CARING FOR YOUR PET BIRDS.
by Mark Upton.

We probably all have at least one, that is one of the chosen, taken into your heart and home at a tender age due to any number of reasons, hand reared and spoiled silly ! In any case a pet bird in a cage requires care and attention that can be radically different from that lavished on aviary birds.

Cockatiels are flock birds and the interaction between members is very important. Pet birds however are usually solitary, (two in a larger cage is much better) and unless they are allowed out of their cage regularly to interact with their flock ( you !) inevitably become depressed, neurotic little souls sitting quietly by themselves steeped in boredom. Doesn’t sound much of an existence does it ?

A pet is best chosen as a hand reared or hand tamed youngster, used to human contact and environments. On arrival home with the new charge place the cage in it’s permanent position , having first considered the site. Avoid areas which are draughty, dull and out of the way. Your bird likes to know you are around. Also avoid areas which are exposed to full sunlight for lengths of time especially in summer. Early morning sun is fine for a couple of hours. Kitchen areas are a death warrant, if your pet is out when dinner preparations are under way, hot stoves, boiling saucepans, sinks full of hot dishwater act like magnets to a free flying and curious Cockatiel. Save the birds "out time" until you are able to safely settle with your pet where there is no risk of injury. In this regard it is probably best to keep those wings clipped. Birds become very accustomed to routine and look forward eagerly to their time out with you, but also need to spend time in the security of their cage and a good balance between the two should be the aim.

The pets diet is also very important. A good quality seed mix forms the basis of the diet. Regular offerings of silverbeet, beans, carrots, multigrain bread and corn ( to name a few) provide additional and essential vitamins and minerals to supplement the relatively incomplete nutrients supplied by seed alone .Charcoal should be available at all times as should a calcium bell and or cuttlebone. Water must be fresh daily.

You may find the bird to be wary of new food items and this is fairly natural but do persist for the good of your pet. The cage should be cleaned regularly and any spoiled and uneaten food should be removed at the end of the day. Seed should be checked and empty husks removed.

Whether to choose a cock or a hen as a pet ( or if indeed you have the choice ) depends on what you want from your bird. Cocks talk and are generally very animated performers. Hens don’t talk but make up for it with their sweet and demure natures. They will sit quietly on your shoulder leaning against your neck and just have lots of head scratching and snuggling.

Cockatiels make delightful and entertaining pets and will certainly reward you with their devotion and loyalty. You may expect around 10 to 15 years from a well kept and housed pet though one member of our club has a pet bird approaching 30 years old. This is a true indication of what proper care can do for your birds.

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