I was given a lutino cockatiel late thursday evening. She came with a cage that had one toy, one perch and was only being fed a cheep seed diet that they would get from walmart.

I've mixed some zupreem pellets in with the seed that she had been receiving. I've also been offering her fresh fruit and veggies but she hasn't showed any interest in those yet. I went out and got her several new perches and toys but she acts like she doesn't know what they're for. She just clings to the side of her cage. She even sleeps like that!

For only being two and a half she looks old. Her feathers are dull and tattered. Her feet look dry and scaly.

Does anybody have any ideas as to what I can do to help her? I'm sure she's malnourished.

I'm sure what you're seeing are signs of malnutrition. I don't know about Cockatiel diet needs, but we do have several members here with Cockatiels that should be along shorty to help in that regard.

A way to get her used to seeing and eating fresh vegetables is to chop them very small and add small quantities on top of her seed mix. She'll have to move them around if she wants to get to her seed. She'll get used to seeing them and will ingest some as she getting her seed. Once she gets a taste of them she may find she likes them.

As far as adding new toys and perches to the cage, go slowly so you don't scare her. Some birds are more nervous about new things than others. You can leave a new item on a table nearby so she can start seeing it. Everyday move the item a little closer. Take it slow, play or show interest with the item in front of her. Once you see she's comfortable with the item, you can try moving it into the cage.

It does sound like a trip to the vet will be in her best interest also.

Thank you for taking her in and giving her a good home. What's her name? Hope you can take pics soon. I'd love to see her!

Her name is Ivy. I'll try to attach a pic.

Attached Images

Ivy 003.jpg (554.0 KB, 2 views)

We're getting ready to go get her a larger cage.

Thanks for giving her a home. She may appreciate a bath if you give her a big enough dish it will help with feet and feathers but then again she may not use it. Is she really a girl? Looks a bit boy to me.
Small birds may not eat (dead) fruit in a dish. It may be better to hang up like it is still alive and growing. Once quarantine is over you may want to put the cage next to a good eater it will show how eating is to be done.

I have nothing to add that Karen hasn't already said....good advice.
Make sure you put her old perch in the new cage. Guess I did add something.

I agree with everyone's advice so far - go slow, let her (him) settle in and introduce new toys and perches slowly.

Winston only had 2 toys and 2 wooden dowel perches in his cage when I got him. He was very unsure of new perches and new toys, he was scared of his grapevine perch for weeks (but now loves it). His feet were also weak from being on the crappy perches, but now his feet are much stronger (it took months for his grip to get better and to also be steadier on his feet - for example he wasn't comfortable hopping from perch to perch). So maybe until your tiels feet can be strengthened from good perches set up the cage so that she can easily get to things.

I agree with Karen about chopping up veggies small - running things through a food processor is good too. She may have to see YOU eating veggies or another bird eating them (as Angie suggested) before she realizes that it's food and ok to eat.

Some of my tiel's favorite things:

SHREDDING - especially balsa wood and those woven shredding things.

Untying knots, especially leather knots (if she doesn't know how to play with toys then it probably won't happen overnight - as Karen suggested, let her see YOU playing with the toys and acting like it's so fun)

Carrot tops, green peas, black eyed peas, cooked brown rice, corn, green beans, broccoli

She is beautiful! So glad that she has you! Best of luck with her.

I'm not certain on the sex. I was told by the people who gave her to us that she was a female. It's possible that she is a he.

I thank all of you for your advice. I'm getting ready to fix dinner now. I'm out of fresh veggies that I could hang from her cage. I have some frozen ones that I'll cook and puree for her. I think I'll make some corn bread as well and add some pureed veggies to that too.