First-time cockatiel owner — what should I know?

Hi everyone! I just brought home my first cockatiel (her name is Sunny) and I'm completely smitten. She's been with me for three days and is still a bit nervous but eating well. Any tips from experienced 'tiel owners about bonding and those first few weeks?

Congratulations on Sunny! The first week is mostly about letting her settle. Don't force interaction — let her come to you. Sit near the cage, talk softly, offer millet from your fingers. Patience is everything with cockatiels.

One thing nobody tells you: cockatiels are LOUD at dawn and dusk. That's completely normal — it's their flock calling behaviour. You'll learn to love it... eventually 😄

Tiels are amazing birds. Make sure she gets at least 4 hours of out-of-cage time once she's settled. They love shoulder time. Also watch for night frights — keep a dim nightlight near the cage.

Welcome to cockatiel parenthood — you're going to love it! Sunny will start showing you her personality once she feels safe. During the first month, focus on routine: same wake time, same meal times, same bedtime. Predictability builds trust.

Some must-know things for new 'tiel owners in Toronto: find an avian vet before you need one (not all vets see birds), keep the air clean (Teflon/PTFE cookware fumes are lethal to birds), and offer fresh veggies daily alongside her pellets.

What's Sunny's diet like right now? Feel free to post in our Diet & Nutrition section if you want specific advice on feeding schedules!

This!! So much this. Saving this post to show my partner.

What worked for me was switching to stainless steel water bowls and changing water twice daily. Took about a week but my African Grey responded really well to it.

I struggled with this too until I started rearranging the cage every couple weeks to prevent boredom. Now it's like a completely different bird.