How to Raise a Healthy Cockatiel

Cockatiels are among the most popular pets in homes today. Their friendly, sociable personality makes them attractive even to families with children. Although they don’t require much maintenance, there are a few precautions you need to take if you’re interested in raising a healthy cockatiel.

Instructions

    • 1

      Allow the parents to feed the chick. The parents supply him with the enzymes and bacteria he needs for digestion, as well as immunities they have acquired to help him fight off infections and stay healthy. You could never replicate that. On the contrary, feeding formula to a chick exposes him to more bacteria.

    • 2

      Make sure you use a good-quality formula if you decide to hand-feed. Get a high-quality thermometer and make sure the formula is between 102 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything higher can burn the chick’s crop.

    • 3

      Place the tip of the syringe or feeding utensil gently into the left side of the bird’s mouth and point it toward the right side of her mouth. This is to make sure the formula doesn’t go down her windpipe instead of her crop. Should formula go down her windpipe, the bird could die. Even if she survives, she will be more prone to respiratory infections.

    • 4

      Ensure that the cage, water and food are always clean. Provide fresh, purified water and organic food daily once the chick starts eating on his own. Introduce fresh fruit and vegetables, and get him on a pallet diet instead of seeds.

    • 5

      Protect your cockatiel from toxic chemicals, such as bathroom cleaning supplies, bleach and ammonia. Birds are sensitive to chemicals and develop respiratory infections if exposed to chemicals for a prolonged period. Keep your bird away from the kitchen; teflon pots and pans give off chemicals that are toxic to birds. Keep toxic plants away from your bird if you let her out of the cage.

    • 6

      Keep your cockatiel healthy by washing your hands before handling him. Stay away from him if you have a cold or a cough.