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As the days grow longer and your cockatiel is exposed to
additional hours of sunlight, and decreasing hours of
darkness, a cockatiel’s personality can become suddenly
transformed. Males may become aggressive as soon as early
spring, nipping and even inflicting painful bites from even the
most tame of companions. Hens may become broody and seek
out nesting sites and even lay eggs. Ah, Spring, the mating
season, where increasing daylight triggers hormones to
instruct birds to reproduce.

Don’t take such bites or squabbles personally; they’re your bird’
s way of following its instinct. In time, this too shall pass, and it
is best to simply just wait it out. If your female cockatiel starts to
lay eggs, leave the eggs alone. She will abandon them when
she is ready to – usually within 18 to 22 days – and removing
them will only stimulate her to lay another clutch to replace the
ones she lost when you take them away. Constant egg-laying
will tax a hen’s calcium reserves and jeopardize her health. In
severe cases, an earlier bedtime in a covered cage in a
darkened room may help to decrease such stimulating
activities.

Most cockatiel owners prefer to cover their cockatiel’s cage at
night to protect them from drafts. Covering the cage also
signals to cockatiels that it is bedtime and that it is time to be
quiet. However, should you decide that drafts are not a
problem and you would rather discontinue covering your
cockatiel’s cage each night, then it is best to begin during the
warm weather months. If you stop covering the cage in warmer
weather, it allows your cockatiel to adjust to its environment,
prepare as the weather changes, and adapt over a gradual
period of time in the coming months. Never stop covering the
cage during cooler temperatures or colder months as illness
could result. Also, keep in mind that should you choose to stop
covering the cage, be prepared for those sunrise wake-up
songs that our beloved companions so generously share with
us!

While cockatiels should have access to bathing year round,
fresh water baths can be more enticing during warmer months.
Some owners enjoy taking their birds into the shower with
them. A special bird perch can be purchased which can be
attached to the shower wall where your cockatiel can perch
and spread its wings to catch the water droplets. Many owners
use a clean plant atomizer containing plain untreated water
used solely for spray misting birds. Still, some birds enjoy
wallowing in a shallow dish of water or rolling against a large
handful of dripping wet greens. Whatever manner in which
your cockatiel bathes, special care must be taken to guard
against drafts that can result in respiratory illness. Even in
warm weather, some homes contain drafts, so check yours
carefully and take measures to eradicate a draft if it exists.

Another form of bathing is taking sunbaths, which have both an
advantage and a disadvantage. Sunbaths can be a wonderful
method of providing a direct source of vitamin D3 for your
cockatiel, one of the most important vitamins necessary for
good health. Only ten minutes is required for the vitamin to be
absorbed through the skin. However, the exposure must be
direct. For example, sunlight filtered by glass will not be of any
benefit. On the other hand, if a glass window slides open,
direct sunlight pouring through a screen will benefit your bird.

However, sunbaths can be lethal to cockatiels if they are
denied shelter without escape from the heat. Always cover part
of the cage to provide shade, preferably by using a light cover,
so that your cockatiel can avoid overheating. Overheating can
occur both outdoors as well as indoors including such places
as locked cars with little or no ventilation. If a cockatiel is
exposed to intense heat for prolonged periods of time – and in
some cases even short periods of time - heat stroke may
result. Heat stroke is a serious medical emergency and
immediate action must be taken to transfer your cockatiel into
a cool, dark place and seek out emergency veterinary care. In
some cases where cockatiels have become severely
dehydrated they may require hydration with fluids given
subcutaneously under the skin. If brought to an avian
veterinarian in time, these birds can be saved.

Some cockatiel owners enjoy exposing their cockatiels to fresh
summer air by placing their cage out on the front porch, or
placing their cockatiels in outdoor aviaries. Once again, care
must be taken to avoid any drafts or direct sunlight from which
a bird cannot escape. Shelter must be an option for the bird at
all times, and most outdoor aviaries are usually attached to
shelters that allow them to come and go as they please,
retreating inside for food, water, and shade if they so choose.

Protect birds from unwelcome guests, animals and strangers
who may be dangerous or life-threatening to your bird. Bird
thefts do occur so never leave your bird unsupervised even on
the front porch.

Be extra careful of the unexpected such as new plants growing
up against aviaries that may be toxic if your cockatiels reach
through to eat them. Know what plants are safe for your bird or
better yet, start a patch of vegetable garden for both you and
your birds. Some excellent greens and vegetables to grow for
cockatiels include: kale, carrots, collards, parsley, and even
dandelions can be cultivated. Be sure that all foods are
pesticide-free and soak them well, washing and rinsing
repeatedly before presenting them to your birds to eat.

Perhaps the most important caution and heartbreaking loss
that occur during the warm weather months is the number of
cockatiels that escape their owners into the wild blue yonder.
Unfortunately, when the weather grows warm, windows and
doors are likely to be open more frequently and provide for a
route of escape. Also, walking to the door with a beloved pet
cockatiel on your shoulder and opening it before remembering
it is there, is heart rendering should the cockatiel suddenly
take off. The best advice then, especially in summer months is
to clip your cockatiel’s wings! A good wing clipping done
properly by a professional handler/breeder or avian
veterinarian is well worth the cost of protection against possible
escape and the loss of a family member. Properly executed,
wing-clipping slows a bird down, throws its flight pattern off,
and allows you to recapture the bird without too much effort. As
cockatiels are known as one of the strongest and swiftest flyers
of the entire parrot family, it is usually necessary to clip both
wings. Test your cockatiel’s ability to fly before leaving the wing-
clipping appointment to make certain the clip is effective.

Staying alert and taking precautions for your cockatiel’s well-
being will be worthwhile and rewarding as you and your
cockatiel enjoy the summer months ahead.

"Providing Resources
to the
Cockatiel Community"

CF
The Cockatiel
Foundation, founded in
June 2007, began out
of a growing need in
the avicultural
community to address
all areas of cockatiel
culture. The Foundation
offers its members
programs for pet
owners, breeders and
exhibitors, in addition to
services never before
addressed in the
cockatiel community.

CF is establishing a
Cockatiel Adoption &
Placement Program
necessary for the
placement and
rehoming of cockatiels
to new, permanent
"forever" homes.

CF address the needs
of our Youth Members
in the CF Youth &
Education Program
developed for
tomorrows' next
generation of cockatiel
aviculturists.

Additional special
interest programs
include:
Companion Care
Nutrition
Avian Medicine
Hobby Breeding
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Genetics
Exhibition
and more ...

The Cockatiel
Foundation serves all
cockatiel owners needs
- from breeders,
exhibitors, and pet
companion bird owners
- to cockatiel adoption,
placement and youth
education for
tomorrows cockatiel
afficianados. Please
read our Membership
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SUMMER CARE
Caring for Companion Cockatiels
During the Hot Weather Months
COPYRIGHT © 2001-2008 LINDA S. RUBIN
Published June 2008 CAGE & AVIARY BIRDS (UK)
Published June 2001 BIRD TIMES Magazine
"All Rights Reserved"

Daylight or Photolight Period

Covering the Cage

Bathing

The Great Outdoors ...

Wing Clipping

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Linda S. Rubin is an aviculturist, lecturer and avian educator of 30
years, with an international byline in avicultural magazines around the
world and author of several books at www.CockatielsPlusParrot s.com.
She is the cockatiel expert columnist for Bird Talk’s website,
BirdChannel.com, she serves on the board of directors of the American
Federation of Aviculture, Inc. and is the founding president of the
Cockatiel Foundation, Inc. Linda is a certified panel judge for the
Cockatiel Foundation, and the Society of Parrot Breeders & Exhibitors,
judging shows throughout the US, Puerto Rico and Canada since 1984.

c. 2007 Sandra Trottier

c. 2007 Jane Gillespie

c. 2007 Sandra Trottier

c. 2007 Nancy E. Johnson

Founded June 3, 2007

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