Things You'll Need
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Paper towels or newspaper
- Cage
- Water dish
- Food dish
- Spray bottle
- Seeds and pellets enriched with vitamins
- Perch
- Nail clippers
- Wing trimming scissors
Instructions
Feeding and Cleanliness
Commit to caring for your cockatiel for a long time. Cockatiels usually live between 15 and 30 years, so do not purchase one if you are not fully committed to raising and caring for it its entire life. If you are a parent purchasing a cockatiel for your child, be prepared to take on the responsibility of care if your child moves out and can longer keep the bird.
Feed your cockatiel plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits, as well as pellets and seeds designed for cockatiels. You can purchase these from your local pet store. Pellets and seeds should be enriched with vitamins. Food designed for different types of birds will not maintain your cockatiel's health. Read packages carefully to make sure these products provide complete nutrition and are especially designed for cockatiels.
Provide your cockatiel with a shallow dish filled with clean water. Wash and refill this dish daily, as bacteria can breed in water and make your cockatiel sick without the right upkeep.
Cover the bottom of your cockatiel's cage with newspaper or paper towels. Change these papers every day, or as they become dirty. A dirty cage can breed disease. Clean your bird's perch and feeding dish daily with soap and water, as if you were washing your own dishes. Use mild soap and rinse it off completely, so that your bird does not ingest dangerous residue.
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap before handling your cockatiel, feeding it, or cleaning the cage. Birds are highly susceptible to bacterial and viral infection, which can be transmitted by human hands. Do not allow your bird to come in contact with your saliva, as cockatiels can become sick from bacteria found in human saliva. Never put your hands in your mouth while caring for your bird.
Environment and Grooming
Purchase a cage that is at least as wide as the wingspan of your cockatiel, otherwise your bird may damage its wings by flapping. The cage should not have any exposed wires or sharp edges that could harm your cockatiel as it moves around. Make sure you provide your cockatiel with a perch, such as a branch, upon which it can comfortably sit.
Place your cockatiel's cage in a public room, such as a living room, so your bird does not feel isolated. Do not place it in the kitchen, as fumes from cooking, such as smoke or sprays, can harm a cockatiel's delicate lungs.
Clip your cockatiel's nails once a month. Otherwise the nails of your bird will continue to grow, and can catch in the wires of a cage and cause a broken leg. You can purchase a tool designed for safe clipping at most pet stores.
Purchase special scissors from a pet store and clip your cockatiel's wings when you notice it flapping and attempting to take flight. You will probably need to clip the wings every three months. This will prevent your cockatiel from escaping or injuring itself on the inside of the cage.
Bathe your cockatiel two to three times a week. Simulate a rainstorm by misting your cockatiel with water. The bird's feathers should be damp but not wet. This will loosen dirt and prompt your pet to preen and clean itself.