New Owner

[robert]

1. DO I have to cover cage, I sleep with all lights out. Cage is very large and would have to use a Blanket.

2. I work shift work 12 hours, should I get another or is she good, as I am single and interact with her hours thru out the day when I am home. Probably 2- 4 hours.

3. She is on pellets, can I mix it up. Seed mix etc.

4. I am a smoker, but have an air purifier and fan on when I smoke, will this hurt.

5. I have a spray bottle and spray her twice a day, is this enough to be called bathing?


6. Should I get a Cd to help train vocals or just keep talking to her.

any help is appreciated

[Talk About Tiels Admin]

1. I have never covered any of my cages. Leave a nightlight on if they start to really get night frights.

2. I work also. You are absolutely fine. Why not leave a small radio on for her. That will do!

3. Yes, Yes, Yes. Mix it up but dont' give too much of a good thing. Cockatiels can get the opposite effect if given too much "good food". Just vary the diet a litt.e

4. It may/It may not hurt. I'm an ex-smoker and always smoked outside. May not be a bad idea anyways. Outside is a wonderful place!

5. Yep, that should keep her nice and pretty! You can put a shallow water dish in there and see if she likes that too!

6. If its a hen, she may never talk. In fact, odds are against her every speaking a single word. If its a male, keep saying the same things to him. He may pick it up.


Regards!

Leslie

[sctrey99]

1) I dont cover my birds cage due to night frights. Infact he has his own night light.

2) I also work 12 hour shifts and my bird seems fine with it. I usually spend a small fraction of time with him before work and then when I get home ill sometimes let him hang out with me for a bit while watching tv. Some days pretty much the only interaction he gets is me giving him new food or water which I do twice a day but it works out. If I dont spend much time with him one day I try to always make up for it the next.

3) your suppose to mix it up.

4) Smoke is BAD.

5) My burd hates getting sprayed, but doesnt mind the shower. I bought him a shower purch. I also let the water in the tub to fill some and he runs around in the water.

Jun 8, 2010 2:48:08 GMT -5 robert said:

1. DO I have to cover cage, I sleep with all lights out. Cage is very large and would have to use a Blanket.

2. I work shift work 12 hours, should I get another or is she good, as I am single and interact with her hours thru out the day when I am home. Probably 2- 4 hours.

3. She is on pellets, can I mix it up. Seed mix etc.

4. I am a smoker, but have an air purifier and fan on when I smoke, will this hurt.

5. I have a spray bottle and spray her twice a day, is this enough to be called bathing?


6. Should I get a Cd to help train vocals or just keep talking to her.

any help is appreciated

[White Wolf]

First of all welcome, now for your questions. Every bird owner learns what works for them and their bird on an individual basis. What works for one may not work for another [bird or owner]. Here are my responces, according to my experiences...
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1. DO I have to cover cage, I sleep with all lights out. Cage is very large and would have to use a Blanket.

You do not HAVE to cover the cages, this is personal choice. On my pet cages I do cover cages because they are in a room where the lights from traffic going by at night may spook them. However my show birds, breeders, and pets for sale have their own room, where I can just close the blinds/curtain at night and its enough. I do want to add though that my bird room birds have more night frights than my pets do.

2. I work shift work 12 hours, should I get another or is she good, as I am single and interact with her hours thru out the day when I am home. Probably 2- 4 hours.

although I always reccomend time well spent with our feathered friends, time alone for her is also ok. We do what we can for our fids, and 2 to 4 hours seems fair. Just remember that YOU are their only outside contact, so make sure there are plenty of toys available and maybe some music or tv would be nice too.

3. She is on pellets, can I mix it up. Seed mix etc.

Cockatiels NEED a variety. If you go to the NCS website www.cockatiels.org there is a very good list of what they can and cannot have. Experiment to find out what the bird likes and dont give up too soon. Sometimes it takes time for a bird to realize that what you are offering them even IS food.

4. I am a smoker, but have an air purifier and fan on when I smoke, will this hurt.

I too am a smoker, but do not smoke in my home at all whatsoever. Birds, especially tiels, have a very sensative resperatory system. Just use caution.

5. I have a spray bottle and spray her twice a day, is this enough to be called bathing?

I spray my birds 2 times a day in warm weather less in cold. You could also try taking them into the shower with you. Some of them love it, some not so much. Try to make it a pleasant experience for them and it should go very well.


6. Should I get a Cd to help train vocals or just keep talking to her.

Again this is personal choice. If you have 2 to 4 hours a day to spend repeating the same words and phrases then go for it, if not a CD would also be nice. Who knows maybe she will surprise you and start singing Motzart, or Bach, lol

Best of luck to you, Ruth