| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 323.1 | Check out note 172.* for lots of info | BOHR::CASSONE | Dom Cassone MRO4-3/C17 DTN 297-3038 | Mon Feb 26 1990 15:57 | 15 |
| Note 172.* is also about new cockatiel owners, check it out.
To answer your main questions quickly (more in-depth answers in 172.*). Your
bird NEEDS to eat things other than seeds. Seeds are NOT a complete diet! You
may have to be VERY persistant but it is necessary.
As far as another bird, this is a big gamble. First, if the bird has only
imprinted on humans, it may not accept another bird. Second, if it accepts
another bird, it may reject you in favor of a bird buddy. Third, you may all
live happily ever after. I believe that either 1 or 2 happen most often.
Hope this helps some.....See my reply 172.12 for more detailed answers to
some of your questions
Dom
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| 323.2 | Is cat food O.K.? | SALSA::DEFRANCO | | Mon Feb 26 1990 18:32 | 12 |
| Thank you for the reference .1. I did take her seed away before coming
into work this morning and replaced it with egg, a little cheese and
some cooked green beans.
When I went home for lunch my husband did say that she was nibbling on
it but was definitely looking for seed. I crushed up some dry cat food
and gave that to her and she loved it. It has plenty of protien in it
and Rosie likes it better than eggs. Is this OK to feed her?
Jeanne
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| 323.3 | some thoughts | MEIS::TILLSON | Sugar Magnolia | Wed Feb 28 1990 13:25 | 29 |
|
Jeanne,
Dry catfood should be fine as a suppliment to seeds, but she should be
getting fruits and veggies as well. If she really loves the dry cat
food, you may be able to trick her into sampling other foods by
sprinkling crumbled dry cat food on them. (I get my Amazon to eat new
stuff by dusting it with Cheetos, his favorite junk food :-) With my
birds, they often will enjoy new foods after they have identified them
as "tasty", it is getting them to take the first bite that's tricky.
As far as a companion for your bird, another cockatiel would be ok if
you introduced them carefully, and if male, you might get them to
breed. However, you run the risk of them preferring each other to
people.
If you're not interested in breeding, a better choice might be a mixed
aviary. Cockatiels do well with birds that are *both* smaller and more
aggressive, such as budgies and finches, or with gentle birds that are
ground-dwelling such as button quail. Bird Talk did an article last
year on a mixed aviary built from a standard tall computer cabinet
which contained a cockatiel, a budgie, a pair of finches (Society, I
think...) and a pair of button quail. The important thing is to
provide enough space so that everyone has their own "turf", and to
introduce all the birds you plan on keeping together all at once so
that an appropriate "pecking order" can be established upfront.
Rita
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| 323.4 | | CSC32::K_WORKMAN | TTDRIVER/MODEM Tech Leader 4990 | Wed Feb 28 1990 19:56 | 12 |
| A suggestion:
Don't feed your bird CAT FOOD. Cat food is a very high protein
food (30%+ I believe). Birds don't need this high a protein
and further more it isn't good for them. Most of your seed or
pelleted diets have a much lower protein ratio and for good
reasons.
Please feed your bird foods formulated to meet their needs, not
your cats or your dogs. There are so many wonderful pelleted
and vitamin treated seeds that will guarantee your bird a long
and healthy life.
|
| 323.5 | use pellets | NEURON::ROBSON | News item from the Banzia Institute | Thu Mar 01 1990 14:32 | 9 |
| I agree completely with Karen (.-1). Cat food is not in any way
designed to meet the needs of birds. With the many different types of
pellets on the market now there should be no problem finding some
(and at a reasonable price). Mine get mainly pellets with some seed
thrown in just for a treat. (plus the usual fruits/veggies...)
How is Clare (and the rest) doing Karen? My 3 pairs of conures live in
thier nest boxes but no little addition yet...I hate having to be
patient...
|
| 323.6 | I've got the right food this time! | SALSA::DEFRANCO | | Mon Mar 05 1990 16:41 | 24 |
| Over the weekend, I bought some parrot mix and Scientific pellets.
Rosie seems to like the pellets so I hope to have her weaned on that in
the very near future. Thank you all for setting me in the right
direction on this matter.
Rosie has adjusted quite well to her new home. In fact, she is already
demanding more attention from us than I thought she would. She peeps
constantly to be let out of her cage and when she's out she wants to be
on my shoulder. She now lets me scratch her and she gives kisses.
She's a wonderful bird and so very friendly.
I'm seriously considering a companion for her though. She is still
young (about 3 to 4 months old) so she should adjust. Where she loves
attention so much, I'm afraid that she must be very lonely during the
day when I'm not home. I also have this thing about animals having at
least one member of their own kind to communicate with. I hope I don't
live to regret this and I hope she doesn't lose her wonderful pet
qualities.
Again, thank you all for your help!
Jeanne (and Rosie)
|
| 323.7 | | CSG001::GAUGHAN | | Thu Apr 05 1990 18:41 | 19 |
| Well, I am a new owner so dont take my word on anything. I had
a friend who bought another bird for his. The first bird was very
friendly until the new bird came along. The two birds will have
nothing to do with him now. This is just an example, and I could
be wrong, I just dont know.
Now MY problem. When I leave in the am my bird just sits there
until I get home, and then I had better let him out immediately.
He will get out and fly around for awhile, then on to the shoulder
until he gets tired. No trouble putting into the cage, but I cant
leave the room without him screaming until I come back in.
Also where can I find a play pen for a cockateil to put on top of
his cage.
Any help will be appreciated.
charlie
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