If you have done all the research you need regarding cockatiels, and you've decided that they are the right fit for you right now and in the long run, then it's time to look for the best ethical breeder or shelter you wish to get your cockatiel from! But first, you must purchase and set up everything your bird will need when it comes home! This article will address all the things you need to have before you bring home a cockatiel (other than food and water)
DISCLAIMER: I am a bird enthusiast and have bird-keeping experience. I am in NO WAY a professional. See this as a guide/reference. Make sure to do your research in addition to reading this article!
1. A Flight Cage
There will be those who know nothing about keeping birds who will state that keeping birds in a cage is cruel. However, this cage is where your bird will spend most of its time eating, drinking, sleeping, and exercising when you are not home. Parrots should not be out flying about the house without proper supervision! You’d be surprised at all the danger and troubles these guys can get into! It would be slightly different if you had a pigeon, though!
A flight cage is a cage with a relatively good width so your bird can fly side to side. The general width of a flight cage would be about 30 inches. The wider, the better. It also depends on how many hours your cockatiel will stay in the cage daily. The longer hours they spend in their cage, the wider their cage should be. Parrots are incredibly active and require lots of mental and physical stimulation. This keeps them healthy as it simulates their natural habitat, as parrots are not yet domesticated animals like dogs and cats. Parrots spend lots of time flying, hopping, climbing, and swinging. A flight cage is great because it provides sufficient space for all the perches and toys you will assemble inside!
Flight cages are typically rectangularly shaped with a flat top, dome top, or play top! It’s up to you! What is important is that you make sure your flight cage has the correct bar spacing. For cockatiels, that would be ½ to ⅝ inches. If you get a cage with the wrong bar spacing, your bird will be able to stick their bodies through the bar and get stuck or escape and get into dangerous situations!
2. A Carrier
A carrier is an essential to carry your cockatiel in when bringing it home and to the vet!
3. Perches and Toys for the Cage
Most cages come with dowel perches. But you do not want only to have those in your bird's cage. Dowel perches are uniform in texture, which could result in a condition called bumble-foot with your bird. This is because their feet will be curled at the same angle every minute. Instead, you want to have primarily natural textured wood perches. The variation in textures keeps their feet healthy. If you choose to make your wood perches, ensure the types of wood you use are not toxic for parrots and are free of pesticides! You can also have rope perches. However, if your bird develops a habit of chewing on the rope perches, remove them from the cage. Rope perch fibers are not digestible, resulting in your bird suffering from crop impaction. Feel free to add wooden swings, ladders, and bridges to encourage climbing and exercise! You want to have at least one flat platform perch. This is just a flat surface on which your bird can relax, so its feet do not have to be curled up every minute. Depending on the size of your cage, you want to have about 5-10 perches.
Following perches, you want a good amount of foraging and shredding toys. You can buy these from stores or select safe materials and DIY yourself!
4. Three Stainless Steel bowls
Some cages come with plastic bowls. But, they are not the most hygienic long term. One bowl for water, second for the vegetable chop, and third for seeds or pellets. Transitioning them onto a pellet or healthy low-fat seed diet as your bird adjusts is best. Your bird may have come with a specific diet. When they first get home, let them eat their original diet and slowly transition to new foods! You do not want to switch their diet suddenly. Birds often starve themselves as they cannot recognize new foods as food. It all comes from the way they evolved. Especially regarding vegetables! 2 out of 3 plants in the wild are toxic to birds!
5. Cage bottom liner
This is what will catch their droppings! You can use newspaper, wood shavings, unscented puppy pads and more!
6. Bird Safe Cleaning Supplies!
Birds have extremely sensitive respiratory systems. Using harsh chemicals around your birds may lead to serious health issues and even fatal consequences! Make sure to have bird safe cleaning solutions, such as Poop Off, or DIY your own, such as a vinegar and water solution! Make sure to have dusting brushes, scrubbers, microfiber clothes and just cleaning tools in general!
7. HEPA Bird Safe Air Purifier
Cockatiels are powder-down birds. Their feathers release keratin powder dander. HEPA air purifier is safe for birds and will assist in clearing the air to keep both you and your bird’s lungs healthy.
8. Out of Cage Play Space
It is vital in my opinion to have a space outside your bird’s cage where they can still play and a place where you can put them down. You can get a play stand, a tabletop play stand or go crazy and build your own around your room where they can fly around and land on!
9. Find an Avian Vet!
Make sure to find an avian vet before getting a bird! The worst case scenario would be that you wait till your bird gets sick and injured and then struggle with finding an avian vet! 1 day of a bird being sick = 7 days of a human being sick! Not to mention, birds are great at hiding their symptoms.
Now that your have read all this, go get your supplies and set everything up before your new cockatiel comes home!