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AB 2014-6
AB 2014 pp 165-166 General Care of Pet Birds
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is the scientific name for the cockatiel? | Nymphicus hollandicus |
| What is a cockatiel? | (Nymphicus hollandicus) is a small (about 100 gram) parrot which is native to Australia but has been bred in captivity for generations. |
| how much does a cockatiel weigh? | about 100 grams |
| Where is the cockatiel native to? | Australia |
| Are cockatiels easily tamed? | yes |
| how long may they live up to? | 20 yrs |
| What are the characteristics to the cockatiels beak? | it is well adapted for chewing and biting |
| Are cockatiels strong flyers? | yes |
| What factors should be considered before purchasing a cockatiel? | about 100 grams, native to Australia but are bred in captivity, have beaks adapted to chewing and biting, strong flyers, easily tamed, live up to 20 yrs |
| How do you determine the size for the cockatiels cage? | it should be large enough for the bird to flap its wings |
| What happens if cockatiels are kept in to small cages? | tips of their feathers may be shredded as the wing tips are beaten against the wire |
| What is usually adequate for the horizontal dimensions of cockatiel cages? | 18 in, but if the bird isn't getting much exercise it should be a bit bigger |
| What should be provided in a cockatiel cage? | there should be 1 preferably 2 perches, a waterer, and a feeder |
| What should the floor of the cage be made out of? And what under the cage and why? | the floor should be wire under which a tray is placed to catch droppings. |
| What is a good litter for the tray under the cage? Why? | Sheets of newspaper because they're dry, cheap, and readily available. |
| What shouldn’t you do with the perch in a cockatiel cage? Why? | you shouldn't place the perch directly above the feed or water or they will become contaminated with droppings. |
| What are the usual forms/textures of cockatiel food? | crumbled or pelleted |
| What diets require no extra supplements to assure that your pet gets all the nutrients it needs? | crumbled or pelleted feed brands |
| What is often mixed into a cockatiels feed? | seeds |
| Where can you purchase seeds what do they come in? | you can buy them at pet shops in small bags for the pet owner |
| What should be readily available at all times? | pellets or seeds |
| What should you be aware of when seeds are in your birds diet? | seeds have hulls which cockatiels remove when they eat. these hulls can pile up in the feeder & give the impression that the feeder is full but a feeder filled with hulls contains no food and the bird can starve. |
| How do you determine if feeder is filled with seed or hulls? | blow on the feed. the hulls will be easily blown away while the seed remains. |
| What is similar problem to having a feeder full of hulls? | some birds won’t eat the powdery remains of pelleted diets so they may need to be removed and have new pellets added. |