Tiel advice please

02-02-2008, 08:14 PM

A few months back I posted that I would have a bonded pair of grey tiels coming my way. They never came, but it looks like theyre coming now. I dont have a home for them but they arent in the best of shape. This is a learning curve for me. They are on a sunseed diet, one has a bald head from the other picking at her. And chronic egg layers. Oh, and they are sisters, but bonded. Im thinking to put them upstairs in a sunny room together. Im also thinking to put them in the cage that I have for sale. Is 5/8 bar space too big? What do they eat in the line of pellets? The last time I saw them they were dirty, chewed up, and anti social. I figure to give them space until they realize I provide for them and go slow. Talk to me folks...PLEASE!

02-02-2008, 09:50 PM

Mine love pellets, I use Zupreem -- fruit flavor, the wild and spicy and the garden...whatever. They also get seed and millet. Like cooked bean mixes, pasta, brown rice, mashed potatoes, lettuce, broccoli, carrots, pomegranates. They are not as piggy as the ringies, but will eat most things if encouraged. Most tiels are real sweeties once they settle in. You'll do great, Leigh!

02-03-2008, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leighrivera

A few months back I posted that I would have a bonded pair of grey tiels coming my way. They never came, but it looks like theyre coming now. I dont have a home for them but they arent in the best of shape. This is a learning curve for me. They are on a sunseed diet, one has a bald head from the other picking at her. And chronic egg layers. Oh, and they are sisters, but bonded. Im thinking to put them upstairs in a sunny room together. Im also thinking to put them in the cage that I have for sale. Is 5/8 bar space too big? What do they eat in the line of pellets? The last time I saw them they were dirty, chewed up, and anti social. I figure to give them space until they realize I provide for them and go slow. Talk to me folks...PLEASE!

Leigh thank you for taking these two in. I know you'll give them a great home.

Recommended bar spacing for Cockatiels is 1/2 to 5/8 so it sounds like that cage will be perfect and give them lots of room. It may help the chronic egg laying to rearrange their toys and cage location often and follow natural daylight hours for them. Hooded crocks may help also, so they don't think a food dish is suitable for laying eggs.

02-03-2008, 06:06 AM

Leigh, I have never had a Tiel, but there are others here who do. Keep us updated on their transition their new home.

02-03-2008, 08:03 AM

Most tiels are very sweet Leigh, once they settle in and realize you're not an enemy they should warm up to you. I never could get Dakota to eat pellets. He was on seed for so long. You should never feed tiels only pellets, a good seed mix should be a good portion of their diet. Dakota loves bells. He also loves showers.

02-03-2008, 08:10 AM

Lulu eats Avicakes, Nutriberries, and a seed mix. She loves vegetables too, mainly brown rice, green peas, black eyed peas, broccoli, and corn. She loves showers too.

5/8 bar spacing should be fine. If the one is overpreening/plucking the other one's head I wonder if you should think about a divider in their cage. But then again, maybe once they're in a better situation maybe it won't be an issue (hopefully). I have a friend with a bonded pair of two male tiels who are housed in the same cage with a divider because of the same situation, one plucks the other's head bald!

Lulu loves any shreddable toy, like those birdie pinatas or shreddable weaved paper. She also loves to chew balsa wood or thin pieces of wood, like popsicle stick sized wood.

I'm glad you'll be helping these girls - keep us updated and let us know how else we can help.