First Bird!?

[toms94mustang]

Ok, so im thinking of getting a new bird, it was between the cockatiel an the quaker, went with the cockatiel. Now what do I need to know, or what supplies to I need? How big of a cage, and what toys and food etc? Im new to birds but love animals so I will learn=) So please help me oout, thanksss

P.S.(do they need to go to the vet?)

Thanks tom

[hsmoscout]

Originally Posted by toms94mustang

Ok, so im thinking of getting a new bird, it was between the cockatiel an the quaker, went with the cockatiel. Now what do I need to know, or what supplies to I need? How big of a cage, and what toys and food etc? Im new to birds but love animals so I will learn=) So please help me oout, thanksss

P.S.(do they need to go to the vet?)

Thanks tom

ok, I suggest you go to the local pet store and see if they have the book "Cockatiels for Dummies." Yes, I'm serious. It is one of the best bird care books I have ever read and will help you out IMMENSLY ;)

[toms94mustang]

ok, thanks I will, but can you give me an idea of what I need as in size of cages? my aunt has 2 a medium an small and he is almost never in it besides night, what do cockatiels need?

[hsmoscout]

Originally Posted by toms94mustang

ok, thanks I will, but can you give me an idea of what I need as in size of cages? my aunt has 2 a medium an small and he is almost never in it besides night, what do cockatiels need?

18x18 is the bare minimum but 24x24 is usually what's recommended.

[jenseits]

How big of a cage:
Minimum Parrot Cage Sizes by Types/Species | Discount Parrot Supplies - Guidelines about minimum cage sizes and bar spacing. Use the search feature here on BirdBoard too. There's been lots of discussion about cage recommendations and things to avoid.

Recommended books:
I've heard great things about A Parrot for Life by Rebecca O'Connor. I haven't read the whole thing, but I've flipped through it, and it looks like an excellent general parrot care resource that covers all of the basics plus then some.

Vet:
Yes, birds need to be taken to the vet. Annual checkups are usually recommended, and you need to find a good *avian* vet, since dog/cat vets generally have no clue about parrots.

Toys:
Yes, lots. Individual birds have different toy preferences, but you can't go wrong first offering some preening toys, chewing toys, bells, foraging toys, etc. Rotate toys out regularly to keep your bird interested.

Bird beds/huts:
Not recommended for 'tiels since they tend to be very nesty to begin with.

Food:
Browse the nutrition forum and use the search function to see past discussions about parrot diets. The more (safe) fresh food the better. There are some differences of opinion on the proportions of seeds vs. pellets a cockatiel should get, so do lots of research and form your own conclusion. The answer, as with most things, tends to lie in the middle. Whatever the proportion, you should probably feed some pellets, sprouted seeds, fresh veggies/fruit, and a small amount of treats.

Hope that helps get you started.

[toms94mustang]

wow thank you so much, reasearching now, but dont bird cages have 3 dimensions? Whats a good cage for a cockatiel? like a link or? and do you need an playtop? also does he need to be clipped, he can fly in my room right?

[hsmoscout]

Originally Posted by toms94mustang

wow thank you so much, reasearching now, but dont bird cages have 3 dimensions? Whats a good cage for a cockatiel? like a link or? and do you need an playtop? also does he need to be clipped, he can fly in my room right?

He can be clipped if you prefer, but it's not a requirement. I keep Peanut clipped so he doesn't hit a window, and if you have cats, you're going to want to keep him clipped to avoid accidents...
This is the cage Apple has. I'm hoping to get Peanut one soon, too.
HQ Flight Bird Cage - Presented by BirdsComfort.com

[toms94mustang]

i have 3 cats so let him keep his feathers?

[erin1990]

I know most people say to have their birds wings clipped if they have pets, but I always thought that if the bird ended up on the floor, because strange things do happen, I'd like them to be able to fly away and not be trapped.

[toms94mustang]

exactly, if he somehow got on the floor, at least he can fly... so any good cages out their for like under 150? Also what a good care sheet online? Tells about toys,food etc? also how do they sleep? lol