What to look for in a healthy cockatiel;
A breathtaking example of a healthy cockatiel
*This is a perfect example of what to look for, when buying a healthy cockatiel. This is a white face cinnamon pearl pied hen, one of my babies from last spring. You want to look your potential purchase all over and ask a lot of questions. Starting at the top and working your way down, here are a few things that you should pay particular attention to:
*The crest - should be full and erect. It should be clean and free of dirt or blood.
*The eyes - should be clean, clear and free of disharge, redness or swelling.
*The beak - should be clean and clear. Cockatiels do not have salivary glands so the beak should not be wet, unless they just got a drink. The beak should line up evenly and be free of cracks or discharge.
*The nostrils - should be visible, clean and free of injury. They should not be blocked with dried food or be crusty, and they should not be wet.
*The wings - should be smooth and lay flat against the sides and back of the bird. If the wings are not clipped you should ask to be shown how to do it, or have the breeder do it for you.
*The body - should be healthy and plump. Feel the breastbone to see if it feels sharp. If this is not a very young bird, it may be underweight. You should ask what food the bird is on. Cockatiels need a variety including pellet, seed, sprouts, fresh fruits and vegitables, and a mineral block and cuttle bone, and their diet should include at very least these minimal requirements.
*The feathers - should all be smoothe and present. If feathers are missing here and there, the bird may be molting, but there should never be bald spots from this. Most cockatiels look sleek and smooth in condition. Some however do have a fluffy look to them. This could be a sign of illness or that the bird is cold. Observe the bird and see if it is constantly ruffleing its feathers. if not it may just be fluffy. Also look for broken feathers. This may not be an issue if the bird is very young, they tend to have softer feathers that break easily. However if a lot of the feathers are broken, and the bird is not young it may be from fighting, night frights or being clumsy due to illness.
*The vent - should be clean and free of stains. The feathers around the vent should also be smooth and free of dried feces.
*The feet - should be clean and free of injury. The toes and toe nails should all be present and accounted for. The legs should be smoothe and feathered. If feathers are missing from the leggs use caution as this may be a sign of illness.
*The bird should be perching comfortably and up off the floor. A healthy bird should be alert and ready to interact. If the bird appears sleepy in the middle of the day, or too quiet, this too could be a sign of illness.
*The bird should have a band on it's leg if it came from a breeder. Check to see if it came from the breeder that you are buying from and if it is not, find out why.
*The tail - should be long, clean, and smoothe. If a lot of the feathers are broken or frayed, the bird may be in too small a cage.
*I hope these tips will help you find the cockatiel of your dreams. Just remember that your bird will not always look perfect, but if you take good care of it, and keep a close eye on it, it will at least be in good health. Ruth
*The crest - should be full and erect. It should be clean and free of dirt or blood.
*The eyes - should be clean, clear and free of disharge, redness or swelling.
*The beak - should be clean and clear. Cockatiels do not have salivary glands so the beak should not be wet, unless they just got a drink. The beak should line up evenly and be free of cracks or discharge.
*The nostrils - should be visible, clean and free of injury. They should not be blocked with dried food or be crusty, and they should not be wet.
*The wings - should be smooth and lay flat against the sides and back of the bird. If the wings are not clipped you should ask to be shown how to do it, or have the breeder do it for you.
*The body - should be healthy and plump. Feel the breastbone to see if it feels sharp. If this is not a very young bird, it may be underweight. You should ask what food the bird is on. Cockatiels need a variety including pellet, seed, sprouts, fresh fruits and vegitables, and a mineral block and cuttle bone, and their diet should include at very least these minimal requirements.
*The feathers - should all be smoothe and present. If feathers are missing here and there, the bird may be molting, but there should never be bald spots from this. Most cockatiels look sleek and smooth in condition. Some however do have a fluffy look to them. This could be a sign of illness or that the bird is cold. Observe the bird and see if it is constantly ruffleing its feathers. if not it may just be fluffy. Also look for broken feathers. This may not be an issue if the bird is very young, they tend to have softer feathers that break easily. However if a lot of the feathers are broken, and the bird is not young it may be from fighting, night frights or being clumsy due to illness.
*The vent - should be clean and free of stains. The feathers around the vent should also be smooth and free of dried feces.
*The feet - should be clean and free of injury. The toes and toe nails should all be present and accounted for. The legs should be smoothe and feathered. If feathers are missing from the leggs use caution as this may be a sign of illness.
*The bird should be perching comfortably and up off the floor. A healthy bird should be alert and ready to interact. If the bird appears sleepy in the middle of the day, or too quiet, this too could be a sign of illness.
*The bird should have a band on it's leg if it came from a breeder. Check to see if it came from the breeder that you are buying from and if it is not, find out why.
*The tail - should be long, clean, and smoothe. If a lot of the feathers are broken or frayed, the bird may be in too small a cage.
*I hope these tips will help you find the cockatiel of your dreams. Just remember that your bird will not always look perfect, but if you take good care of it, and keep a close eye on it, it will at least be in good health. Ruth
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