Nita's Nest - Tiel FAQ 4

COCKATIEL FAQ

(Frequently Asked Questions)

My bird used to be much tamer. Now he flies from me and bites when I try to hold him. What can I do?

Clip his wings! Often a bird that can fly away will become a bit snotty and independent. Clipping the wings not only keeps your pet safer but also has a humbling effect on him as well. Once he realizes he needs you to get around he will look upon you in a different way.

I once got into quite a disagreement with someone online about this. They felt that it was horrible to try to bend a bird to your will this way. I couldn't disagree more.

A tame bird is one that gets attention.

A tame bird is one that gets to spend lots of time out of his cage.

A tame bird is one that is part of the family and enjoys everything that goes along with that distinction.

A bird that bites and is disagreeable is one that spends most of his time in the cage.

Which do you think is better?

My bird likes to fly around the house. Won't clipping his wings make him really sad? He's never gotten hurt flying - why should he be clipped?

Let's take the last part first. Though he may not have gotten hurt yet, all it takes is once. If something startles your bird while he's flying it is quite possible that he could fly into a wall or window at breakneck speed, quite literally. It happens. I've had so many people tell me about it. Similarly, an unclipped bird can slip out the door by mistake when someone comes in or goes out and doesn't realize the bird is loose. While I've heard a few happy endings where the bird is found, most often this is not the case. Sometimes even if the bird is kept in sight for several days, he will not fly down and instead is so high up that nothing can be done. Usually, though, what I hear about is the bird that took off and was never seen again.

Will clipping your pet make him sad? I suppose he may possibly feel a bit sad at first if he was used to free-flight. However, please refer to the previous question. Your clipped bird will spend more time with you.

I believe clipping is a win-win situation.

My bird looks sick. What should I do?

Since birds don't usually show symptoms until they are quite ill, it may already be too late to save the bird at this point. However, the first thing you should do when a bird appears ill is to supply him with a heat source. Probably the easiest way to do this is to set up a desktop lamp next to the cage, with it directed at the side of the cage so that the bird can get into the warmed area if it chooses. A towel over part of the cage will help hold the heat in.

Sometimes heat alone will bring back a bird that was looking very poorly. It will perk them up to the point where they will again eat, which is obviously desirable and necessary if improvement is to occur.

If you have a vet with avian experience, a call to him or her is in order, and they may wish to see the bird immediately. Be sure to keep the bird warm while bringing him to the office. For those of us who do not have an experienced avian vet nearby, it's very important to observe your bird every day in order to spot any early signs of illness.

Prevention is the best medicine. Take good care of your bird and follow strict quarantine procedures if you do bring a new bird into the house.

Miscellaneous questions...

Anita M. Golden