upatsix.com - Your Source For Pet Bird Information

Hi Everyone, its been a long time dream to work at a bird store and finally I get to help out. I'd love personal stories of your tiels cause i've never owned one i read and researched, but personal stories are best, plus info on what you think the best cage size is, food for tiels, favorite toys, or anything else. I want to help people make and educated decision. thanx

Cage - biggest possible, no smaller than 24"x24"x24" for a single tiel, bigger for multiples. Bar spacing 1/2" some tiels will do fine with wider, but no wider than 5/8". Stainless steel is best, powder coated is next best. No spray paint or brass cages, they can contain zinc which is toxic to birds. Cages made in China should be tested for lead which is toxic. Stay away from doors that lift to open. The bird can open the door and in rare cases catch it's head and injure or kill it. Fancy scrollwork and embellishments can catch leg bands, legs, or toes, they should be avoided.

Toys - Shredders, balsa, bells, ladders, sometimes swings, olympic rings, smaller pine wood toys. NO MIRRORS or boxes, these make tiels agressive and or hormonal. No happy huts or places to hide, this will stimulate hormonal behavior/egg laying. Foreaging toys are great!!

Food - Seed, Pellets, Cooked AND fresh food. Treats should be no more than 5% of the diet. NO GRIT is needed with hookbills. Fresh foods should be removed after 2 hours to prevent the bird from getting sick because of bacterial growth. Fresh food and water at least once a day. They must wash the dishes as well, just changing the water doesn't get rid of bacteria. No suppliments in the water unless directed by a vet and NO over the counter antibiotics.

Perches - Rope (when checked regularly for stray threads), and natural bird safe woods are best. There should be a variety of sizes and textures for the birds to choose from.

Bathing - Plant mister or bathing dish. Each bird is different and will like something else. To mist, spray above the cage and let the mist come down. When finished, clean the whole cage and change out the food. Mold growth is toxic.

Bedding - Newsprint or plain paper. NO corncob, walnut shell or other bedding. They can grow mold which is toxic. They also stimulate female birds to lay eggs which can be deadly if done in excess.

Out of cage time is a must! Hanging out, training, flying, and playing are all a must. A tiel that is well socialized, bred well and fed well will be a companion for up to 35 years. They don't need a buddy to be happy. Purchased or kept in pairs, they will bond to each other and be harder to handle.

Know the signs of illness and have an Avian Certified vet to take them to at the first signs! Bird illnesses are deadly when not caught in time. Birds will hide signs of illness until they are very sick! Have a gram scale and know your bird's normal weight.

Well birdie checks on the way home are a must! Even when from a trusted breeder but especially from pet stores.

If this is a second+ bird to the home, they need to quarantine the new one from the existing flock for 30-60 days. This is to prevent either one becoming ill. New birds need their own cage.

Birds and mammals don't mix well. Cat and dog saliva is toxic to birds, they just have to be licked to be killed by it. Any animal bite to a bird and they need a vet ASAP, even if the skin is not broken.

Here is a big one, even a clipped bird can and will fly. NO bird should be taken outside unless securely harnessed or in a cage. It just takes one fright to make the bird fly away and they may never see it again.