Are sand perches safe for my cockatiel? Where should I put them?

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).

You should wrap the perches with some soft material so it is easier for him to perch, if the foot is not badly hurt it will heal within several days, if it is badly hurt you need to take him to an avian vet specialist to get it treated.

Thanks for all of your questions! You do not need to provide a cockatiel with grit - as a parrot, this material is not necessary for them to digest their food. For produce, I would recommend focusing on vegetables that are high in vitamin A and calcium - this is typically the brightly colored vegetables (such as bell peppers) and dark leafy greens. For fruits, ideally you would focus on tropical fruits, as they have more fiber and less sugar than our temperate fruits. These would include fruits such as mango and papaya. For feeding, I would recommend feeding 60-70% pellets, 20% vegetables, 5% fruit, and 5% seeds. An average cockatiel can be offered about 1/4 of food per day - some birds spill more than others so this would just be a place to start and you can then increase or decrease as needed. We want them to be eating portions of each food item, so don't offer too much food, or they will just pick out what they like (typically the seeds and fruit). You can offer multiple bowls of water - often cockatiels will bathe in one and drink from the other. Tap water is acceptable, as long as it is safe for you to be drinking as well. You don't need to offer insects, as the diet that I outlined above is nutritionally complete. I hope that answers all of your questions, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Pine is fine. There are no reports of this being toxic and pinecones are often used for enrichment for captive birds. I would not worry at all about making the pine furniture. I hope that helps and all is well with Pepsi.

Unfortunately, fried peanuts are not an appropriate diet item for cockatiels (or any bird species). Peanuts in general are not a good choice, in any form, including raw and unsalted. They have very little nutritional value, are high in fat, and can potentially have fungus that grows easily on them in the non-human grade types that are often sold for bird consumption. More appropriate nut choices for birds include almonds, walnuts, and Brazil nuts. For a cockatiel, 1/4 of an almond or walnut per day is an appropriately sized treat, and an equivalent size of a portion of Brazil nut (since they are quite large).

Thanks for reaching out about Pip. A veterinary visit is recommended as seems very sick. Remove perches and place a soft towel on the bottom of the cage, for comfort. Provide heat support in the 80-85 F range for aid. Lethargy and conjunctivitis are possibly chlamydophilosis, which is potentially contagious to humans. Isolate from other birds. Good luck.

Thanks for your question. I’m sorry to hear that pellets are not available in your area, as these are the most ideal diet for parrots. I’m not sure if you would have access to them via the internet or not? If this is not an option, I would recommend feeding vitamin A rich produce items, with a focus on vegetables. I’m not sure what is available in your area, but typically the dark leafy greens and brightly colored vegetables are good options. I would also feed calcium rich produce, again focusing on vegetables when possible. The reason for these is that seed mixes are often lacking in these two nutrients and it is common to see malnutrition and deficiencies because of this. For seeds, I would recommend feeding them in moderation - for a cockatiel they don’t need more than a couple of tablespoons offered to them per day. Try to transition the diet slowly, as birds can be challenging to introduce to new things. I would recommend weighing your bird 3-4 times per week during the transition as well to ensure that there is no excessive weight loss. You can get a digital gram scale online, or hopefully from a store in your area. They are typically in the kitchen section. I hope that gives you a place to start, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!