Copyright 2007 Cockatiel Foundation, Inc.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Join now to read the Cockatiel Chronicle! |
| Click on each Chronicle for full descriptions |
ARTICLE
| SUMMER CARE Caring for Companion Cockatiels During the Hot Weather Months © 2001-2008 LINDA S. RUBIN Published June 2008 CAGE & AVIARY BIRDS (UK) Published June 2001 BIRD TIMES magazine "All Rights Reserved" |
| Daylight (Photolight) Period As the days grow longer and your cockatiel is exposed to additional hours of sunlight, and decreasing hours of darkness, a cockatiel’s personality can become suddenly transformed. Males may become aggressive as soon as early spring, nipping and even inflicting painful bites from even the most tame of companions. Hens may become broody and seek out nesting sites and even lay eggs. Ah, Spring, the mating season, where increasing daylight triggers hormones to instruct birds to reproduce. Don’t take such bites or squabbles personally; they’re your bird’s way of following its instinct. In time, this too shall pass, and it is best to simply just wait it out. If your female cockatiel starts to lay eggs, leave the eggs alone. She will abandon them when she is ready to – usually within 18 to 22 days – and removing them will only stimulate her to lay another clutch to replace the ones she lost when you take them away. Constant egg-laying will tax a hen’s calcium reserves and jeopardize her health. In severe cases, an earlier bedtime in a covered cage in a darkened room may help to decrease such stimulating activities. Covering the Cage Most cockatiel owners prefer to cover their cockatiel’s cage at night to protect them from drafts. Covering the cage also signals to cockatiels that it is bedtime and that it is time to be quiet. However, should you decide that drafts are not a problem and you would rather discontinue covering your cockatiel’s cage each night, then it is best to begin during the warm weather months. If you stop covering the cage in warmer weather, it allows your cockatiel to adjust to its environment, prepare as the weather changes, and adapt over a gradual period of time in the coming months. Never stop covering the cage during cooler temperatures or colder months as illness could result. Also, keep in mind that should you choose to stop covering the cage, be prepared for those sunrise wake-up songs that our beloved companions so generously share with us! Bathing While cockatiels should have access to bathing year round, fresh water baths can be more enticing during warmer months. Some owners enjoy taking their birds into the shower with them. A special bird perch can be purchased which can be attached to the shower wall where your cockatiel can perch and spread its wings to catch the water droplets. Many owners use a clean plant atomizer containing plain untreated water used solely for spray misting birds. Still, some birds enjoy wallowing in a shallow dish of water or rolling against a large handful of dripping wet greens. Whatever manner in which your cockatiel bathes, special care must be taken to guard against drafts that can result in respiratory illness. Even in warm weather, some homes contain drafts, so check yours carefully and take measures to eradicate a draft if it exists. Another form of bathing is taking sunbaths, which have both an advantage and a disadvantage. Sunbaths can be a wonderful method of providing a direct source of vitamin D3 for your cockatiel, one of the most important vitamins necessary for good health. Only ten minutes is required for the vitamin to be absorbed through the skin. However, the exposure must be direct. For example, sunlight filtered by glass will not be of any benefit. On the other hand, if a glass window slides open, direct sunlight pouring through a screen will benefit your bird. However, sunbaths can be lethal to cockatiels if they are denied shelter without escape from the heat. Always cover part of the cage to provide shade, preferably by using a light cover, so that your cockatiel can avoid overheating. Overheating can occur both outdoors as well as indoors including such places as locked cars with little or no ventilation. If a cockatiel is exposed to intense heat for prolonged periods of time – and in some cases even short periods of time - heat stroke may result. Heat stroke is a serious medical emergency and immediate action must be taken to transfer your cockatiel into a cool, dark place and seek out emergency veterinary care. In some cases where cockatiels have become severely dehydrated they may require hydration with fluids given subcutaneously under the skin. If brought to an avian veterinarian in time, these birds can be saved. The Great Outdoors - Some cockatiel owners enjoy exposing their cockatiels to fresh summer air by placing their cage out on the front porch, or placing their cockatiels in outdoor aviaries. Once again, care must be taken to avoid any drafts or direct sunlight from which a bird cannot escape. Shelter must be an option for the bird at all times, and most outdoor aviaries are usually attached to shelters that allow them to come and go as they please, retreating inside for food, water, and shade if they so choose. Protect birds from unwelcome guests, animals and strangers who may be dangerous or life-threatening to your bird. Bird thefts do occur so never leave your bird unsupervised even on the front porch. |
| "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