg shells. If you can get your tiel to eat Tums, they also provide calcium (my vet recommended the use of these for my CAG who thinks anything with calcium is icky - but he does eat fruit flavored Tums).
Watch your bird's weight. One way to tell if a bird is overweight is to wet the feathers on the bird's abdomen with alcohol. If you see a yellowish substance (fat) or coloring under the skin, it is overweight. Check with a veterinarian about a good diet for your bird. You don't want your pet to die of fatty liver due to a poor diet. Sometimes we think we are doing our birds a favor in providing them unlimited access to good foods but, without limits, even good foods can become a bad thing.
Cages :
I recommend the largest cage you can afford. I have two parrotlets in an 18" x 18" cage, but feel it is awfully small for a cockatiel. If a bird is out of its cage a majority of the day, then an 18" cage might do. I believe cages which have more floor space are much better, especially for birds who spend a lot of time in them. Since cockatiels are ground feeders in nature, a larger space gives them more room to move about.
Use a grate on the bottom of the cages. This keeps the birds from eating their droppings and spoiled/discarded foods which can be a major cause of bacterial and fungal problems in captive raised birds.
Perches :
Try to provide a variety of perch sizes and materials. Perches with varying diameters and shapes, such as branches, help exercise the feet. If a bird is using the same size perch all the time, it can cause foot problems later in life. I have some natural perches (made from untreated apple trees), wooden dowels of different dimensions (the average being 1/2"), and some cement perches for grooming purposes. I've found most of my birds love the cement perches and prefer them over all others. If you use natural perches, please, make sure you are using safe wood and only from trees which have never been treated.
Toys :
Cockatiels are intellegent and can become bored. Providing your bird with lots of toys in the cage will keep him entertained, especially if he is alone. Wood toys are also good for keeping beaks trimmed. Use a variety of toys and rotate them. You can buy bird toys or make your own from items around the house or purchased at craft stores. The possibilities are unlimited.
Spending Time with your Bird :
Spend time with your bird. Talk to him as you pass by or work near the cage. Take your bird out of the cage each day. Give him time out on a playpen and time playing with you.
One example is offering your bird q-tips to play with. Cockatiels love tearing them apart and then leaving the remainder in the water dish. Or, if you want to watch something really comical, give your tiels a few pieces of spaghetti. He'll have it wrapped around his neck like a big necklace.
One example is offering your bird q-tips to play with. Cockatiels love tearing them apart and then leaving the remainder in the water dish. Or, if you want to watch something really comical, give your tiels a few pieces of spaghetti. He'll have it wrapped around his neck like a big necklace.
Spending Time with your Bird :
Spend time with your bird. Talk to him as you pass by or work near the cage. Take your bird out of the cage each day. Give him time out on a playpen and time playing with you.
How much time will your tiel require out of the cage? That depends on the individual bird. The easiest way to have a happy, lovable pet cockatiel is to spend as much time with him as you can. A handfed or tame cockatiel will remain tame if you take him out and play with him for only an hour a day. But, the more time you spend with your bird, the more loving and tame he will be.
If you want your bird to be a member of the family, include him in your daily life. Provide a playpen or perch where he can enjoy his toys and be part of family activities. When you eat, offer your bird some of the healthy foods. This provides variety in the diet as well as interaction with you. If you are watching TV, allow your bird to join you. My cockatiels like to line up on their perch to watch television. It's rather funny to watch them fight for their favorite spot so they have a better view of the TV.
Bathing :
Bathing is natural for tiels. It helps keep feathers clean and skin moist. It also keeps down the amount of dust the cockatiels put out. Most cockatiels even like showering with their owners. Just place them on the shower rod or you can even purchase special shower perches for them. You can also use a mister, a dish with water or the kitchen sink.
Even some of my cockatiel breeders need daily contact. When they fight at the cage door to see who can get out to ride on mama first, I know they need interaction with humans even though they are in flights with other birds. I have some birds that are parent raised who only need to be talked to and whistled with daily. I have others that jump onto the cage door as soon as I enter the room. These get time to take a flight or two around the room and some scritches and then back to the cage they go (these are my future breeders or those I want to keep tame for future pet owners). My babies are in the playpen all day everyday. They come out several times a day for feedings and for scritches and kisses. They love having the back of their necks rubbed and their head feathers preened. I generally take their feathers and pull very gently on them. The birds seem to see this in the same way they see mutual preening and therefore see me as a member of the flock
The reason this command is so important is that in an emergency or when your bird is doing something you don't want them to do, you can walk up to him, give the UP command and he should do it without hesitation. It can get a bird out of some potentially dangerous situations. I'm sure since cockatiels learn this trick so quickly, with work they can learn other tricks as well. I just haven't worked with mine in that way.
Night Frights :
Cockatiels fear being unable to see things at night. They can have what is referred to as "night frights" which almost looks like some sort of seizure. They'll flap around the cage wildly and can even injure themselves. I have found that feeding my birds about 1/2 hour before lights out and not covering their cages have help eliminate night frights in my birds. If I do cover a cage, I don't cover totally, but leave at least one side uncovered. Generally I haven't had a problem with night frights since I changed the feeding time to just before their bedtime. I feed them fresh food during the day and give their seeds and pellets at night.
Training :
The most important thing you can train your bird to do is to step up. This is the first command you should teach your bird. You can teach a cockatiel to step up by gently pressing your fingers up under the chest, just in front of the feet. While doing this, say UP or STEP UP. The bird will learn very quickly what you want when you tell him to step up.
During a night fright, some feathers will often get damaged. If one of these happen to be a blood feather, try to remain calm and remove it. If you don't and the bird has further frights or bangs the broken feather on something, it can continue to bleed. Too much blood loss a small bird can cause it's death.
If you cannot stop a blood feather from bleeding, this is an emergency. Call your vet immediately.
Veterinarians :
When I sell baby cockatiels, I recommend that the new owner takes the bird to the vet for a well baby exam. I recommend including bloodwork and grams stains in the exam. Pet bird owners should become familiar with a vet who sees birds as soon as possible after purchasing one. You want to make sure you purchased a healthy bird, but you also want to have a veterinarian to visit in case of an emergency.
A vet needs to see your bird in good health to have a basis of comparison should he become ill. After the initial exam, I would recommend at minimum a yearly check-up for any pet bird. Sometimes birds can hide potential problems and like people, it's wise to see the doctor even when things appear normal because sometimes the vet could catch a problem before it becomes something serious. I also feel it is important to know your vet before you need them. Be sure to select a vet who knows about birds. They are very different from dogs and cats.
To learn more about caring for cockatiels, visit the National Cockatiel Society (NCS) website for lots of information about these wonderful birds and chat with other cockatiel owners and breeders at NCS's Tiel Talk.
Breeding cockatiels :
Video : Breeding cockatiels(Tips to breed)
Cockatiels are some of the easiest birds to get to breed if you do it right. It's easy for anyone to put two cockatiels together and watch as eggs are laid and hopefully chicks are born. However, there's a lot more you need to know about cockatiel breeding.
Puberty in cockatiels happens around the 18 month old mark. Although it isn't strictly puberty, it's normally what cockatiel breeders call the period from when they hatch until they become "safe to breed". If you mate cockatiels before they are 18 months old, especially if the female is under 18 months, then complications could occur such as defect chicks could be born or even one of the parents could get sick from stress.
You must also be aware of the cockatiel's relation to each other. As in humans, if inbreeding occurs then the offspring will be more susceptible to diseases, may be born with defects and a whole range of other "nastys". If you're in doubt about whether the two parent cockatiels are related, then to avoid any stress, just opt to get a different cockatiel if you really want to breed them.
Once a male and female cockatiel are together, then its just a matter of time before they will start to mate, which will leave the female with some eggs to lay. Once she has eggs, she will lay them every once every two days and are incubated for around 3 weeks. It is important that the eggs are not touched until the mother has stopped incubating them which is normally 4 weeks after laying.
Some females also lay eggs even is she has not been mated, and so the eggs she lays, like chickens, are infertile. To stop her laying more eggs simply keep her in the dark for longer periods. E.G put a dark towel over the cage for two hours after you get up.
cockatiels diseases :
Common Cockatiel Diseases
courtesy to : www.beautyofbirds.com/cockatieldiseases
Cockatiels, like all birds, are very adapt at concealing their illness. This is a self-preservation mechanism, as the sick and the weak are the ones predators will focus on. By the time your cockatiel looks ill, you can assume that your pet is seriously sick and is likely to deterioriate quickly unless appropriate treatment is provided.
By observing your cockatiel daily you will learn its normal behavior and you will be able to notice anything out of the ordinary. Below is a list of things to look out for as possible indicators of disease / illness; and a vet may need to be consulted.
Signs of illness to watch out for: :
Could be serious - consult with vet:
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loss of appetite
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fluffed up and/or untidy appearance
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abnormal droppings
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excessive feather picking or plucking
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abnormal sleep pattern (continuous, both feet on the perch when normally one foot is tucked up, head tucked under the wing, head turned towards the wing with eyes only partly closed)
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any change in normal activities ( talking or whistling, playing with toys, preening, interaction with other birds or humans, energy levels, different perching area)
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disorientation
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drinking a lot more water than usual
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soiled vent
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drooping head, tail or wings
Critical / Serious - bird needs to be taken to vet::
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respiratory problems / abnormal breathing
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tail constantly moving up and down
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discharge from the beak, eyes or nostrils
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face and head feathers coated with mucus and semi-digested seed- abnormal droppings
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abnormal feathers, feather growth, bleeding feathers, or abnormal molt
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French Molt
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PBFD
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Polyoma
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bleeding
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drooping head, tail or wings
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dull or swollen eyes
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falling off the perch
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hunched over posture
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lumps or swellings on the body
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Xanthomas (Fatty tumors)
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sitting on the bottom of the cage
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vomiting
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weight loss
Lutino cockatiel syndrome:
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Baldness, on crown
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Hemophilia: uncontrolled bleeding
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More prone to disease, appear mentally retarded or undeveloped
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Lack of coordination, appears drunk
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Falls off perch at night
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Bruising/bleeding wing tips, abdomen, pectoral muscles, prone to trauma and falling, many genetic problems(mainly due to overbreeding particularly when this mutation was still new and rare. In general, lutino cockatiels are stronger nowadays)
Diseases / Health Problems Cockatiels Commonly Come Down With:
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Malnutrition:
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Vitamin A and calcium deficiency are the most common deficiencies seen in seed junkies. Since seeds are higher in fat than many other foods, many seed eaters are often obese as well. Please also refer to "Calcium Metabolism in Birds".
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Vitamin A Deficiency: Vitamin A promotes appetite, digestion, and also increases resistance to infection and to some parasites.
Please refer to "Bird Nutrition" for food items rich in Vitamin A.
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Information about Calcium / Vitamin D Deficiency
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Overweight birds are more susceptible to arthritis and fatty liver disease.
What you can do::
Introducing healthy foods - such as green leafy vegetables; red or orange fruits and veggies (which contain beta-carotene) - is a natural way to provide this nutrient safely. Calcium blocks should be provided also, to prevent calcium deficiency.
For seed addicted birds offer sprouted seeds instead. Sprouted or germinated seeds are usually more easily accepted by "seed addicts" than fresh fruits and vegetables.
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Sprouted seeds are healthier as the sprouting changes and enhances the nutritional quality and value of seeds and grains. Sprouted seeds are lower in fat, as the process of sprouting utilizes the fat in the seed to start the growing process - thus reducing the fat stored in the seeds.
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Sprouted seeds will help balance your bird’s diet by adding a nutritious supply of high in vegetable proteins, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and chlorophyll.
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Soaked and germinated "oil" seeds, like niger and rape seeds, are rich in protein and carbohydrates; while "starch" seeds, such as canary and millets, are rich in carbohydrates, but lower in protein.
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It is an invaluable food at all times; however, it is especially important for breeding or molting birds.Sprouted seeds also serve as a great rearing and weaning food as the softened shell is easier to break by chicks and gets them used to the texture of seeds.
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Respiratory Signs, Chronic Depression, Weightloss: Aspergillosis (fungal disease), bacterial infections / pneumonia, nutritional deficiencies (Hypovitaminosis A), Psittacosis (Parrot Fever), mycoplasma infections,inhaled toxins.... Sarcocystosis
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Foreign Body Ingestion / Lead Poisoning, exemplifying itself in any combination of symptoms, including seizures, excessive urination, vomiting and depression.
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Reproductive Problems, such as excessive egg-laying, egg-binding, egg-peritonitis.
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Wing Tumors / Xanthomas may require wing amputation.
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Please refer to this article about Marcie whose owner was able to reduce these tumors drastically by massaging them with Gentamicin cream and removing the cholesterol layers as they flake off.
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Cockatiels are susceptible to:
Polyoma ... Candida / Candidiasis ... Chlamydiosis: This disease should always be ruled out in sick cockatiels.Conjunctivitis and sinusitis are frequently the only symptoms seen ... chronic egg laying, egg binding. These frequent problems can cause death. Treatments include environmental manipulation, hormonal therapy and hysterectomy ... Sarcocystosis
Cockatiel Sick with Psittacosis