Info on Cockatiels as Pets?

Pros:

1. You will have a friend that will be on your side no matter what.

2. You will have someone to talk to when you feel down.

3. You will receive love from it.

4. They're so much fun and great company.

5. Very sociable, would love to spend endless amounts of time with you.

6. Will do anything with you from watching tv to showering and from homework to housework.

7. Will make you smile/laugh.

Cons:

1. Cockatiels need love and care which takes time.

2. You need to be prepared to clean up after it.

3. They need to eat lots of veggies, etc.

4. It is a full-time job (I wouldn't call this a con, though)

For a first time bird owner, they are great. The only bird easier to look after is a parakeet, but personally, I would much rather have a cockatiel. When I got my first bird (a cockatiel) I didn't seem to have any troubles, so it is pretty easy but I read a lot of books on them.

Caring for cockatiels:

- Seeds are only a treat and their diet should have plenty of vegetables such as lettuce, brocolli, carrot, peas, corn, air popped popcorn (small amounts) and crackers (small amounts.) Never feed your cockatiel tomatoes, avocado, eggplant, cherries, caffeine, alcohol, chocolate, sugar or salt.

- Clean their cage once a month.

- Clean the bottom of their cage everyday.

- Change their water from 1-10 times a day (change it when it gets dirty)

- Change seed every second day.

- Let them spend 1-5 hours outside the cage everyday.

- Cover their cage with a sheet every night.

Good luck!! I hope this helped.

I had a wonderful Cockatiel. He was endless hours of fun. They like to fly around in the house but you have to make sure they will not get outside. Also a good idea to make sure the ceiling fans are not on. Jimmy, the bird, had a special perch he liked to sit on for a little while when i would let him out.

When you go to purchase your pet, make sure you get a young one that has been bred here in the states. Make sure they have not been abused at all or they will be almost impossible to train to the hand. Get a book on training your bird. Never punish or yell at them, if he bites, and they will at first...just tough it out and try not to pull away. It does hurt if they get a good grip of the flesh. Or go to a web site on Cockatiels. Jimmy learned how to whistle The william tell overture. He was so much fun. I whistled it to him every day and played a classical version of it for him. He loved it and he would sway or "dance" I did not think he would ever whistle The William Tell but one day i did not put it on and he just started to whistle it himself. I do not think it would be good to have many people in the house if you are going to let one out of the cage very often. Jimmy would fly to the sink and wait for me to turn the water on and put his bathing dish in there when he wanted to bathe. They are very smart and if you are sweet and gentle with them, they will return the favor. He also loved to push playing cards off the table and watch them fall to the floor. It was a game we played. He loved doritos but as a rare treat. (Salt) . Lots of great sites to check on the internet. Get ready to love a beautiful creature. Enjoy