Something out of the main subject

For all of you out there that have a Cockatiel as a pet I would like to tell you something. Cockatiel is an exotic bird as are all of the other parrots. So if you want to learn more about this and all the other exotic birds I thing that you will have to visit some exotic places and see how do Cockatiels live in wild nature. If you are interested in visiting exotic places that will ofer you a luxury holiday click here

Newbie's Guide to Cockatiel Food

It's very important that you feed your cockatiel an appropriate diet. Otherwise, you'll open the door to a wide range of health problems for your bird. This article will teach you a few things you need to know about cockatiel food.

Fruits/Veggies

Fruits and vegetables are an important part of your bird's diet. You should feed them on a daily basis. He will enjoy carrots, grapes, apples, spinach, and peas. You can also feed him yams, sweet potatoes, watercress and corn. If you don't have any of these available, then baby food with vegetables and fruit is a suitable alternative.

Seeds

Virtually everyone knows that birds love seeds. So, you should feed your cockatiel seeds too. There are a variety of seeds you can feed him. Some of the most popular choices include white millet, sunflower, sesame, flax, and hemp seeds.

Nuts

Nuts are also suitable cockatiel food. These birds enjoy eating almonds, cashews, walnuts, and pecans. Macadamia and pistachio nuts are also fine. You should be careful not to feed too many nuts because they can be high in fat, which can cause health problems.

Protein

If you want your bird to be completely healthy, you should make sure he has plenty of protein in his diet. Birds that are molting will especially benefit from extra protein. Fish, cottage cheese, chicken, lean meats, and turkey are all good sources of protein. Eggs that have been scrambled or hard-boiled are also good.

Treats

Every good bird deserves a treat every now and then. You can feed him your favorite cereal such as Cornflakes, Rice Krispies, Cheerios, or Froot Loops. Unsalted popcorn also serves as a nice treat. Besides these foods, your local pet shop should have treats that your cockatiel will enjoy.

Cinnamon Cockatiel - Main Characteristics and Free Tips

A cinnamon cockatiel also goes by the tender names as the Cinnamon Tiel and the Isabelle cockatiel. Just like other mutation of cockatiel, they are short of having gray tint that is common in usual grey cockatiels. The warmth of the cinnamon color is enhanced with the yellow tails and heads. Their plumage's color varies from balmy tannish-gray to chocolate brown.

The other exquisite variations of the cinnamon cockatiel are the cinnamon pearl cockatiels and cinnamon pied cockatiel. They are very popular species of parrots. Cockatiels are hardy, they have the capacity to easily breed and it can easily handle changes. Most pet owners prefer them over other birds since they are not as noisy as the other species. They are also even relaxed albeit when you leave them alone in their cage or area
Cinnamon cockatiel as well as other cockatiel breeds, belongs to the parrot family because of their beak's shape. They are also sometimes known as cockatoos with their tiny head crests. Conversely, cockatiels have lengthy tails than cockatoos. These tails make up almost half of their entire length. This quality gives them more resemblance to a parakeet.

Cinnamon cockatiel consumes nuts, veggies, sprouts, fruits, pellets and seeds. They need an airy cage wherein they spend quality time to fly here and there and play with their toys. They have developed as nomadic creatures, enduring diverse and rugged habitations. Cockatiels relentlessly move, changing locations along with the cyclic instability of food and water supply. This kind of habitation and the cockatiel's adaptive approach made them fit as a pet.

The distinctive head crest of a cinnamon cockatiel erects when these birds are thrilled or stimulated. This will be one of the signals that you will notice and sometimes will find very amusing. Also, the crest seems to flatten when they are angry, defensive and meek. It is neither erect nor flat when they are in a normal state. As a pet owner, you should master these so that you can handle it well.

Similar to lutino cockatiel, cinnamon cockatiel is developed from mutations. They are one of the sex-recessive cockatiel mutations. The gene has an effect on their melanin pigment and impedes the gray and the black pigments but the pigment amount is not actually changed, just the coloring. Their brown pigment goes to their eyes, beak, legs, feet and feathers. The existence of yellow color in the chest and feathers is evident in males and female cinnamons.

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Learn Cockatiel Training Techniques Like a Pro

Now's the time to learn how to provide proper cockatiel training for your feathered pet! You'll be glad you became as good as a pro trainer when you bring this beautiful and highly trainable 'Tiel to live with you and your family. Or maybe you already have a 'rebel bird' on your hands and you're pulling your hair out with exasperation over his screaming, biting and hissing. He's never happy and you certainly aren't! You wonder where is all the anticipated fun of hearing him talk, perform cute tricks and hop gently on your hand? By now, you are convinced that this is one crazy bird and definitely needs professional help!

Don't worry, it's not too late! Pro cockatiel training techniques are easy as well as fun to learn even for beginners. You can see positive results in your 'Tiel literally within a couple of weeks if you learn some basic training techniques.

Good Cockatiel Training (or NOT!)Cockatiels are highly trainable and it's always quite obvious whether or not they have received good training and care. Cockatiels are lovely birds that can make wonderful pets when when trained and cared for correctly. I remember a few years ago when my mother took in a stray, one legged creature that my brother had randomly found hopping in the grass. The attractive cockatiel had unfortunately lost a leg and may have been left to fend for himself or perhaps he had flown away from his home in an attempt to find freedom.

In any case, it was obvious that the 'Tiel had been handled affectionately and trained conscientiously. He was not too much worse for the wear even though having endured for some time outside. He grew to love my mother, who let him fly to her shoulder and perch while she ate spaghetti. She could hand him a long noodle and he would grab it with his beak, then munch the length of it until it disappeared. His whistling and pleasant chatter was also fine company for her.

Soon after his arrival to the family, my dad built him a small perch just above the doorway where Pete enjoyed surveying the household activity. This 'Tiel was a case in point of a well mannered, sweet bird who just needed a little TLC. Needless to say, he endeared himself to everyone...especially my mom.

Adequate Cockatiel Training is Absolutely Necessary

'Tiels can be quite obnoxious and unmanageable if not trained well. On the flip side of this story is the undeniable fact that unhappy, untrained cockatiels can just as easily make for rambunctious, obnoxious parrots that can make an owner regret ever bringing the beauty home! The truth is, however, that most problems with cockatiels originate as a result of poor handling, care and training by their owners.

They are not birds that can tolerate isolation and neglect by their human flock. So, if you have already purchased a cockatiel or are considering it, be sure to be prepared to provide cockatiel training that is necessary to insure your bird's contentment as well as your future enjoyment of your pet.

"Must Do's" for Cockatiel Training

Cockatiels require interaction with humans and lots of exercise time. Also, you should teach him how to sit on your hand or finger, not to bite, spit or hiss and how to obey simple commands. These are beginner cockatiel training requirements.

Fun Rewards of Cockatiel Training

After teaching your 'Tiel the basics of proper manners as well as caring for his health needs, the fun stuff can then be added to the delight of everyone. You can teach your parrot to talk, perform cute tricks and entertain with a plethora of playful antics specific only to cockatiels. Be sure to learn how to provide proper cockatiel training so that you and your pet will have an enjoyable relationship that will last for years!

Cockatiel Tricks - 6 Things You Need To Do To Get Your Parrot To Wave in Less Than 3 Days

Teaching your little feathered friend to do cockatiel tricks is 1 of the most rewarding things you could do. Not only is it hilarious for you to watch, it also build a very strong bond between you and your parrot.

Most parrots are very shy when they are young, or when they are unfamiliar with you. So it may take a while for him to warm to you. If this is the case you must try to be a little patient with him.

You will need to spend quality time talking to him, and rewarding him with his favorite food. Taking such action will start the trust between both of you.

Building a strong bond with your parrot allows him to build a trust with you, when you get his trust it will be a lot easier to teach him tricks. Anyone can teach a dog to sit, stay and come on command, but how many people do you know have a parrot that waves, rolls over and comes when you call him?

Believe it or not cockatiel tricks are extremely easy to teach, most of the basic cockatiel tricks can be taught with-in 72 hours.

Think how funny it will be when your friends witness your parrot waving, or doing simple card tricks. Card tricks are 1 of our specialties and any type of parrot can learn them.

Teaching your parrot to wave is as easy as 6 things.

• Make time - Make a specific time every day,15 minutes is all you will need.
• Decide On A command - Pick a particular command you want to use such as,wave or just use a clicker.
• Take action - Get him to step on your finger and then removing your finger before he gets on.
• Have patience - Be Patient with him and keep going over the trick till he gets it
• Give praise - Make sure you praise him every time he gets it right,and try to make a big deal out of it.
• Give rewards - Reward him with his favorite food when he gets the trick right.
• Keep Repeating - repeat the same actions over, and over till he knows the trick really well.

So would you like a performing parrot?

How to Groom Your Cockatiel

Your cockatiel has grooming needs. Your cockatiel likes to be clean, so you must ensure that it is able to bathe regularly. Your cockatiel will also need to have its nails and flight feathers trimmed periodically to ensure her safety.

Some say the cockatiel's beak also needs trimming, but I have yet to do mine. If you give your cockatiel enough to chew on, the beak should remain suitably sharpened and trimmed. If however your birds beak does become overgrown, leave it to your veterinarian to take charge, as the beak does have a surprising number of blood vessels that can be severed if you try yourself.

If your cockatiel does have an overgrown beak, it can also indicate that your cockatiel is suffering from liver damage, scaly mites or a virus, all of which will need veterinary care.

As far as bathing goes there are a number of ways to achieve this. One way is to mist your cockatiel lightly with a clean spray bottle filled with warm water. Another way is to allow your cockatiel to bathe in your kitchen sink or bathroom basin under a slow stream of running water or try taking the cockatiel into the shower with you. No soap please, water is normally sufficient. I find my birds enjoy a bird bath in the bottom of their cage on a warm day, and they also love to be sprayed with a mist of water. Bathing is important to enable your cockatiel to keep its feathers clean and healthy.

If you bathe your bird, do so early in the day so that the feathers have a chance to dry out completely before dark. You can also try the hair dryer on a low setting and once your cockatiel gets used to this it will find it most enjoyable.

There is no need to purchase mite products that hang on the bird cage or feather conditioning products that are applied directly to the cockatiels feathers. Well cared for cockatiels won't have these problems, and the products can actually cause more harm than good. Conditioners will just cause your cockatiel to over preen himself in a effort to remove the oil, which can cause feather loss. Fumes from some of these products can also cause respiratory complications.

Your cockatiel will need his nails trimmed periodically to prevent them getting too long and catching on toys or perches. You must only remove tiny portions of the nail, as you don't want to hit the blood supply. I prefer to file them down a little. If the nail does bleed, apply flour and direct pressure to stop the bleeding quickly.

If your cockatiel is tame, you will want to trim its wings as well, as you don't want him to fly away accidentally. Don't trim too much away as you still want your cockatiel to glide and not flop to the floor. Wing clipping is an article on its own, but don't attempt to do this without knowing what to do first, as just snipping away at the feathers can cause damage to the wing tips if you don't know what you are doing.

The New Cockatiel in Your Home

Well now you've done it. You visited the neighborhood pet store one too many times and that beautiful cocktail near the front of the store has given you the eye and stolen your heart. (Why do they put these charming birds so near the entrance where it is impossible to miss them?) Before you realized it the credit card came out, a few words were spoken between you and the store owner, your budget was suddenly busted and lo and behold the bird now belongs to you.

This new member of the family will bring some changes to your home. Some will be obvious while others will surprise you. Your experience with the new bird will be much more satisfying if you make yourself aware of what you should expect and be prepared. Hopefully you only bought one to start with. Bringing two birds in at once may be more than you can handle if you are a novice bird keeper. Adding more than one bird at a time could also place lots of anxiety on the birds.

You will find it much easier to establish a bond with your new bird if it is the only one in your home at this time. Your bird will of course be unsettled by it's new surroundings and it could take several weeks to adjust. The first thing you may notice is that your new bird demands lots of attention. This surprises many new bird owners who are used to dealing with other types of pets who do very well on their own.

If you allow your cockatiel freedom outside it's cage do not be surprised to find him following you about the house as you attend to your chores. You may find him suddenly alighting on your shoulder and of course like any pet he will always be open to accepting treats.

All of this friendly and more often than not welcome attention from your bird may sometimes be diminished as you struggle with the messy cleanup which is always part of cockatiel ownership. There are no litter boxes for these birds. They tend to do their business wherever and whenever it suits them. It will also be necessary for the family to adjust to some new noises throughout the home. This may be unwelcome during times that the home is normally quiet. The birds do not come with on and off switches.

However the companionship that you will feel as the bird alights on your shoulder as you sit quietly reading will most times override your discomfort at the new chores and other changes your new pet will bring to your home. Most cocktail owners feel they are repaid many times over by the charm and beauty of these intelligent and friendly creatures.

The Two Best Methods of Training Cockatiels

Cockatiels make wonderful pets, and with a little time and patience, training cockatiels becomes a breeze.

There are two methods for training cockatiels - the slow way and the quick way. Both these methods work equally well for the long term tameness of your cockatiel. Both these methods work best on very young cockatiels. The older the cockatiel is the more difficult it will be to train.

Training Cockatiels - The First Method

The first method for training cockatiels takes time a patience. It can take you anything from a few days to a couple of weeks.

Start by putting your cockatiel's cage in a busy area of your house where there is lots of activity and noise. Once your bird has gotten used to this environment, and doesn't get a fright each time someone enters the room, it is time to start talking to him in a soothing voice, and let him follow you in his cage from room to room.

When you start finger training your cockatiel, slowly put your hand into his cage with the index finger pointed forward and move it slowly towards your birds chest. Keep talking to him in a soothing voice until eventually he lets you scratch his head.

Once he lets you scratch his head, it is time to start coercing him to step onto your finger. Gently press your finger against his chest until he climbs onto it. Once he gets this right start moving your hand around the cage and transferring him from perch to perch.

Before you attempt to take him out, make sure all the windows are closed and the blinds are drawn, as anything can give your cockatiel a fright and cause him to take off. Slowly remove him from the cage on your finger, and train him to walk from index finger to index finger. If he flies away, do not chase him, rather wait for him to land before approaching him slowly.

Training Cockatiels - The Second Method

With this method for training cockatiels, you will need to make sure the your birds wings are clipped.

Close all the windows and doors in the room you want to work in. Take the cockatiel out of its cage and try to make him stand on your finger by cupping him gently. At first he will naturally climb to your top finger and try to fly away. As soon as he flutters to the floor you need to pick him up and try again, until he stays on your finger. He will usually comply after a while out of sheer exhaustion.

Once you have gotten him to stay on your finger make him climb from one index finger to another by gently pressing his chest with your index finger so that he is forced to climb onto it.

Cockatiel - What is It?

If you have not heard of cockatiels yet you will probably be asking your self what a cockatiel is. A cockatiel is the tiniest specie of the parrot family. It is scientifically known as the "Nymphicus hollandicusî and is sometimes called the Wiero or the Quarrion. They are the simplest pet to breed and are known to be the household pet all over the universe. For caged birds, they are number 2 in popularity next to the Budgerigar.

Cockatiels are popularly known as the crested parrot or the small cockatoo as they are the smallest in the cockatoo family. They prefer to stay in the bush lands, wet lands, scrublands and all over the regions of inland Australia.

A typical cockatiel is colored gray in the wild. Domesticated cockatiels however are bred to have different shades of peach, orange, gray, white and yellow. Cockatiels with these colors are known as silver, pied, pearl, cinnamon, and lutino. They have the power to manipulate their moods and manner when they are afraid, ill and inquisitive through their crest which is their most distinctive mark.

Household cockatiels or cockatiels that are domesticated can live from 15 to 20 years and sometimes even 30 years. Living in the wild can make their life span shorter because of the dangers they can encounter in the wild such as predation. Even so, they are famous to be high in spirits and can be very social when with other birds. They fly in pairs or in flock typically in Australia ñ their resident.

Cockatiels have a social nature in them which makes them great pets. They are sometimes naughty and are intelligent and curious. A cockatiel that has been domesticated would love being with their owners and love hanging out on their breeder's head or shoulders. They would even join their owners in the bath and when having dinner. Most of the cockatiels that can whistle and speak well are males.

The time you will spend with your bird pet is important when planning to have a cockatiel pet. They tend to be bored when they are lonely and if you know that you won't be able to spend much time with your pet, getting another one for him to have a company will be a good idea. Just remember that having two birds will give you a hard time domesticating them and they will most likely ignore you because of the other bird that they are living with.

If this is the case, make sure that you get your birds one at a time and that the bird is cultivated before bringing him home so he can be sociable to you and other humans. Keep the new bird away from the others until the time that they are used to having him around and that he is receptive to people. Ask for handfed cockatiels for best results.

The Secrets to Becoming a Good Cockatiel Breeder

Becoming a cockatiel breeder takes a lot of effort to know how to get started. First thing that you should know is that becoming a cockatiel breeder would need you to be interested in cockatiels. Cockatiels are very intelligent and charming. They can live for a very long time and breeding them would need you to have a good relationship with your cockatiels.

When breeding cockatiels, cockatiel breeders should make sure that the birds he is breeding are compatible. It is always easier to breed birds that are bred thank those birds that are from the wild.

You will need to observe your birds for a couple of weeks or months to know if they are compatible and well matched. There are some males that are insistent and should be removed and be transferred to another place for a few days. If the cockatiel is still insistent even after being removed, look for another mate before breeding.

If you find cockatiels that are compatible, as cockatiel breeders, you should start building nest boxes in preparation for the birds mating. It is suggested that you place the nest boxes somewhere you can see them easily and is shaded. The nest box should be made of a thick wood and the size should have the length and size of your bird without including the tail and should have a four sided figure base so it can stand the different weathers.

Breeders must give their bird a cuttlefish bone, tonic seeds with vitamins that can provide embryos with a great protein base that they can grow on, oil seeds, and liquid or powdered concentrates. Foods that are filled with calcium will also be good for your birds. To keep them off rickets, it is important that milk and bread is given as well.

The weight of the chicks should also be closely watched during the first few weeks. Stop hand feeding or fostering your chicks if you see that they are not gaining any weight or are losing weight. When they turn at least three weeks old and maximum of three months old, they can now be on their own to feed themselves. At this time, they should separate them and move them to another place because if they don't, the chicks can be targets of attacks and be killed by their own parents, most especially the cock.

Cockatiel breeders should also know how to differentiate birds. This is needed especially when birds are ready to join other birds in their cage or when they are having the adult plumage. Leg bands and rings would be ideal to use whether metal or plastic. Breeders use plastic bands for the younger birds and closed rings for chicks that are 5 to 6 days of age. Color coding the rings of your birds would be best.

Breeders must bear in mind that being able to raise cockatiels in a good manner is an art. They must provide their birds with a big cage, a lot of space, toys and most importantly, attention.

What You Need To Know About Cockatiels

Cockatiels are originally from Australia and are the smallest bird in the native cockatoo family in Australia. Wild cockatiels can be find in Australia's Ouback where they inhabit wetlands, scrub and bush lands.

Cockatiels are prized pets around the world. In fact, the are the second most popular pet birds after Budgerigars or Budgies. They are affectionate birds with sweet temperaments. They rarely talk but they are great whistlers! They can even learn to whistle specific tunes!

Cockatiels are known for the distinctive crest on the top of their heads. Cockatiels use the crest to express their state of being. He or she raises the crest when startled or excited and flattens is when angry or defensive. You'll know your cockatiel is flirting when the crest is flat but protrudes towards the back!

Males and females both have crests but slightly different coloring. Males have yellow or white faces while females have gray or light gray faces. Both have the characteristic round, orange cheek patches on the sides of the face. However, the orange is generally more vibrant in males and muted in females. There are some temperament differences between the two as well. If you want an affectionate pet, females tend to be more loving. On the other hand, males tend to be better whistlers and are more likely to learn words.

Cockatiels can live 15-20 years in captivity with the right diet and exercise. The oldest recorded cockatiel lived to a ripe old age of 36! For this reason, you need to be ready for a commitment before you get a cockatiel.

Cockatiels generally make good pets. As with other pets, they all have different personalities as well as qualities based on how they were raised. Some birds are very sociable while others can be shy. If handled often by a patient owner, cockatiels tame very quickly compared to some parrot species.

To check the temperament of a cockatiel before you buy him or her, put your finger out near the bird. If he or she hops on your finger, they were likely hand raised. If the bird refuses to get on your finger or bites at you, move on. This is very important since a cranky cockatiel is not good for you or your family. Well raised cockatiels love people. Once they are used to you, they'll crave a scratch on the head or ride on your shoulder.

Cockatiels can live alone but will need more attention from you. They will begin to see you as their mate and will want to be with you a lot. Its not uncommon for a cockatiel to call out if you leave the room. This is a way to find out where you are and if you're okay. Many owners will whistle back just to let their pet know they are okay. If you can't spend a lot of time with your cockatiel, seriously consider getting a pair for companionship.

Cockatiels need large cages that give them room to fly and climb. Dimensions should be 20 inch in width and length and 26 inches high - at minimum. As with all bird cages, bigger is better. The best cages will have horizontal bars making it easy to climb. Most importantly, bars should be no more than 3/4 inches apart to avoid accidents and injuries. You should also include a variety of perches with different lengths and widths for exercise.

Placement of the cage is also important. Cockatiels don't like strong smells like air fresheners, cleaners, smoke, etc. Cockatiels have very sensitive respiratory systems, so some of these can actually kill your bird. One thing to always avoid is exposure to Teflon pans. They give off a gas at high temperatures that can definitely kill a cockatiel.

To keep your cockatiel healthy, clean the cage once a week with a cleaner made specifically for bird cages. Once a month, you need to disenfect the entire cage using 3/4 cups of bleach mixed with 1 gallon of water. After, rinse the cage thoroughly and put it in the sun to dry. Toss out any toys or perches that you can't clean thoroughly.

If you're considering a cockatiel as a pet, these tips should help you make your decision. Talk to other people who own cockatiels about their experiences as well. Cockatiels are great little birds for the right owners.

Cockatiels As Pets!

Cockatiels are the smallest member of the cockatoo family and are native only to Australia where they are found largely in arid or semi-arid country, but always near water. Sometimes hundreds will flock around a single such body of water.

Male cockatiels do not display any obvious courtship rituals. Females do not talk, however, male cockatiels can learn to talk and are quite vocal. Male cockatiels often have a very deep yellow face and bright orange cheek patches at maturity. Female cockatiels will retain their immature coloration and the barring of the underside of the tail.

Both males and females that share incubation responsibilities. Cockatiels are prolific breeders and they will breeding in captivity all year long, if allowed to do so. However, clutches should be limited to no more than 2 per year, the amount that avian veterinarians consider normal.

Playful and easily amused with simple toys cockatiels are a lot easier to care for because of their size. You don't need a very large cage like you would need if you had a cockatoo. However, cockatiels live for about 20 years, so a long term commitment is required.

Cockatiels are playful birds, and adding toys such as bells and mini ladders (a cockatiel favorite) are important. Because cockatiels love to chew, toys must be free of toxic metals, hooks, sharp objects or small, easily consumed components. A cockatiel will gladly entertain themselves in front of a mirror for hours while whistling or talking. Keep your cockatiels *away* from any electrical wires and equipment!

Cockatiels are naturally dusty birds because of the powder down they produce. It wouldn't be a bad idea to have a HEPA filter running near the cage, especially if a member of the household has asthma, allergies, or respiratory disease. One or two birds that are bathed often and whose cages are kept very clean are not much of a problem, but of course the amount of dust will increase with each additional bird.

Cockatiels are reluctant to accept new foods and will accept few fruits and vegetables. They do tend to enjoy whole wheat bread, grated carrots and shredded greens. Lots of water and sun light are needed to keep cockatiels happy.

Cockatiels are very susceptible to strong smells such as insecticides, smoke and air fresheners. Their respiratory system is so delicate some of these can kill a cockatiel.

Cockatiels are a great first bird along with the Budgie Parakeet. A tame hand-fed cockatiel will most likely be loving and gentle. Cockatiels are the gentle ambassadors of the bird world. Many aviary lovers owe their passion for birds to a pet Cockatiel they owned or encountered in childhood.

Cockatiels are very intelligent social companions and will provide you with love and enjoyment throughout their life  if you care for and love them properly! ~ Anthony Benjamin ~

Training Cockatiels

Cockatiel owners love their birds. They want them to be healthy and happy. However, sometimes they develop bad habits such as plucking their feathers, biting, and screaming. Not only does feather plucking make the bird unsightly, it is not healthy. While other behaviors are certainly annoying, feather plucking can be quite traumatic for both owner and bird. The good news is, training cockatiels not to pluck their feathers is possible, and it is necessary.

Veterinarians estimate that nearly half of all domesticated birds over-preen or pluck their feathers. Cockatiels are more predisposed to doing this. Some veterinarians believe the reason is because they live in large flocks in the wild. Once separated from this large flock, they become fearful and anxious. This may lead them to over-preen.

Can we know what causes a bird to begin self-mutilating? Scientists believe the reasons are medical, behavioral, or environmental. Here are some possible causes:

Medical - Viral, bacterial, or fungal infections may be the culprit. However, external parasites, an allergic reaction, or nutritional deficiency may also be to blame.

Behavioral - Is your cockatiel nearing breeding season? Hormones may be the culprit; they may be plucking feathers to breed and prepare a nest. Birds may pluck feathers to incubate their young, pay attention and determine if this might be an issue. They may also pluck their feathers out of sexual frustration. 

Does your bird have toys that will provide mental stimulation? If not, it may be simply bored and needs something to chew on or keep itself occupied.

Environmental - Perhaps your bird cage is too small, the lighting is all wrong, or your home needs additional humidity. The quality of food they are fed may also be a determining factor.

Whatever the cause, the important thing to do is to stop this activity. If you don't stop it early on, it will progressively worsen. A bald bird is not a pretty bird, or a healthy bird. It will also be more difficult to keep it free of infection or keep it warm.

Take your cockatiel to a veterinarian and have them thoroughly checked out. Rule out medical reasons. They may have developed itchy skin, feathers aren't growing in properly, or their skin is irritated so they need to itch. Change their diet to something that is more balanced, or do whatever else the veterinarian recommends.

If the reason isn't physical or environmental, they may simply pluck their feathers out of boredom. It should be noted that boredom is often the cause of other unwanted behaviors like aggression, biting and screaming. Training is the answer for all undesirable behaviors. Training cockatiels to do tricks may help alleviate their stress or boredom which leads them to pluck their feathers. Teach them some tricks that will occupy their time or give them some new toys to play with. Keep an eye on your cockatiel and see if these additions to their lives illicit a change in their behavior.

Be sure that you're not inadvertently reinforcing their feather plucking. If you notice them over-preening, don't rush over to fuss at them. If they are already starved for your attention, they may continue to pluck feathers just to get you to spend time with them. Like children, they may think that any attention given to them is better than having no attention at all.

Training cockatiels also includes redirecting their feather plucking behavior. Watch your cockatiel. When you see it start to chew on its feathers, do something to draw their attention away from what they're doing. Then when they stop plucking at its feathers, praise them and give it attention.

There are no quick fixes when it comes to stopping this feather plucking behavior. If your bird is just beginning to do this, it will take the same amount of time for it to re-learn as it did for it to begin. However, once your bird has begun to pluck its feathers, it may always have a tendency to do so.

Training cockatiels to stop plucking their feathers, and to eliminate other unwanted behaviors, is not an easy task. It will take time, dedication, and consistency on the part of everyone who is around the bird. Begin now to address the problem, don't let it go. Take your cockatiel to the vet and have them checked out. If there isn't a medical reason for the activity, double your efforts to involve the cockatiel in family life, and you may find that the activity stops.

Tips For Teaching Cockatiels to Talk

Teaching cockatiels to talk is much more complicated than merely repeating a phrase over and over again. Your bird will only imitate those noises that have caught its interest anyway. The cockatiel has a very reedy voice quality, and tends to sound like a child with a cold. Cockatiels do not normally learn a large vocabulary of words, but are capable of whistling a variety of tunes.

When first teaching your cockatiel to talk, start by teaching him to say a word. It is far easier to teach him to whistle, so if he learns to whistle first, he will battle even more to say his first words.

Teaching cockatiels to talk is a little more difficult to do than teaching other members of the parrot family, but it is very possible. Here are some pointers to help you with teaching your cockatiel to talk.

The male cockatiels will talk a lot easier than the female cockatiels, so if you want a talking bird, I recommend a male cockatiel. I have only managed to teach one female to talk easily, but this was an exception to the rule.

Cockatiels will only learn words that they like. If they show an interest in what you say, then it will be much easier to teach them that particular word.

When teaching your cockatiel to talk, start off by choosing something very simple, like a word with one syllable. The trick is to keep repeating this word during each and every training session. Don't move onto any other words until he has mastered this one.

It is a good idea to have some treats ready. If he shows an interest in what you are saying, give him a treat and this will encourage your cockatiel to listen and then try to mimic you.

It is usually easier for a woman to teach a cockatiel to talk than it is for a man.

If you can make a recording for your cockatiel to listen too when you are not around will make the process faster. Just be careful to leave spaces on the recording between phrases, as the cockatiel may learn the words as a continuous phrase and just carry on repeating it. This will become extremely irritating.

Once your cockatiel has learnt his first phrase, you can move onto the next. Cockatiels can carry on learning words for many years.

Best Tricks in Training Cockatiels - Proven Results

Two of the greatest things that you can train your pet to do in cockatiel training are shoulder riding and speech. A cockatiels' speech may be incomparable to the parrots and the mynahs but they are comprehensible. When training your cockatiel, start with short words or expressions such as "baba", "hello" or "hi" or anything similar. Before teaching your bird another word, ensure that he has already mastered the first word you taught it. Training your cockatiel in speech will take a lot of patience and determination, but it will be attained.

One other cockatiel training mentioned is the shoulder training. This can be very helpful for a lot of owners as when achieved, you will be able to do things using your hand and your bird can just stay on your shoulder while you do your tasks. Some birds that have been successfully trained to do this would usually climb to your finger, your arm then sit on your shoulder. Doing this will make your pet and your lives easier as you can do things while they're on your shoulder, and your pet, can enjoy going around the house without any problems.

If you want your bird to be given this kind of cockatiel training, always remember that when your cockatiel shoulder rides, all of your accessories and jewelry should be watched over or removed so as your pet will not cause any damage. These are the type of things that cockatiels like to break and play with while on your shoulder and it can also be harmful to them for some things and reasons that we are not knowledgeable of.

One other thing that you should consider in cockatiel training most especially in shoulder riding is that cockatiels can be very light and you might forget that your pet is on your shoulder and can be hazardous to your bird. Always check your shoulder from time to time to be safe - do this especially when you are in the kitchen and you are doing some cooking or anything that involves a hot burner. This can be very dangerous for your pet. Not only are cockatiels light, they have a tendency of being very quiet to and it is not far from impossible to forget that your pet is actually sitting on your shoulder.

Some Interesting Facts on Breeding Cockatiels

Breeding cockatiels is not difficult, as long as the breeding pair are happy with their nesting arrangements. Male cockatiels will court all year round, so it is possible to breed cockatiels any time of the year. It is possible for some hens to breed more than once a year. Fortune obviously favors breeding in summer. A good breeding couple will be able to produce up to six youngsters in a clutch.

A cockatiel's success as a parent improves with age. For this reason breeders often place older cockatiels with younger ones. Cockatiels can breed successfully from about six months to well into their twenties. Cockatiels are known to form strong bonds with their mates, and these bonds often last until the death of one of the cockatiels. For this reason, it is good to introduce a breeding couple a few months before you intend to breed with them to allow them to get to know each other.

Most pairs will refuse to breed unless they have a nesting box. In the wild, cockatiels use holes in trees. A well constructed wooden box with a hole in it will be more than suitable for your cockatiels. The boxes should have tight fitting joints to protect from draughts, and the wood should be quite thick for insulation. The entrance hole and a perch should be towards the top of the box. The inside of the breeding box must be large enough to house both parent cockatiels and the young without crowding them too much.

Cockatiels never build a nest with nesting material, but rather lay their eggs on the floor of the wooden box. A handful of sawdust can be supplied to help absorb excess moisture and droppings. As the chicks grow a small amount of course clean sawdust can be added at a time.

The males have a breeding cry that they use to attract their partners. They are rather persistent and can make some weird and wonderful calls, which the females are unable to do. If the hen is ready for mating she will flatten herself and take her wings slightly away from her body. Mating will usually take place several times a day during the breeding season.

Males and females will be equally involved during the incubation period, especially towards the end when the eggs start to hatch. In most cases the male will incubate during the day, and the female at night as with most pigeons and doves.

Incubation normally lasts nineteen days, but cold weather can increase this time period. When the chicks hatch out, they will be helpless for the first ten days. The skin of the chicks is normally so translucent that the internal organs can be seen. A freshly hatched chick will need to be kept warm by its parents, as it will be unable to regulate its own body temperature. The chicks eyes will be mere slits at first before they slowly open and start to focus in on the world into which they have been born.

More About Cockatiels As Pets

The cockatiel is one of the most popular birds to keep among aviculturists, even though it is one of the most soberly colored members of the parrot family. Cockatiels as bird pets are second in popularity only to budgies. The reasons are mainly because of their hardiness, curiosity, adaptability and gentle disposition it seems. Cockatiels have also charmed many with their cute appearance and lovable personalities. Others are enchanted by the cockatiels whistling abilities, cleanliness and long potential life span.

In fact, cockatiels can be exceptional pets that reward their owners with years of entertaining companionship. In return the cockatiel asks only some attention and care from his owner.

The cockatiel has been a very popular pet for most of the twentieth century and according to the American Pet Product Manufacturer Association, about 16 million pet birds are kept in American homes and 34 percent of them are cockatiels.

As you already know the cockatiel originated in Australia, which is also home to some fifty other parrot species. In Australia the cockatiel is sometimes called the quarrion, the weero, the cockatoo parrot or the crested parrot. In the wild, small flocks of two to twelve cockatiels gather together to live in Australia's interior, and feed on seedling grasses and various other plants. Their habitats range from arid grasslands to open eucalyptus savannas.

Cockatiel flocks are very dependant on rainfall for water and once a steady supply of food and water are available, they will start with their breeding season.

Cockatiels in the wild are most active during the early morning and late afternoon. Pet cockatiels funnily enough still show these same characteristics, as they are noisier in the early mornings and early evenings. Cockatiels spend a large part of the day on the ground, searching for food, but spend the middle of the day blending into their surroundings by sitting lengthwise along dead tree branches that are free of foliage.

The cockatiel was first seen by naturalists who visited Australia with Captain James Cook in 1770. It is also believed that the first cockatiel specimen came to the Royal College of Surgeons Museum in England as a result of this trip.

The Australian government put a ban on the exporting of all native birds and parrots in 1894, so all the cockatiels in North America and Europe have resulted from domestic breeding efforts in these countries for more than 100 years.