tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49250352182532979392024-02-07T11:38:53.056-05:00Talking CockatielsTalking Cockatiels was created to provide a resource for owners of cockatiels. Included are tips on training, feeding, and what to do about biting.Ediehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10669027255431081814noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4925035218253297939.post-33843917859870958492020-10-30T14:01:00.004-04:002010-12-18T23:51:26.491-05:00Talking Cockatiels<b>Talking Cockatiels</b> was created as a resource for new and not-so-new cockatiel owners who are looking for information on their fiendish feathered friends.<br />
<br />
If you're looking for information on what on Earth your little feathered half-human, half-alien is doing and why, take a look around. There's information on what to keep on hand for injuries, some tips on transporting cockatiels, and even some ideas on what to feed your bird.<br />
<br />
<b>Talking Cockatiels</b> will be searching the 'net and beyond for First Class information on your flock.Ediehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10669027255431081814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4925035218253297939.post-6516600359978383502009-12-28T18:41:00.007-05:002009-12-28T18:48:29.548-05:00Contact Talking Cockatiels Here<iframe src="http://spreadsheets.google.com/embeddedform?key=t49q7ASkVaJnFthDqozlBug" width="600" height="620" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0">Loading...</iframe>Ediehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10669027255431081814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4925035218253297939.post-17470204977360489422009-12-14T15:40:00.006-05:002010-02-26T08:59:17.622-05:00Cockatiel SnacksAs long as your cockatiel is on a healthy pellet/seed mix type of diet that your breeder or avian vet recommends, you should feel free to introduce healthy snacks to your pet (and not the Cheese Curls my Walter got into when he was a curious little clucker - he loved them and to this day, still tries to go for my bag, but I definitely do NOT think these should be given to birds).<br />
<br />
Vegetables that your kids won't eat - peppers, broccoli, spinach, cabbage, zucchini - those are a great addition to a cockatiel's diet.<br />
Corn, sweet potato, beets and tops, endive, celery, carrots, lettuce.<br />
These should be served fresh and washed to remove any pesticides or treatments from the grocer.<br />
<br />
Fruits are good, including dried fruits on occasion.<br />
<br />
Wheat Bread and corn bread are great.<br />
<br />
They also enjoy peanut hearts, corn flakes and Corn Chex as a treat.<br />
<br />
The best balance ratio is 75% Fresh seed mix, Fresh fruits and vegetables: 20%, and cooked eggs, breads and nuts, rounds it out. <br />
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<div style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: large;">Foods to Avoid</span><br />
</div>Stay away from avocado, rhubarb, apple pits, anything with alcohol, caffeine, chocolate or heavily processed foods as they contain high amounts of fat and salt.<br />
<br />
Avocado, rhubarb, apple seed and chocolate are actually <em>poisonous</em> to your pal.<br />
If your bird accidentally ate any of those items, give them a bit of Pepto-Bismol and contact your vet immediately.<br />
<br />
<div style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: large;">Introducing New Foods to Your Cockatiel</span><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<b>Mo</b> is courtesy of <a href="http://www.rlbphoto.com/">RLB Photo</a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjoUBiLGnU6U0ALZqLAGuhEBDUjOjAmXv9JVtEKrjonqtNbQY0qpY9u2dbjiBUXOGlCkzX28uWgjE-s_900f-pJ2mnSGGp8flviXqlxzYnKXYEMcEHz3Yhii4R7gcpDuz3ah5CEtvUvk/s1600-h/Mo_018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjoUBiLGnU6U0ALZqLAGuhEBDUjOjAmXv9JVtEKrjonqtNbQY0qpY9u2dbjiBUXOGlCkzX28uWgjE-s_900f-pJ2mnSGGp8flviXqlxzYnKXYEMcEHz3Yhii4R7gcpDuz3ah5CEtvUvk/s200/Mo_018.jpg" /></a>There are two main ways to <i>introduce new food to a cockatiel</i> but first, a little insight into the bird.<br />
<br />
They are communal creatures and eat together. I always had my birds in the cage nearby the dinner table (or coffee table if I was eating in front of the TV) so that we could all eat together.<br />
Sounds weird, I know, but they<i> get it</i>.<br />
<br />
The more you can play to your cockatiels natural curiosity, the better, so if I let my birds see me eating something, they want to come and investigate and taste what I'm eating.<br />
They will get on my shoulder, walk down my arm, up onto my hand and stare at the food.<br />
They will first taste the utensil and then go after whatever is on it.<br />
<br />
The other, more subtle way, is to chop up the food and mix it into the seed so they will be tasting it along with things that are already familiar to them.<br />
<br />
Something I figured out early on is that cockatiels don't necessarily want you watching while they are trying something new.<br />
If I just turn my head away from the food, even if it is in my hand, they are more inclined to investigate it for themselves.<br />
<br />
One of the favorite foods of my birds is <i>powdered spirulina</i> mixed into <i>oatmeal</i> that was cooked in water with a tiny pinch of salt and cooled slightly.<br />
It's green and messy and it's like <b>Birdie Dope</b> - they love the warmth and stickiness of the food since it reminds them of their parents feeding them, and it puts them into nap mode very quickly.<br />
I had one adult female who would actually make baby chick feeding sounds while she ate it. <br />
<br />
If you've never eaten spirulina, I certainly can't recommend it. It's a sea algae that's more disgusting than any vegetable you've ever tried including plain tofu.<br />
Endurance athletes are getting into it so you should be able to find it in your local health food or vitamin store.<br />
<br />
It's a vitamin-rich food source but I wouldn't give it to your bird more than twice a week (they love it on pasta and brown rice, too) and a little sprinkle goes a long way.<br />
<br />
Feed it to them immediately after sprinkling it on pasta or mixing it into oatmeal as the nutrient value tends to disappear quickly as it's introduced to heat.<br />
<br />
It also seems as if too much softens their feathers to a point of weakness, or at least that was what my <i>breeder</i> was telling me seemed to be happening to her latest clutches.<br />
<br />
One thing I've noticed is that my birds were eating better than me until I started adopting their healthy habits.<br />
Go figure.Ediehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10669027255431081814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4925035218253297939.post-71858867298567022962009-11-18T22:34:00.003-05:002010-12-24T11:42:14.666-05:00Sick Birds<b>Birds get sick.</b><br />
What follows here are suggestions and hints to get your bird through injury or illness but I am not a professional. I have over 15 years of experience raising clutches of cockatiels but that's no substitute for professional care, so....<br />
<br />
<b>First things first:</b><br />
If your bird suffers an injury or is sitting on the bottom of the cage, can't perch or is feeling listless - just not acting right - take them to the vet.<br />
<i>Take them to the vet.</i><br />
I don't care how much human behavior your birds mimics, your bird is not human.<br />
Without professional attention, most birds do not get better in a couple of days. Within a few hours, they get worse and die.<br />
The problem comes when your nearest emergency vet service is 40 minutes away and it's 2AM on a Sunday morning (believe me, these things always happen when you can't get anywhere for hours).<br />
<br />
A huge signal for me is that I have, right or wrong, trained of my cockatiels to understand that my shoulder is a safe zone.<br />
When one isn't feeling well, they invariably try and get as close to my neck as they can.<br />
This isn't a "Seal of Approval" as much as they are in a safe zone and the arteries of the neck are close to the skin which gives them extra warmth.<br />
<br />
You need to strike up a relationship with a local avian vet when you get your bird. This is done for much the same reason you have a relationship with a primary care physician. If at all possible, avoid first encounters in an emergency situation.<br />
<br />
<b>Bird First Aid Items to Keep in Stock</b><br />
<br />
<b>Good Bird Reference Book</b><br />
I use Gallerstein's <i>Bird Owner's Home Health and Care Handbook</i> and most of what I am suggesting to you, I originally picked up from that book.<br />
Everything else is from personal experience.<br />
<br />
<b>Cornstarch</b><br />
Cornstarch is the best way to stop bleeding. I once had a female who had a broken blood feather.<br />
Common sense tells you to pull out the feather.<br />
Well, there was so much blood, I couldn't even tell which feather was broken as they were all sticking together.<br />
The first thing I did was douse the area with cornstarch.<br />
That stopped the bleeding enough for me to calm her down, clean her up, and then and remove the broken feather.<br />
She was soon back to being her diva self.<br />
<br />
One thing to keep in mind: You want to be sure you keep your cornstarch in a container that can be easily opened and dispensed with one hand. If you have an injured bird and it is panicking, screaming, and possibly even biting, you've already got one hand securing the bird and it's life could depend on that cornstarch being easily accessible.<br />
<br />
<b>Styptic Pen</b><br />
Same reason you want the cornstarch but it's more accurate if there's a head injury and you don't want to suffocate your bird in cornstarch.<br />
<br />
<b>Pepto-Bismol, Gatorade, Kaopectate</b><br />
Diarrhea is a big issue because it is usually a symptom of something else. These are things you can use to help give relief to the crop and rehydrate your bird.<br />
Dehydration can quickly lead to shock and death.<br />
<br />
I had one sick female that wouldn't keep still unless she was on my shoulder. She hated the Pepto but it did the trick while I sat up with her.<br />
You haven't lived until you've comforted a bird that suffered with diarrhea on your shoulder all night (use an old blanket you can toss later).<br />
If that isn't enough to convince you to take the bird to the vet in the morning, nothing will.<br />
<br />
<b>Eye Dropper and Eye Drops</b> that contain <b>no</b> <b>corticosteroids</b>.<br />
Artificial tears will work, too.<br />
Eye issues - especially pink eye - can be quite common in parrots and can usually be cleared up with antibiotics.<br />
Excessive tearing and injuries all need to be addressed by a professional but in the meantime, washing the eye with a little warm water, followed up with the eye drops can give the bird a little relief while you're getting it to the vet.<br />
<br />
<b>Heating Pad or Hot Water Bottle</b><br />
I use both and my reasons are part of the next item.<br />
<br />
<b>Pet Carrier</b><br />
If the bird is ill or in shock, it needs to be kept quiet and warm.<br />
I have a pet carrier - a regular carrier for a small cat or dog - that I use to carry my birds to the vet instead of a small cage as is usually recommended.<br />
Why?<br />
Because frightened birds try to reach the highest possible perch for safety, so every time I used the cage and took out it's high perches, every single one of them would still try and climb the sides of the cage to the top while it was in the car.<br />
<br />
I line the bottom with wax paper and then put shavings on top of that and use straps to secure a feed and water dish to the wire door.<br />
It's quiet and I can put a soft light at one end to keep it company and a heating pad underneath at one end to keep it warm.<br />
I'm not trying to make a hospital bed. I'm trying to keep the bird calm and comfortable until I can get through to the vet and in the middle of a snowstorm, those carriers hold a blanket and block wind better than any cage.<br />
You can fashion your own custom cover with hole for the handle.<br />
When I transport the bird in winter is when the hot water bottle goes in with it.<br />
Wrapped in a soft hand towel, the bird doesn't get spooked.<br />
<br />
Those are just some of the things I've dealt with.<br />
I'll bring in more as I re-discover them.<br />
<br />
<b>Holistic Solutions</b><br />
<br />
Okay, I'm not living in a cave. I KNOW there are people out there that love their parrots and I KNOW they have absolutely no money to put aside when their bird gets sick. They sit there heart-broken and feeling like losers because their dear feathered family members are suffering and they don't have a dime to do anything about it.<br />
<br />
I had a friend that took her cat into the only emergency clinic within 40 miles on a Sunday night and it set her back $400.<br />
<br />
Plus, there are those that would rather treat a parrot without heavy antibiotics if at all possible.<br />
<br />
One word of warning here. There is a site up that lists holistic solutions and raves on about the miracle of a Naturade product called, "Aloe Detox." There was even a regular link (as opposed to an affiliate link) so that others could purchase it.<br />
<br />
If you go there now, you'll see the link is dead. You can still find Aloe Detox but this is where I want to caution you.<br />
<b>THE INGREDIENT LIST IS DIFFERENT IN THE NEW VERSION OF ALOE DETOX.</b><br />
<br />
The singular difference is blue versus black cohosh.<br />
<br />
One is safe for parrots (old version) the other, according to Gallerstein's Handbook, is toxic to parrots (new version). Do you want to chance the difference?<br />
<br />
I have something that may help but I'm not an avian vet and there are no guarantees here (that's my disclaimer). If you've been scouring the internet looking for an answer, I tried this one and didn't kill the bird.<br />
<br />
This all started with a friend who just couldn't afford to get her cockatiel to the vet when it developed some respiratory distress and called and asked me what I knew about the Aloe Detox she was going to buy.<br />
<br />
That's when I did the research and found the new formula being released with the suspect ingredient.<br />
<br />
Since my friend was desperate, I did some reading and came up with this version.<br />
<br />
Basically this is what I did:<br />
<br />
I have a mortar and pestle set that I use in my kitchen.<br />
I mixed together a capsule of echinacea, Siberian root (used to be called ginseng but they can't anymore because of FDA rules) and milk thistle. This is all stuff you can get at a vitamin store or maybe even the local pharmacy.<br />
<br />
I took a small Pyrex dish and added about a tablespoon of food grade aloe vera juice and a couple of drops of bird vitamins (there's just no getting proper nutrition when the bird doesn't want to eat). I then added about 1/8 teaspoon of the herb mix to it. I then added about 1/8 teaspoon of regular cinnamon to the mix and stirred.<br />
<br />
When my friend brought her cockatiel over,I brewed a cup of decaffeinated green tea. I added less than a teaspoonful of honey and then added about 3 tablespoons of the tea to the aloe mix.<br />
<br />
How to administer it is another problem. It turns out that the flavor isn't all that unpleasant to a cockatiel and if I just soaked a Q-tip, the bird would grab at the object and then, finding it pleasant-tasting would hold on long enough that I could squeeze a few drops into its mouth. I wasn't thrilled with the possibility of cotton ingestion but I really wanted that tea to be warm. I did this with both sides of 2 Q-tips. There was a lot of the mixture left over.<br />
<br />
I sent the mixes and extra dried herb capsules home with my friend. I suggested not making a "batch" because I know aloe juice needs to be refrigerated and green tea doesn't hold well after 2 days. She told me she mixed up the liquids daily.<br />
<br />
My friend said she gave her cockatiel this mix twice a day for a week. Within 2 days, it was eating on a regular schedule again and she added the dry herb mix to his food.<br />
<br />
Within 2 weeks, the bird was back to his old, ornery self.<br />
<br />
There's no telling what, if anything, actually worked and what we could have skipped. Most of what I picked, I had on-hand and seemed to jive with the holistic guide when stacked against the Aloe Detox ingredients. I added the small amount of honey for its antibacterial properties and to get some calories into the bird. I wanted the tea to be warm (not hot) because it opens sinus passages in humans and I was hoping the same "steam" treatment would help the bird.<br />
<br />
That's my only experience with holistic treatments. If you have any experiences with this or know of a site I can link to for stronger information to share with everyone, feel free to reach me through the contact page.Ediehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10669027255431081814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4925035218253297939.post-79396397927444973922009-10-30T15:05:00.005-04:002016-05-10T22:54:08.794-04:00Cockatiel Resources<a href="http://www.cockatielrescue.org/"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Cockatiel Rescue</span></b></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Great reference site</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">They have compiled a state-by-state listing of bird rescue sanctuaries.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.cockatielcenter.com/"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Cockatiel Center</span></b></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">A very good resource for training your bird. They're building up this site very quickly. </span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></b>Ediehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10669027255431081814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4925035218253297939.post-51336610698667256622009-10-30T14:52:00.005-04:002010-02-25T20:08:17.703-05:00Where to Get a CockatielIf you haven't bought a cockatiel yet but are still doing research and are still wondering <b>where to get a cockatiel</b>, take a look at this video.<br />
She covers the basics thoroughly with one exception.<br />
Ruth Hanessian mentions that the big-time whistlers and vocalists are always males and that is not true. I had a female cockatiel that was a serious chatterbox as a baby chick.<br />
She would do all of the whistles that I taught her father and he would get depressed when he flew into the room and realized it was her yapping and not me calling him.<br />
For the most part, she was the exception to the rule but did in fact, lay eggs to prove me right.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Adopting a Bird From a Bird Rescue<br />
</span><br />
<br />
Many birds are given up by their owners, either due to illness, changes in housing or a financial situation, or they just don't have the time to dedicate to keeping a bird.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, this is a huge problem as people buy from breeders and just can't make the 20 - 100+ year commitment to these beautiful creatures.<br />
<br />
<b>Bird Rescues</b> are becoming as commonplace as dog and cat rescues and the need for more space and volunteers continues to escalate.<br />
<br />
Shelters and sanctuaries become overcrowded before the next one can be financed, built and staffed.<br />
<br />
An advantage to adopting a cockatiel from a shelter is that you know the bird has been evaluated for personality issues (and if you unwittingly buy a stressed bird through a private sale, you could be in for the ride of your life) and they have been assessed to be "adoptable."<br />
<br />
Take a look at this video on adopting a bird from a shelter.<br />
The funny thing is that the spokeswoman (Madeline Franco) keeps talking and the bird (Molly) thinks she's talking to her.<br />
Madeline keeps talking and Molly keeps responding.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
Here's the YouTube <i>story of a rescued cockatiel</i> named Jamie.<br />
He was a happy lad that has been through the worst of what so-called "humanity" has to offer and has battle scars to show for his innate trusting nature.<br />
<br />
Jamie was the kind of good-natured, happy-go-lucky cockatiel that makes you want to go hug your kids, call your sister, pet your cats, feed your dogs and let your birds scream their brains out.<br />
<br />
He was just a great emissary for the <b>Rescue Bird</b> mission.<br />
<br />
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<br />
Unfortunately, our fearless little friend passed away on November 2 of 2009.<br />
His owners created this video as a tribute for him.<br />
<br />
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<br />
It's mentioned is that he died listening to her heartbeat.<br />
This is actually a pretty common trait among sick birds.<br />
It's almost as if they are remembering their time as chicks.<br />
Most birds like areas like the heart, the wrist, and the neck - warm places where they can hear the blood flowing and feel our pulses.<br />
<br />
If Jamie's story has you thinking that a rescue bird might be right for you, head on over to <a href="http://www.cockatielrescue.org">Cockatiel Rescue</a> for more information.<br />
They have a current list of cockatiels that have been found and are looking for homes.Ediehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10669027255431081814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4925035218253297939.post-40124891058960777872009-10-30T14:39:00.003-04:002009-11-01T06:57:11.165-05:00Cockatiel BehaviorThe Eagle, Batman, Dracula... cockatiels love to spread their wings<br />
<br />
They will imitate any sound in their surroundings... a dog barking, a siren, your throat swallowing sound as you take a drink.<br />
<br />
Then they learn to talk and especially love to whistle songs.<br />
There is something about their nature that they love to connect with our "whistles" or songs and can develop quite the karaoke catalog after a while... and when the song is over, they will keep going - improvising on what they just sang.<br />
<i>Cockatiel Jazz</i> - singing over a song and "almost" getting it right - is pretty common and a lot of fun to listen to.<br />
Here's a <i>little birdie</i> grooving to <b>James Brown</b><br />
<br />
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<br />
<b>Happy Birthday Song</b><br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
<b>To the BeatBox beat of Bebo</b><br />
<br />
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<br />
...and who could forget the ever popular <b><i>Enzyte</i></b> tune?<br />
<br />
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<br />
As soon as they discover themselves, there isn't anyone they will ever love more than the reflection in the mirror.<br />
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They also have a mating call (which you might start to hear if they hang out with their mirror too long).<br />
This is the song that wakes me as the sun comes up because the male is in one cage and the bird he wants to mate with is in another (she's actually a sister from another clutch since his own mate died so I'm trying to avoid any brother/sister weirdness).<br />
If it's raining and dark, he sleeps in and I might oversleep and then I just say, "My bird didn't go off this morning."<br />
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If you have just one bird, you might want to recognize that the males will try and mate with everything in sight... their mirror, their toys, your fingernail (YO!! I EAT WITH THAT HAND!). It is normal but not constant.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Petting a Cockatiel</span></b><br />
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Do they like to be petted? Some do, and some don't.<br />
I've had some that were the biggest cuddle muffins and some that want nothing to do with it.<br />
It seems to be a personality trait right out of the clutch.<br />
One didn't like to be petted but loved to get her crown preened and I could gently draw my fingers across her crown the way she would preen her tail feathers and that was fine with her.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Bathing</span></b><br />
This is how I got my first bird to discover his bird bath... I put a mirror in the bottom and he kept trying to kiss himself, getting wet and flinging water all over in the process.<br />
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Cockatiels also love bathing.<br />
This one has its own perch in the family shower stall.<br />
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I used to spray my birds like this:<br />
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Then I discovered that they also like when I arc the water and it "rains" on them.<br />
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I used to have one that would sit there, tilt her head back and catch the water drops in her mouth.<br />
I wish I had a picture of that.Ediehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10669027255431081814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4925035218253297939.post-30997710319418015602009-10-30T14:11:00.006-04:002009-11-01T06:56:51.730-05:00Cockatiel Training<b>My training was always simple... praise.</b><br />
Most of my birds just ignored the clicker and didn't want to do anything but eat if I trained for treats.<br />
They were just stressed and focusing on the food when I trained with treats.<br />
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Remember that cockatiels love to play with you (after all, you're a big part of their flock,) so if they're fed, they will love the interaction... it's better than sitting a stupid cage by themselves and knocking on a bell again.<br />
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They are curious and more persistent than most people I know, so have patience and they will try and figure out exactly what you want them to do.<br />
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By the way...<br />
Yes, you have to go to work and they get left on their own. Try introducing them to different toys when you're around and make a game of it.<br />
They might be afraid or pretend to be disinterested but check it out later... then you can rotate out the toys for variation.<br />
If they stress on a toy for more than a couple of days, just remove it.<br />
They will play with their toys, eat and nap... and when they hear that lock in the door, they will start yelling at the top of their lungs for you to come and play.<br />
It will sound like they've been doing this all day.<br />
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Trust me when I say they love nap time and need about 12 hours of sleep every day.<br />
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<b>Can't Afford Toys?</b><br />
Check out this video by Madeline Franco as she shows how to make toys from household objects.<br />
If you've had a bird for awhile, chance are that they have already started this themselves with headboards and coffee tables so you might as well give them something to focus on.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Biting</span></b><br />
Why birds bite... the first thing anyone will tell you is that it bites out of fear.<br />
Another reason is to defend its territory - real or perceived.<br />
Just know that <i>every</i> bird bites because they also use their beak to grab onto things - like when they try to get on your finger or to get up to your shoulder.<br />
It isn't always a hard, piercing bite. You can communicate with your bird through its biting because it can bite only slightly or maybe it wants a taste of your finger.<br />
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I have tried everything in training but the thing that works every time (and it takes a little guts) is to hold your finger in front of it and LET the bird bite you.<br />
While it's biting you (I told you it takes guts) <i>gently</i> push the beak UP until the bird is uncomfortable and it will let go and turn its head away from you.<br />
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With the bird still perched on your finger, do it again. They usually get the idea that they if they hurt you, it will have unpleasant consequences.<br />
One of my girls bit 3 times, getting softer each time until it no longer hurt. Then she knew exactly how hard she could grab onto me to perch.<br />
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<b>CAUTION:</b> I would not recommend this technique on larger parrots. We're not lizards. Our fingers don't grow back... at least not yet.<br />
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Here's something else to consider - your bird will think leaving you and going back to its cage is unpleasant.<br />
So if it knows that when you take it off of your shoulder and once it gets on your finger, it can't get back on your shoulder, it can start biting to make your finger go away.<br />
I had two that did this but I didn't put the pieces together until I had some others that did it a little differently. Those were the ones that would take my finger in their beaks and physically push it away.<br />
Basically, they were saying, "No, thank you. I don't wish to leave you right now."<br />
Believe me, it was absolutely adorable.<br />
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Watch this video and you can see the bird is doing what is asked of it.<br />
Stepping up on his finger time after time... but the bird gets tired of the game and starts to make his feelings known.<br />
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<object height="295" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/q0hcBRaQAic&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/q0hcBRaQAic&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object>Ediehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10669027255431081814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4925035218253297939.post-41301916903875188712009-10-30T11:32:00.003-04:002010-03-06T06:56:41.738-05:00Baby BirdiesSo, Cockatiels start out cute enough as little aliens screaming for their dinner.<br />
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Learning to perch and hang as a flock.<br />
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Then you realize they are actually re-enacting a scene from their favorite movie, Alfred Hitchcock's, <i>The Birds</i>.<br />
At least Tippi Hedren was paid for her performance.<br />
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If you made a decision to raise a clutch or two on your own (or maybe your lovely birdie couple made that decision for you) and are suddenly hit with the realization that you need to wean and feed them, check out this video.<br />
The cockatiels are at the end.<br />
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<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/b3Evs-JlXLI&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/b3Evs-JlXLI&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Ediehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10669027255431081814noreply@blogger.com