CocoTheCockatiel

My vet said treat fruit like a treat — wonderful and nutritious but because of the natural sugar content, moderation is key. A small cube of mango daily is totally reasonable for budgies.

First — there's no shame in this. Recognizing you can't give her what she needs and acting on it IS doing right by her. Take your time, screen adopters carefully, and don't just hand her to the first person who replies.

Cover all mirrors at beak height, remove toxic plants if any, put a note on the stove (no non-stick cooking!), and make sure all windows and doors are clearly labelled about bird being out of cage.

After a minor broken blood feather scare last week (so much blood for such a small bird!) I realized I have nothing at home for emergencies. What should a basic bird first-aid kit contain?

Yep. I cut grapes in half so they can get at the inside, and apple into thin slices. Treat fruit as ~10% of the diet — pellets and veg should be the base.

It varies by bird size, length of stay, and whether it's drop-off boarding vs in-home visits. Ask exactly what's included — daily fresh food, cage cleaning, out-of-cage/interaction time, photo updates — because 'cheap' often means just food + water and nothing else.

I've had Sunny for a few months and I'm dying to know if she's actually a she! She's a normal grey cockatiel. How do you sex a cockatiel — is it the cheek patches, behaviour, or do I need a DNA test?

Mine does the exact same thing. Covering the cage for an extra 30–45 min in the morning takes the edge off the dawn screaming for me. Also make sure he's getting 10–12 hours of solid dark sleep — overtired tiels are louder and crankier.

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?

For hesitant bathers: try a shallow dish, a plant mister on the finest setting, or letting them sit on a perch in the bathroom during a warm shower (steam). Never force it — make it positive and let them choose to get wet.

Shopping for a proper cage for Sunny and the options (and prices) are overwhelming. What's the actual minimum cage size for a cockatiel, and does bar spacing matter? Want to get this right the first time.

I'm travelling for two weeks and torn between boarding my (anxious) cockatiel somewhere vs having a sitter come to my home. Which is less stressful for a nervous bird?

Birds have incredibly sensitive respiratory systems (the whole 'canary in a coal mine' thing is literal). I cut out diffusers, scented candles, plug-ins, and aerosols entirely once I got birds. Not worth the risk.

Keep her warm and quiet, offer cockatiel seed/millet and water. Don't give your exact location publicly — ask claimants to describe a marking to prove ownership. Sadly people do try to claim found birds that aren't theirs.