page1

IUCN The World Conservation Union Note: * Threatened species **Vulnerable Species ***Endangered Species Selection Size (In Inches) Space More More More More More More Less Less Less More Less Less Less Less More More More More Less Less Less Less 21-24 21-24 18-20 21-25 21-24 21-23 12-14 14 13-16 21-25 13-15 13 17-20 12-14 11-12 17-20 20 15-20 12 12 12 11-12 Difficult Difficult Difficult Difficult Difficult Difficult Less Difficult Less Difficult Less Difficult Less Difficult Less Difficult Less Difficult Difficult Less Difficult Difficult Less Difficult Difficult Less Difficult Difficult Difficult Difficult Less Difficult Above Avg Above Avg Above Avg Above Avg Above Avg Avg Avg Avg Avg Above Avg Avg Avg Above Avg Avg Avg Avg Above Avg Above Avg Avg Avg Avg Avg Cost of maintenance Breeding Cockatoo Species Palm * Red-tailed Black Glossy Black ** Yellow-tailed Black *** Short-billed Black ** Long-billed Black ** Gang-gang Rose Breasted Long-billed Corella Western Corella * Little Corella Major Mitchell * Sulphur-crested Lesser Sulphur-crested Citron-crested Blue-eyed Moluccan ** Umbrella Red-vented Goffin Ducorp Cockatiel Selection Color More Beautiful More Beautiful More Beautiful More Beautiful More Beautiful More Beautiful More Beautiful More Beautiful More Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful More Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful More Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful More Beautiful Cost of Cockatoo $10000 to 15000 $15000 to 25000 $10000 to 15000 $3000 to 5000 $10000 to 15000 $3000 to 5000 $10000 to 15000 $1500 to 2000 $1500 to 2000 $500 to 1500 $500 to 1500 $3000 to 5000 $1500 to 2000 $500 to 1500 $500 to 1500 $10000 to 15000 $1500 to 2000 $500 to 1500 $1500 to 2000 $500 to 1500 $1500 to 2000 $100 to 500 Palm * Red-tailed Black Glossy Black ** Yellow-tailed Black *** Short-billed Black ** Long-billed Black ** Gang-gang Rose Breasted Long-billed Corella Western Corella * Little Corella Major Mitchell * Sulphur-crested Lesser Sulphur-crested Citron-crested Blue-eyed Moluccan ** Umbrella Red-vented Goffin Ducorp Cockatiel Cockatoo Species Grooming eather Care FFeathers play a vital role in a bird's life. Feathers help a bird fly. They also serve as a protective shield against temperature extremes. Feathers are required for courtship display. A well being depends on its feathers. Therefore maintenance of its tuft is extremely important. Proper feather care makes a bird look good. New feathers grow constantly. They continuously replace the old ones. The old ones are plucked and discarded by the Cockatiel. This process is called as preening. Preening is normal behavior. But some pets indulge in compulsive preening. This is self-destructive. Another feather related problem is queer coloration. An internally sick, or a malnourished is abnormally colored. Certain causes are responsible for feather related problems. They are mentioned below. If prevented, the feather problems can be reduced.

Cockatiel Cockatiel 1. External injuries (wounds from fighting with other birds). 2. Delayed molt. 3. Malnutrition. 4. Stress or a physical damage caused to the body. 5. Hormonal (related to, or caused by hormones) and reproductive diseases. 6. Psychological problems: mental or emotional problems. 7. Metabolic diseases: it can be congenital due to inherited enzyme abnormality. 8. Bacterial, viral or fungal infections. 9. Internal and external parasites. Deterioration or damage in the quality of feathers needs treatment by a vet. Often the problem might not pertain to feathers alone. A Cockatiel with a sprained neck is incapacitated. It cannot preen itself. Grooming Showers and Baths Cockatiel Cockatiel Cockatiel give out some powder from their skin. This powdery substance is called as dander. A bath relieves the bird of dander. Unclean feathers are a source of a major irritant to the bird. An irritated bird plucks out its feathers. Therefore regular bathing is a must. It cures feather plucking. Further, it moisturizes the feathers, thus softening them.

Birds in the wild are in natural surroundings. But birds at home are exposed to artificial conditions. The atmosphere at home is drier compared to the wild. Bathing is a moisturizing agent. If a is fond of showers then its perch can be placed under the shower. The shower should be lightly turned on, so the water falls down gently. Water-temperature should be regulated. Having a shower bath can become a pleasant experience for the . Some Cockatiel are totally averse to showers. They like baths Grooming instead. A dish with some water can be placed in its cage. (The water should be an inch deep). Remove it after the bird has bathed.

Make sure that all parts of the body are cleaned. But do not use soap or shampoo. A bird should be bathed in the morning. So, it has the rest of the day to dry off. Keep the bird out of the cold. In fact, keep the cage in partial sunlight. This hastens drying. Let its feathers dry out completely. But on days when it is cold or there is no sunlight, dry the bird as completely as possible with a clean towel. Keep the bird in a warm room. As your bird is drying, it will preen itself. can even be blow-dried. But some do not enjoy being "blow-dried." The noise frightens them. Chances are your Cockatiel might not mind the blow dryer. And, if you are using one, remember to set it at a medium temperature. No part of the bird's body should be exposed to the dryer for more than a second. Move the dryer constantly. Do not get the dryer too Cockatiel Cockatiel Grooming close to the bird.

The frequency of a bath depends on the seasons. Summers call for a daily bath. A bath every alternate day is sufficient in the cooler months. A bath at least twice a week is required, when it is very cold. Let your be the judge. If the bird is not feeling well, avoid bathing it. Bathe only a healthy bird. Birds kept for breeding do not need much grooming. Their feathers need not be clipped, nor their beaks trimmed. They do not need regular nail clipping too. But, if the nails turn too long or start curling, then they have to be clipped. But they all need a bath. Either a garden hose or a bird bath works well. A garden hose to provide a light drizzle, for shower loving birds. For birds loving a conventional bath, a bird bath should be placed at the bottom of the cage. The water in the bird bath should be changed regularly. Birds about to breed need a constant supply of water. The mother bird knows how much Cockatiel Cockatiel Grooming moisture is needed for her eggs and hatchlings.

Most Cockatiel owners do not realize the importance of wing clipping. If wings are not regularly clipped their pet bird could fly away. However tame a Cockatiel might be, given a chance it will fly away. To prevent this the primary wing feathers should be clipped regularly. So, they won't fly away when you let them about the house. Birds such as Canaries and other Finches that stay in the cage do not need their wings clipped. But social birds that are allowed out of the cage need to have their wings clipped periodically. Cockatiel have landed in danger by flying high. A house may have plenty of death traps for winged creatures. We need to take the responsibility to protect them from such mishaps and this responsibility includes wing clipping. The captive Cockatiel molt throughout the year. And they can fly with even one flight feather on each wing.