Evy's Cockatiels Lovebirds & Parakeets

Phoenix, Arizona

Specializing in Normal Grey Cockatiels
Other colors available from time to time, Pied, Pearl, Lutino & Cinnamon




The King and Queen of my aviary are Cowboy and Lola, they are 12 year old Cockatiels.

Introducing Cowboy and LolaFrankie, also 12 years old.
Cowboy, Lola and Frankie were the origin of Evy's Cockatiels


CARE INFORMATION for the bird('s) you have just purchased from Evy's Cockatiels


Babys are hand fed with lots of Tender Loving Care


As your baby bird starts to grow he begins to forage for food. I sprinkle little pieces of wheat bread, carrots, apples, leaf lettuce, peas and seeds on the floor of his/her cage, with a small dish of water always available. Hard-boiled egg is very good for your bird. I grate the egg, shell and all and serve in a little dish (or on a small paper plate), removing leftovers in an hour, as eggs spoil very quickly. This introduces the baby to foods other than seeds. All birds need a balance of fresh vegetables and fruit with their seeds and pellets to live a healthy happy life.

Next step, little crocks of food (and water) are placed on the floor of his cage, the baby bird stands in his dish, throws the food around, forages, and has fun with his food.

Shortly, the appropriate food and water dishes go on the cage wires, but the little dishes remain on the floor of his cage. Very quickly he realizes the food and water are in a position where he can see what's going on with his human family, so that's where he eats and drinks now, and I can remove the floor dishes.

If you notice your baby bird is not eating, immediately put small dishes of food and water on the cage floor, and leave the cage dishes where they were, with food and water in them also. Most baby birds are quite happy to receive lots of attention from their new family, and have no trouble adjusting. Some babys are shy, your baby has been living with me as his only human companion, with lots of chirpping noise going on in the room, from all the other birds in cages near by, he must think he is in a very large flock of birds. Give him time to adjust to the different noise level in your house. Just like humans, birds have moods also, or shall I say attitudes.

For the entire life of your bird give him small pieces of vegetables and fruit, daily, or "several" times a week. Suggestions: leaf lettuce, broccoli, cucumbers, carrots, parsley, cilantro, corn, peas, green peppers, cooked brown rice, grated eggs(shell and all), and apples (Cockatiels don't seem to like fruit very much... but I constantly try to get them to eat it. I place very small pieces of apple on the floor of the baby cage at about 25 days old, so he can "forage" and maybe get to like apples!). Here's a little secret... When trying new food or giving a treat, serve on a little paperplate on the floor of his cage, foraging is a good and natural thing for your bird to do. Not only did you save washing dishes, he plays with the plate as if it were an expensive new toy. A good way to present leaf lettuce and millet is to hang it on the side of his cage with a clothespin. Remember to thoughly wash all vegetables and fruit.

Many birds may live 15 to 20 years, with tender loving care and a proper diet. (One of my Cockatiels went to Rainbow Bridge at the age of "18", and he did not look sick, or old). A proper diet is essential, seeds, pellets and "healthy human food" are a good combination.

Foods to Avoid

Avocado, onions, mushrooms, chocolate, apple seeds, fruit pits, sugar, soda, caffeine and alcohol.

Things to Avoid

Fumes from these items can harm/kill your bird, teflon coated cookware, aerosol sprays... examples: room deoderizers, hairspray, insecticides, sented candles, and cleaning sprays (be careful with any type cleaning product, spray or liquid).

Keep feathers and skin clean with misting, or "a bath in a bowl". For bathing, a water bowl on the cage floor is usually enticing to your bird, ...though he will probably take a bath in his water dish, oh well...time to change the drinking water "again" anyway. If your bird does not like to take a bath, mist him, get him wet to the skin, but don't drown him. Keep him out of a draft until he is dry. A fan running full blast or an open window when it's cold outside will give him a chill and he will catch a cold, and you will be off to the Vet.

To cover or not to cover the cage at night... I prefer not to cover or partially cover the cage. (When I stay up until all hours of the night, which I do quite often, I do cover cages). Remember, birds go to sleep at dusk and wake at the crack of dawn. Birds like to see what's going on, even if they are suppose to be sleeping, and if startled in the night, it is called "Night Frights" (night frights are a noise, a shadow in the window, a cat, or "something" that frightens your bird). When frightened your bird will thrash about in his cage and will more than likely get injured. A night-light is always on for my birds, in a power outage... out come the flash lights. It's good to have a night light if your bird is near the kitchen, as my husband gets up at all hours of the night... usually making "noise" at the refrigerator. Having 3 cats in my house makes life interesting when you have birds. If your bird cage is sitting on a table, and the cage is completely covered, and your kitty jumps onto the table and pops his little head under the cover... your bird will flip out, thus, a Night Fright. My kittys are well behaved around my birds, they all grew up together. Though, I would never leave a room with a bird out of his cage with my kittys walking around, or have my bird ride on the back of my cat. Remember, a cat is a cat!

Spend TIME with your bird, let him play on a birdie playpen, or the top of his cage, make sure he interacts with your family (not with your cats and dogs...ok). Don't be surprised if your bird gets attached to one special person, if he does, do your best to get the other family members to hold him so he realizes "all" of you are part of his flock. You are the entertainment for your bird, talk to him, sing, whistle, play music. While you are away... leave the radio on, or the TV... I don't recommend an animal channel, as the roar of the lions can be pretty tramatic. Companionship is necessary for your bird, if you can not spend time with your bird... get him a friend of his own... another birdie.

Different size wooden perches are necessary for healthy feet. Birds like to chew on wood too, which is good for their beaks, and I think it takes care of some of their pent up engery. When they finally chew through their perch, just get a new one. SAFE TREE BRANCHES: hibiscus, eucalyptus, cholla, birch, mulberry, manzanita. Popsicle stick toys are good chew-ups also. Attach a paper towel to the inside of the cage with a clothespin, your bird will shred the paper towel and chew up the wooden clothespin.

Clipping wings and nails are important for your birds health, I can help you with that if you like, but, I leave the beak grooming to a qualified beak groomer.

Keep your bird cage as clean as you can. This will help maintain the health of your bird. Remember, birds are "messy", keep the vaccum handy.

Be alert to illness, if you think your bird is sick, he probably is! Call your Vet!

You are responsible for a living creature who deserves to be treated with respect and kindness... Your Bird.



References: The many experiences I have had while Loving and Breeding Birds. Winged Wisdon 1998, Avian Web 2000.

All rights and responsibility belong to Evy's Cockatiels.





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Tiel Charm Tiel Diet Tiel Social Behavior Tiel Care




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Last revised 17 September 2007