Instructions
Getting a Hold of Your Bird
Educate yourself on the medication ahead of time. You do not want to be struggling to load the medicine or measure the dosage once you have your bird restrained. The medicine should already be loaded and ready to administer before you approach your cockatiel.
Situate yourself and your bird in a calm, quiet place that is free of loud noise and distractions.
Place the bird in the palm of your hand, positioning your thumb beside the cockatiel's beak or above his chest.
Wrap your fingers around the cockatiel's back and place the edge of your index finger under the bird's jaw.
Administering the Medication
Hold the medicine dropper at the left of your bird's beak and point it to the right side of his throat.
Put the medicine dropper inside the mouth, being careful not to insert the entire thing down the bird's throat.
Slowly and steadily begin to press the medicine plunger, releasing the liquid into the cockatiel's mouth. Pay attention to whether your bird is ingesting the medicine or not. Slow up the administration as needed as not to waste medicine.
Reward your cockatiel once the medication process is over. This can be through the use of any combination of treats, petting and praise. Once your bird understands that something positive follows the process, he may be more receptive to taking his medicine.
How to Give a Cockatiel Liquid Medicine
One of the most involved aspects of cockatiel ownership is attending to your bird's medical needs. Should your bird become injured or sick and require medication, your veterinarian will most likely prescribe one which is to be administered orally. With some careful planning and preparation, the process of orally medicating your cockatiel may not be as stressful or as difficult as you may imagine.