I'm thinking of getting a cockatiel but want to make sure I am really prepared. I've read about cages, foods they eat, etc. What about the temperature, do they need it to be extra warm? How about the summer heat and the AC? We keep our house about 72 in the winter. Anything else I should know before getting one. What is a good age for one? Should I get a baby or an older adult like from Petco? Thanks, Nikki
What's the right temperature for a cocatiel?
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The same temps you tolerate is what they need. 97 in our apt. this summer and they were fine, all 19 birds. No ac here, its not hot enough in the summer just some doozey days!
And in the winter just as warm as you like it.
I would suggest you get a baby, hand fed if you can. It has been way more fun for me to bring them home already tame and used to being held and handled. I have one from Petco and I have accepted that he will always be afraid and always bite if handled. No more petco/petsmart birds for me.( also I must add that I don't have time or patience to spend on taming them down.
Or, look for one needing to be rehomed and is tame. I am all about letting the breeder break them in. I work and just do not have time. So that said what are you able to handle? Will this be your first tiel? Let us know how it goes, I am curious to see what you decide. Good luck to you!
And in the winter just as warm as you like it.
I would suggest you get a baby, hand fed if you can. It has been way more fun for me to bring them home already tame and used to being held and handled. I have one from Petco and I have accepted that he will always be afraid and always bite if handled. No more petco/petsmart birds for me.( also I must add that I don't have time or patience to spend on taming them down.
Or, look for one needing to be rehomed and is tame. I am all about letting the breeder break them in. I work and just do not have time. So that said what are you able to handle? Will this be your first tiel? Let us know how it goes, I am curious to see what you decide. Good luck to you!
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When looking for a breeder, if there is a small independent shop in your town or city ask them if they breed tiels or if they can suggest someone.
I have the luck of using a shop that does breed birds at home. One thing they told me was the smaller birds like tiels and budgies and lovebirds are a loss for them. They said more breeders aren't raising the smaller birds because they can spend that time feeding a macaw and get $1800 for it, where as tiels are $110. That said, you might have to wait for birds to lay and be raised if none are available. Also make sure they are raised and kept in a clean environment. I am excited to hear how it goes.:lovehearts:
I have the luck of using a shop that does breed birds at home. One thing they told me was the smaller birds like tiels and budgies and lovebirds are a loss for them. They said more breeders aren't raising the smaller birds because they can spend that time feeding a macaw and get $1800 for it, where as tiels are $110. That said, you might have to wait for birds to lay and be raised if none are available. Also make sure they are raised and kept in a clean environment. I am excited to hear how it goes.:lovehearts:
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I am a bit different. I don't believe in artificial heat or cool for birds. After all what happens if you get a power outage. In winter particularly this could be deadly, your bird is used to being in a lovely warm room and all of a sudden the temperature drops, especially at night/early hours of the morning. Many people, especially in Australia don't have central heating and many turn off their heating and cooling overnight and the temperature can either rise or fall dramatically. I have done alot of work for a volunteer advice bird service and I would get calls from people telling me their bird died (mainly in winter). The bird was inside in a lovely warm house during the day socializing with everyone, but at night the bird was either put in the laundry, garage or bathroom, the 3 coldest places in the house and people could not understand why they lost their bird.
Most birds can cope with a wide range of temperatures as long as they are allowed to acclimatize to those temperatures. Where I am it can go from 50 Celsius + in summer down to -8 celsius in winter. Most of my birds are outside in aviaries and cope with all weather conditions. They have cover areas where they can get out of the rain and wind but also open areas where they can get wet if they so choose. So I prefer my birds to be in an area where they have no heat or ac, sometimes I will use a fan in summer just to get the air moving. Draughts are more dangerous for our birds and having them in front of a window in summer, might be a nice idea for them to get some sunlight when the sun is not shining directly onto that window but the poor birds can cook when the sun is directly on it.
Most birds can cope with a wide range of temperatures as long as they are allowed to acclimatize to those temperatures. Where I am it can go from 50 Celsius + in summer down to -8 celsius in winter. Most of my birds are outside in aviaries and cope with all weather conditions. They have cover areas where they can get out of the rain and wind but also open areas where they can get wet if they so choose. So I prefer my birds to be in an area where they have no heat or ac, sometimes I will use a fan in summer just to get the air moving. Draughts are more dangerous for our birds and having them in front of a window in summer, might be a nice idea for them to get some sunlight when the sun is not shining directly onto that window but the poor birds can cook when the sun is directly on it.
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