Cockatiel Care
You have just arrived home with your new cockatiel and don't really know what you need to do from this point on. Sure the pet shop, or breeder or previous owner would have told you a few things to start, but by the time you arrive home, half of what you were told is forgotten. You will obviously want what's best for your new companion... Most likely you would have either bought or recieved a cage, a couple of bowls, hopefully toys, some food and a few other supplies. Not always will you have gotten the right types for your bird. Pets shops are notoriously unfamiliar with their pets needs, a breeder should know better, but most of them are going to place money over the bird (it is, after all, their livlihood) and a previous owner doesn't always know best either. Many people will acquire a pet bird and then not bother to learn their needs and proper care.
Contrary to popular belief, a bird isn't just some possession that you can throw in a cage, shove some seed in a bowl and all's well. A cockatiel is living creature, not unlike you, me, the neighbor's dog or even the field mouse living outside your home. All living creatures deserve consideration and any animal that is brought into our homes deserve owners that are willing to and do all they can to provide for their pet. An Animal in our home is dependent on us. They were taken or breed away from their natural habitat and cannot provide for themselves. Take your responsibilty seriously, or don't bother to own a pet. (Ok, that ends the lecture).
Let's start with the basics that you need for your bird:.
The Cage
Hopefully, your cage is more than a small wire box for your bird, unless your bird spends the day out of his cage, he will not appreciate being "boxed" in (sorry... couldn't help it). Your bird needs to be able to spread their wings to their full glory, and hop/turn around without hitting something every time they try to move. Your bird doesn't want to stuck in a "prison"... So get a big enough cage. A good rule of thumb is to have the cage measure no less than the length of your bird (average 13-15 inches) + 6 inches (19-21 inches) front, sides and up (20x20x20).v The bigger, the better. Also make sure your cage has a wire grill on the bottom. This is because the cockatiel is a ground feeder and will rummage for extra food and whatever else it fancies.
bowls
At bare minimum, you need 2 bowls, one for food and one for water. The average cockatiel eats 1/4 to 1/3 cup of food daily, so the food bowl needs to be at least that big and a bit more to prevent spillage. The water dish should be a bit bigger so that your bird can splash around, but not big enough for your bird to fall into. Another bowl for treats/fresh foods can also be handy. A water bottle in addition will also ensure that there is fresh clean water for drinking. Check daily that any water bottles are working, A seed or other matter shoved in the bottle can plug it and your bird will die of dehydration if you aren't vigilant.
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