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ARTICLE
| COCKATIEL BEHAVIOR: WHY DOES MY COCKATIEL DO THAT? © 2003 LINDA S. RUBIN Originally published in February 2003 issue of BIRD TIMES magazine "All Rights Reserved" |
| Understanding cockatiel behavior can be perplexing; especially when you are a new cockatiel owner or have only kept a companion cockatiel for a short period of time. The best way to determine whether your cockatiel is behaving normally is to observe its behavior closely. Over time, you will begin to understand why your bird is behaving in a particular way and what it may need from you to be healthy and happy. Read all you can on cockatiels and learn what is normal behavior for your bird. Study it’s eating habits so that you can monitor its droppings and general health. For example, most birds will have a favorite feed vessel or location where they are more apt to eat. When you identify your cockatiel’s favorite feed cup, try adding special treats and new foods only at this location so your bird is more likely to sample these foods. Also, by rotating foods in different cups, especially in a favored cup, your cockatiel will become more exposed to a variety of foods. Eating a wide variety of foods will help ensure that nutritional needs are met and help maintain general good health. Sometimes owners mistake a cockatiel mineral block or cuttlefish bone as a simple chewing toy, because a cockatiel appears interested in intensely gnawing on these items. More correctly, cuttlefish bone and mineral blocks are the major source of dietary calcium for cockatiels, because seeds and most other foods are deficient in calcium and other minerals. Green foods are also high in calcium, especially the dark, green, leafy, varieties. Although it may appear that birds are “playing” with their cuttlebone, mineral block, or green veggies, they are actually learning how to enjoy and eat such foods that are so rich in calcium content. To encourage cockatiels to gnaw on cuttlefish bone, it is helpful to take a clean scissors or knife and draw a tic-tac- toe design on the soft side to entice birds to chew along the ridges created. Place the soft side inward toward the bird and the hard, outer shell outward facing the bars of the cage. Thoroughly wash greens to remove pesticides and present them to cockatiels dripping wet. Cockatiels frequently enjoy rolling in a bunch of dripping wet greens in which to “bathe” while ingesting the green food. This action mimics their behavior in the wild of Australia where birds bathe after a rain shower. A common behavior that frequently stumps new owners is when cockatiels hang upside down with both wings spread and tail feathers fully fanned. They often times flap their wings and behave energetically. The usual explanation is that they are asking for a spray misting or the equivalent of a rain shower, as they would spread their wings during a soaking in the wild to catch every drop of moisture. A thorough misting with a clean, spray bottle such as a plant atomizer mister, used only for spraying your pet, may be filled with plain, warm water to provide relief. However, this behavior may actually have two meanings. In pet cockatiels, opening the wing and tail feathers while hanging upside-down, may indicate a strong desire to bathe. Yet, when cockatiels become interested in breeding, or are already sitting on a clutch of eggs, opening the feathers on each wing while fanning the tail feathers and hanging in a downward position from the cage door opening, a nest box entrance, or similar place, may indicate a warning sign not to intrude or come any closer, or the trespasser could receive a warning bite. Don’t take such behaviors personally; this is strictly hormones coming into play and encouraging a cockatiel’s maternal or paternal instincts to raise its current or intended offspring. Another mysterious behavior often witnessed by new cockatiel owners occurs when a bird opens its beak wide in an exaggerated yawn. Sometimes, this may be as simple as a yawn to obtain more oxygen, unblock the ears or clear the throat. Allergies may exist and further be aggravated by dust that is stirred up in a room by dusting or vacuuming, which could also cause a bird to sneeze. However, if a yawn is accompanied by excessive head- bobbing, or head-pumping, it may indicate a more serious condition such as a sinus infection or other respiratory problem. Beak grinding is another mysterious behavior cockatiels exhibit. It often occurs as a bird begins to roost for the night, is about to take a nap, or is at rest. Grinding the beak may help to prevent a build up of living tissue and prevent the overgrowth of the upper and lower mandibles. Chewing toys made especially for cockatiels, and freshly washed, tree branches such as eucalyptus, willow, apple, maple, and beech (avoid cherry which is toxic), can also help prevent a cockatiel’s beak from overgrowing as birds strip the bark from the branches and derive the minerals they contain. There are many different behaviors you will observe in your cockatiels. Learn what is normal behavior for your birds, so you may quickly identify any abnormal behaviors should they develop. If they do, consult your behaviorist, an experienced aviculturist, or an avian veterinarian. |
| "Providing Resources to the Cockatiel Community" The Cockatiel Foundation, founded in June 2007, began out of a growing need in the avicultural community to offer its members programs for pet owners, breeders and exhibitors, in addition to services never before addressed in the cockatiel community. CF is establishing a Cockatiel Adoption & Placement Program to hrlp in the placement and rehoming of cockatiels to new, permanent "forever" homes. CF offers a wealth of information on color genetics, mutations, and breeding research. CF is addressing the needs of our Youth Members in the CF Youth & Education Program developed for tomorrows' next generation of cockatiel afficionados. Please visit our unique LOST & FOUND Center to report and reunite birds with their owners! Joining the Foundation When you join the Foundation as a Member, you will receive many benefits, including the Cockatiel Chronicle and have access to the Members' Only Yahoo Group for chat, PHOTO CONTEST, Members' Articles & more! Please read about our Membership benefits and peruse the website. COME JOIN US! |
Cockatiel Foundation, Inc.
c. 2008 Amy Hopkins
| Linda S. Rubin is an aviculturist, lecturer and avian educator of 30 years, with an international byline in avicultural magazines around the world and author of several books at www.CockatielsPlusParrots.com. She is the cockatiel expert columnist for Bird Talk’s website, BirdChannel.com, writes as an overseas columnist for Cage & Aviary Birds (United kingdom), and she serves on the board of directors as National Specialty Vice President for the American Federation of Aviculture, Inc. She is the founding president and genetics consultant of the Cockatiel Foundation, Inc. Linda is a certified panel judge for the Cockatiel Foundation, and the Society of Parrot Breeders & Exhibitors, judging shows throughout the US, Puerto Rico, and Canada since 1984. |