When should I bathe my new cockatiel after bringing him home?

It is possible your bird is eating and drinking while you aren't watching. He may be nervous in his new environment and feel uncomfortable eating while you are around. Be sure he is in a quiet environment where he can be left alone for periods to adjust to his new life. I would also try to find out what food he was eating before he came and get that exact food as some birds are very particular and don't like change/will refuse to eat new foods.

I would agree that you do not want to force your bird to bathe because it may cause him undue stress and anxiety. Try encouraging him to bathe more frequently by using his favorite treats as a reward. You should not have to worry about mites unless there is a source of infection that your bird comes into contact with on a regular basis (most commonly another infected bird). I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Ideally, Pidori should be examined by a veterinarian to confirm good health or to treat any pre existing conditions. Submit a stool sample to diagnose intestinal parasites (worms). Provide a cage large enough to prevent wingtip or tail rubbing. A cuttlebone and/or mineral block should be provided as well. Place several perches in the cage. Use perches of varying sizes and thickness to promote foot health. Feed a quality commercial pelleted diet as the staple (80%). Supplement with a fortified seed mix and fresh fruits and vegetables. Avoid alcohol, caffeine, avocado and pits or seed from fruit. Cockatiels can eat a wide variety of fresh foods such as pastas, cooked egg and beans. Signs of illness include very loose or discolored droppings, a loss of appetite, lethargy (especially when perched with feathers fluffed out).

Hi, and thank you for this question, Two weeks are not always enough to train a bird. Most cockatiels don't speak at all, some will imitate noises but will usually not speak. As to perching on a shoulder or a hand, if the bird was not hand-fed at as a baby it may not be adjusted to humans at all, and may never get really tame. If it is tame and just doesn't want to perch on you, try offering rewards (treats) when he does.

Ten days is a bit soon to expect your new bird to trust you fully. It takes time and patience to get him used to you, and he is likely still settling into his new place. I would give him some more time to settle in and just spend time talking to him, or placing a treat in his cage every time you come by. Once Zucchini is more comfortable with you just being around, you can then start to offer food from your hands, and work up from there. If at any time he becomes too nervous or scared, giving him a break and trying again later can help.

It's possible, but hard to tell without knowing Pancake's breeding history. It could be that Pancake is still just settling into his new place which is why he is quieter, however if he continues to have trouble balancing, seems to act ill, or doesn't seem to settle in as normal, a trip to the vet is a good idea to rule out any health issues that may need treating.

I would give your new birds a few days to settle into their new place before having your child start interacting with them to avoid any extra stress. Once they're settled in, you can have your child start to interact simply by staying near the cage and watching them, or offering a special treat such as a fruit or veggie they may enjoy. Once they are calm around your child, you can then get the budgies used to handling by offering them a treat prior to petting or holding them. Once they are used to being held, you can have your child pet them while you hold them. Depending on your child's age, it is best that you are there to monitor and handle the birds to avoid anyone getting accidentally hurt or injured. If you notice your birds are becoming stressed out or flighty, it is best to take a break and let them relax and settle down, as well as move to the previous step they were comfortable with before trying again.