My friend asked me to look after her pets while she was away; but there was some last-minute chaos around the time she left, and she wasn’t able to leave me the note we’d planned.
So, the first thing I have to do is figure out what kind of bird she has so I can look up how to care for it.
I did a google image search for “pet bird species”, but after a dozen or so pages, I haven’t found it yet. She looks something like a cockatoo, but much smaller… maybe lovebird-sized. She is all white, and has a crest on the top of her head, but not a full one like cockatoos have. It’s more of a one-or-two-feathers, long and drippy kind of thing.
Mainly what I need to know is what to feed her, because I can’t find the birdseed, and how often. Also how warm she needs the house to be. My friend left the thermostat at 55 degrees although it’s a really complicated one that is programmable, so it’s possible she has it set to turn on at a certain time.
One more thing – the bird was not hand-raised and is scared of everyone, including her owner. She is not in a cage and mostly stays in one high perch spot. When I picked up her bowl from this high spot to check its contents, she flew at me to attack me and then flew onto my friend’s bed. She then commenced to hiss at me at regular intervals, and to do this slow weave back and forth hunkered down with her feathers kind of fluffed. Is this normal? How do I know if she’s okay, or if she’s in trouble?
Thank you so much!
Is it a cockateil? Sounds like the bird is just very pissed off.
From your description, the bird sounds as if it is a cockatiel. Gray is the most common color, but they do come in white, if the bird looks like the one in the picture.
They’re supposed to be easily tamed, and as easy to care for as a budgie. Apparently, the one in your care has been poorly socialized.
I know this forum is for knowledgeable answers, and not guesses, but without knowing the specific breed of the bird in question, it’s hard to give advice. But if indeed the bird you’re caring for is a cockatiel, then there should be plenty of knowledgeable owners on the Dope with good advice for you.
Cockatiel breeder chiming in here, it sounds like what you have there is a lutino cockatiel. The hissing and swaying from side to side with wings partialy spread is a fear reaction and shows that the bird is stressed. Best way to handle it is to ty to give him/her as much space as possible. As far as food goes there should be a prepared seed mix or dry pellet food that is it’s staple diet and you can augment it with a slice of whole wheat bread/toast and with warmed up frozen/canned/fresh vegitables such as corn,green peas and sweet potato. 55 degree temps are a little on the cool side but should be ok.
A good web site with lots of info on cockatiels is http://www.cockatielcottage.net
The bird needs to have its wing feathers trimed to prevent it from escaping and to help tame it down by making it dependent on it human for transportation.
One last thing to remember is that birds are fragile and easy to injure,grab the bird wrong and you will kill or hurt it very badly!
Good luck
Ayesha’s LIONsob
Thanks all; I’m just about certain it’s some kind of cockatiel. Don’t worry – I wouldn’t dream of trying to grab her! She’s not known for her warm affectionate demeanor. I am so relieved to hear that the temperature is okay, that’s what I was worried about the most. We live in California, so it’ll warm up quite a bit during the day.
I expect the pet store will have some kind of cockatiel seed mix, since I can’t find her food. Am I safe in assuming that she won’t need me to spend an hour providing companionship, as a mammal would? She is indeed poorly socialized; she doesn’t interact with her owner at all except for the occasional whistle. (She was a gift from someone who doesn’t know much about birds.)
Thanks again. I feel much more confident now.
Do try to spend as much time as you can around him/her,they are social creatures and live in flocks in the wild and need interaction to stay sane and healthy.Check out the website I linked to for more information on the proper care of cockatiels.
Thanks, LIONsob, that’s what I’ve been doing since you posted last. Great site – the list of what fruits & veggies I can give her was really helpful, as was the section on what are the danger signs of a sick bird. And one of the pictures on that site confirmed the identification. That’s definitely what she is!
brujaja, I’d like to echo what LIONsob said. If your friend will be away for awhile, and your schedule permits, spend time with the bird getting it accustomed to your presence. You’ll be doing yourself and the bird a favor. You don’t have to catch the bird or try to tame her. Just get a good book and sit there reading for about an hour. Ignore the bird and let her approach you if she’s curious. Occasionally, whistle to the bird and speak to her in a soft voice. Even if she doesn’t approach you, let her see that you’re not a threat. She’ll look more kindly on you if she sees that all you’re there to do is provide her with food and water, and not become so stressed when you enter the room.
