Are Cockatiels Sensitive To Smells? Best 75 Answer

A few of their scariest things…

Halloween is coming up soon. We’re scared of zombies and ghosts, and maybe even the thought of a whole community of kids eating sugar. But what scares your little companion bird? If something scares your bird, what can you do about it?

First, understand that our companion birds are wired with instincts that would keep them alive in the wild. Some things that are scary to a small prey species are not obvious to us as a large predator species. Think like a bird to minimize scary moments.

body language

You can tell if your little bird is scared by its body language. Frightened birds hold their feathers close to their bodies. Cockatiels don their hoods. You might huddle in a corner or rock from side to side. Extremely frightened birds threaten by sticking out their necks and hissing. All of these do not bode well, and if you intervene by trying to deal with a frightened bird, chances are you will be bitten. Reassure your bird with kind words, keep only one eye on your bird (predators have eyes on the front of their head and look ahead), and back off a little. Give your bird space and time to calm down. In the realm of the “fight or flight” response to a threat, birds will want to choose flight. When a bird seems to want to fly away from something, it is frightening for the bird.

predators

Something that scares a prey species is a predator, like the dogs or cats we also keep as pets. Pay attention to the safety of your little bird and do not let him out of the cage alone with a dog or cat. If another pet is staring at your bird, find a way to separate the two pets. Imagine the stress your bird might feel if he thinks he might be going to lunch.

changes

Changes to the interior of your bird’s cage, as well as the outside of it, could give it goosebumps. For example, hanging a colorful picture near the cage could be threatening. Adding a ceiling fan, or almost anything hanging overhead, can give a small bird the feeling that a raptor — a bird’s natural predator — is hovering overhead. If your bird exhibits a new behavior while re-decorating, try to figure out what the problem is.

hands or handling

Some birds just don’t like hands, especially when those hands are in their personal safety zone—their cage. Teach your bird to get out of the cage on a perch or ladder, or to get out on its own if it is offered a special treat outside of the cage. Work on keeping your bird in a confined space away from the cage. Offer your bird good things by hand, such as dropping a treat into a food cup, while you get to know your bird. Work your way up to holding the treat and then using it to lure your bird out of the cage. If you have a child in the house, it may be wise to create a rule to keep a certain distance from the bird cage to avoid frightening birds or biting a curious child’s finger.

Super Vision – UV Spectrum

Simply wearing a new shirt around your bird could startle it. Not only do our companion birds see the colors we see, they also see colors in the UV spectrum. For a bird, some colors fluoresce! All else being equal but you get a startled reaction when you approach your bird, maybe it’s something new in your wardrobe.

earthquake

Although not common across the country, birds are particularly sensitive to earthquakes and can react with fear. Make sure you are safe and then calm your birds down by talking to them and also checking for injuries. An earthquake or tremor can cause your bird to fly or fall off its perch, so try to gently help it get its perch back up.

night terrors

Cockatiels are particularly prone to night terrors. Keep a night light shining near your cockatiel’s cage to avoid night terrors. If a cockatiel starts flapping around the cage, turn on the lights and talk to them soothingly until they calm down and return to their roost.

new toys

If a new toy causes obvious fright in your little bird, reintroduce the object slowly. First place it across the room and play with the toy yourself. After a week or two, move it closer. Place it on the outside of your bird cage. Finally, place the new, now-familiar toy in your bird’s cage.

vet visits

Visiting an avian vet can be a scary experience. Help your bird by occasionally taking him on trips – in his carrier around the house or around the block – in his carrier in your car. If you can, get your bird used to being handled; B. touching his feet, holding him, examining a wing. In general, make handling a normal and comfortable experience for your bird.

Halloween

Speaking of Halloween, this is a day when your companion bird doesn’t need to be the center of attention. Costumes, noises, parties and strangers can all be scary. Allow your bird to rest comfortably in a quiet, darkened room.

As many ways as there are to startle a small bird, fear should not be commonplace or routine. Be alert for signs that your bird is afraid and do what you can to prevent scary things from happening in his life.

Click here for some Halloween safety tips so your feathered companion can have a safe night.

While we, as bird lovers, want to attract certain species to our yard, there are areas around our homes where we do not want birds to congregate or build nests. For example, having birds nest under the eaves is not ideal as this can cause a mess with droppings as well as structural damage to the home. Also, we could be okay with sharing some of the produce we grow, but don’t want the birds to steal all of our fruit so we can’t enjoy any more.

To keep birds away from certain areas, we can use their sense of smell. There are many smells that birds dislike, but which are not unpleasant to our human senses. These include lots of essential oils, garlic, cayenne pepper, chili, and vinegar. Therefore, making sprays with these types of products is an easy way to deter birds from certain areas around your home.

We’ll discuss some of these smells in more detail, but let’s look at how birds smell.

How birds smell

For a number of years it was believed that birds had no sense of smell. However, this myth was dispelled by further studies, which suggested that birds can smell, although this sense is not as well developed as their sight and hearing.

To understand this, birds have large olfactory air sacs that allow them to inhale and breathe in scents. Their nasal passages are generally located on their beaks where these attach to the head. They are made up of tissue-covered bones and are called ceres. The nostrils themselves are referred to as nostrils.

Although birds’ sense of smell is not very well developed, it is evident that there are certain scents that birds do not like and others that they find very attractive.

Many of the smells that birds dislike are actually irritants that birds find unpleasant. They do not harm the birds in any way and are not poisonous to them.

Let’s take a closer look at each of these fragrances.

Smells that birds hate

garlic

Garlic is an irritant to birds because it contains a natural chemical called allicin. Therefore, you can use this information to your advantage by making a garlic spray to use in the areas you don’t want birds to perch on.

You can either just mix crushed garlic with water for an effective spray, or you can also add some vinegar, which is another smell birds don’t like. However, keep in mind that the smell will dissipate fairly quickly, so you’ll have to keep reapplying the spray.

A garlic spray is also useful to deter birds from eating the fruit as it ripens on the trees. As the fruit ripens, it gives off a scent that is very attractive to birds. A garlic spray will help mask the smell of the ripening fruit, keeping birds away.

peppermint

Birds find the strong smell of peppermint quite irritating and will avoid any area that has been sprayed with its scent. By using 100% natural peppermint oil and mixing it with water you can create a spray that is safe to use on your plants but will definitely keep the birds away.

You can also spray pure peppermint oil on any structure you want to protect from nesting birds and it will keep them away.

Here’s a quick recipe to make a safe peppermint oil spray that won’t harm birds:

Mix together ¼ cup vinegar, ¼ cup water, 7 drops lemon oil and 7 drops peppermint oil. You can either put this in a spray bottle and spray the mixture into areas where you want to repel birds, or saturate some cotton balls with the mixture and place it around those areas.

cayenne pepper

As you probably know, cayenne pepper is a common irritant to most animal olfactory glands, even humans. The same applies to birds. They dislike the smell of cayenne pepper and find it quite irritating.

You can easily make a spray by mixing a decent proportion of cayenne pepper with water and spraying the areas where birds aren’t welcome.

chili

Even some of us humans find chili quite irritating to our noses, so it’s not surprising that birds also find this product irritating to their olfactory senses. You can make a spray out of water and either chili pepper, chili salt, or chili powder. You can even mix the chili with some vinegar for an even more effective deterrent.

In addition, you can sprinkle chilli powder on surfaces where you want to keep birds away, such as B. the eaves around your house.

Here is a great recipe for an effective chili spray:

Mix together 24 chopped chillies, half a gallon of water and ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar. Put this mixture in a spray bottle and spray around your home. You’ll need to reapply often as the smell dissipates fairly quickly.

Vinegar

As we mentioned earlier, the smell of vinegar is quite objectionable to birds. Being a common household product, it is easy to put in a spray bottle and use in the garden where you want to keep birds away.

However, keep in mind that pure vinegar will likely damage some of your more delicate plants as well, so it’s best to spray on structures in your home. In addition, the scent dissipates quite quickly, so that the spray has to be refreshed regularly.

lemon

It may surprise you to learn that the humble lemon can also be used to keep birds away. The scent of a lemon is often too strong for birds, so they quickly fly away when they smell it.

You can either use freshly squeezed lemon juice or mix some lemon essential oil with water and sprinkle it around your house to keep the birds away.

citronella

Citronella is a natural compound found in lemongrass. It has a nice lemony scent, but birds naturally find this smell quite irritating. Therefore, you can make a citronella spray to keep the birds away, but it won’t harm them.

On the plus side, citronella is also really good at repelling bugs, so it’s great for keeping mosquitoes and flies away too.

bird gel

Vogelgel is a commercial product that you can buy over the counter. It gives off a peppermint odor that is very irritating to birds and also has a sticky consistency. Birds find this quite unsavory if they accidentally step inside. Also, the gel emits an ultraviolet light that birds find quite irritating.

Even though this product scares the birds away, it does not harm them. Bird gel is ideal for use near man-made structures where you don’t want the birds to nest.

Essential Oils You Shouldn’t Use

Although essential oils like peppermint, lemon and citronella are safe to use in your garden to keep birds away, there are certain essential oils that are actually toxic to birds and should not be used.

These include:

tea tree

Cinammon

myrrh

sandalwood

eucalyptus

All of these products can cause respiratory problems in birds and should be avoided.

What other things help keep birds away from certain areas

Aside from using sprays from odors that birds hate, there are other ways you can deter birds from certain areas of your home and yard. These include:

Shiny hanging objects that reflect sunlight, such as old CDs, strips of aluminum foil, small mirrors, reflective foil, or anything metallic.

Decoys such as owl or eagle statues. However, these need to be moved frequently for the birds to believe they are real.

Mirror balls, pinwheels or windmills that move, reflect or make noise in the wind.

Vogelspikes are long poles with a pointed tip. Birds will find it quite uncomfortable to land on and this will discourage them from building nests in unwanted areas.

Final Thoughts

While we love attracting birds to our gardens by placing bird feeders and installing bird baths, there are certain areas where we do not want the birds to roam or build their nests. To keep birds away from these areas, it is useful to know which smells birds hate. This allows us to create effective sprays to keep birds away from unwanted areas and have them close to our feeding sites instead.

First and foremost, birds don’t like really strong smells because they find them quite irritating. These include peppermint oil, citronella, lemon, cayenne pepper, chilli, garlic and vinegar. Using this information, we can apply these strong scents to areas that we want to keep the birds away from.

Oftentimes, these odors are quite pleasing to our human nose, but quite irritating to a bird’s olfactory senses. And best of all, these smells do not harm the birds at all.

from dr Laurie Hess, ABVP (Avian Practice)

As social eaters, wild birds feed in flocks of hundreds to even thousands in the wild. Pet birds, too, like to share their meals with their flockmates – either other birds in the house or their human handlers. Eating with feathered companions is a great way to socialize them; However, there are some foods that people love that should never be offered to pet birds because of potential toxicity.

Some of the most common foods that are toxic to birds include:

1. Avocado

The leaves of the avocado plant contain persin, a fatty acid-like substance that kills fungus in the plant. When ingested by a bird, this substance can cause heart damage, difficulty breathing, weakness, and even sudden death. While certain avocado cultivars have been safely consumed by some bird species, it’s hard to know which avocado cultivars affect which species. It’s also unclear how much avocado an ornamental bird would need to eat to be affected. Given the potential consequences, it’s best to simply avoid feeding avocado and foods containing avocado (like guacamole) to birds. Skip the dip and offer your bird a carrot stick or pea pod.

2. Caffeine

We all love caffeinated beverages like coffee, tea, and sodas because they taste good, energize us, and wake us up. We might consider offering our pet birds a sip of these tasty beverages, but even a sip or two of these beverages can be toxic to our feathered companions. Caffeine can increase heart rate, induce arrhythmias and hyperactivity, and even cause cardiac arrest in birds. So avoid the caffeinated items and opt for water or an occasional taste of fruit juice for your thirsty bird.

3. Chocolate

Like us, birds have a hard time resisting chocolate or foods containing chocolate. However, even in very small amounts, chocolate can be toxic to birds. Chocolate contains both theobromine and caffeine, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea, increase heart rate, lead to hyperactivity, produce tremors and seizures, and even death in birds. So the next time you’re tempted to share an M&M or Hershey’s Kiss with your birdie buddy, offer them a piece of sugary fruit, like a mango, papaya, or grape, instead.

4. Salt

A line here and a line there. Many of us add this popular condiment to all sorts of foods without even thinking. We also love salty chips, popcorn, pretzels and crackers. But just as too much salt is not good for us, it is not good for our birds either, and even a small amount is potentially toxic to a small bird. Even a salty chip or pretzel can upset the electrolyte and fluid balance in a bird’s tiny body, leading to excessive thirst, dehydration, kidney failure and death. So the next time you want to offer your bird a salty treat, choose a bite or two of unsalted popcorn or pretzels or a low-salt cracker instead.

5. Fat

We all know that eating high-fat foods like butter, oil, fatty meats, and nuts can lead to a build-up of cholesterol deposits in the walls of our arteries (known as atherosclerosis), which predisposes to heart disease and stroke. Excess intake of these foods can also lead to obesity and all the health problems that accompany this condition. The same processes take place in birds, and certain bird species, such as Amazon and Quaker parrots, tend to develop high cholesterol and triglyceride levels and subsequent coronary artery disease. Therefore, like us, birds should limit their consumption of high-fat foods. Birds may occasionally eat lean, cooked meat, but they should not be offered large quantities of these fat-filled foods, especially if they are small in relation to the portion size. Birds love nuts, but one unsalted almond or walnut a day is enough for a medium-sized bird like a gray parrot. Larger birds that eat more fat in the wild, like macaws, can have a few nuts a day, while smaller ones, like cockatiels and budgies, should offer no more than a few slivers of almonds or a piece of walnut daily. Encourage your bird to be a sleek, mean flying machine and limit greasy snacks.

6. Fruit seeds and apple seeds

While most fruits are safe for birds in small quantities and are generally healthy, certain fruits that contain seeds (like apples and pears) and pits (like cherries, apricots, peaches, nectarines and plums) should not be offered to birds without first Remove seeds and pips, as these seeds and pips contain small amounts of a cardiac toxic cyanide compound. Without the seeds and pips, these fruits are completely harmless to birds. The seeds of other products such as grapes, citrus fruits, squash, squashes, tomatoes, melons, mangoes, pomegranates and berries are all safe for birds to eat and can be fed safely.

7. Onions and garlic

Many people expect onions and garlic, like other vegetables, to be healthy for birds. Although this spicy vegetable has heart benefits in humans, whether raw or cooked, it is toxic to many animals, including birds, cats, and dogs. Onions contain sulfur compounds that, when chewed, can irritate a bird’s oral mucosa, esophagus or crop, causing ulcers and rupturing red blood cells, leading to anemia. Garlic contains allicin, another chemical that can cause anemia and weakness in birds. So, spice up your bird’s life with a small piece of vitamin A-rich hot pepper instead of garlic and onions.

8. Xylitol

This common artificial sweetener, found in sugarless chewing gum and many diet foods, causes hypoglycemia, liver damage and possible death in dogs and other animals. While the effects of this sweetener in birds have not been studied in detail, birds have a faster metabolism than many other species and therefore could be very sensitive to the toxic effects of even minute amounts of this chemical. Therefore, it is best not to expose birds to xylitol at all. Birds should not be offered chewing gum as it can stick to their feathers and skin, and overweight birds should be fed low-fat fruits and vegetables instead of diet products to help them lose weight. Xylitol can be a sweet option in your weight loss plan, but should be avoided in your bird’s diet. A big part of socializing a parrot is allowing your bird to come out of its cage at mealtime, and offering it a very small amount of food while you’re eating can certainly make your bird feel like part of the flock . Remember, sharing food that hasn’t been in your mouth (which contains bacteria and yeast foreign to birds) and that is nontoxic to birds can be a great way to build trust and feeling towards your pet to make you feel comfortable at home. If your bird should ingest any of these potentially toxic products, remember to contact your veterinarian immediately to see if treatment is warranted.

Cockatiels should have a balanced diet to ensure they live a healthy and long life. We take a look at some of the things a cockatiel can eat.

pellets

Many experts would suggest that pellets are part of a stable diet for cockatiels. It’s not natural for birds to eat pellets, but it’s easier to provide your bird with a good pellet-based diet. There are plenty of custom pellets out there, but it doesn’t have to be the only food on their menu.

seed

Seeds from various grains, hemp, sunflower, and other plants can make a good base for your cockatiel’s diet. When feeding your cockatiel seeds, always make sure the seeds are clean and free of any dangerous fungi or other substances. Always provide your cockatiel with a fresh batch of seeds; Cockatiels are very thorough at extracting seeds from their shells, so their bowl could be full of inedible shells and no food at all.

Do not include fruit seeds in your bird’s diet. Many fruit seeds are poisonous.

fruit

Cockatiels enjoy eating almost all types of fruit; some examples are apple, mango, papaya, banana, blueberry, grape, nectarine, orange, apricot and honeydew melon. Fruit should be served in small portions, chopped or shredded. Offer your cockatiel a small piece of fruit to see if he likes it or not. Don’t be afraid to vary this as you learn what your cockatiel likes. Care should be taken to ensure that fruit seeds are not included in the fruit you feed your cockatiel. Fruit seeds contain cyanide, a toxic element that can be very dangerous to cockatiels. Always wash fruit thoroughly to ensure it is free from pesticides and chemicals. Given your cockatiel’s size, a small amount of cyanide can be fatal.

vegetables

Vegetables are very good for cockatiels. Vegetables like carrots, broccoli, beet greens, sundried tomatoes, corn, kale, spinach, sprouts, squash, sweet potatoes, mustard greens, and turnip greens are delicious treats. While most vegetables are better fed raw, cockatiels prefer squash and cooked sweet potatoes. Of course, always avoid spices. Wash all vegetables to ensure they are chemical and pesticide free.

proteins

Cockatiels are safe to eat small amounts of meat. Choose only good quality chicken and beef or some fish. Cockatiels also benefit from boiled eggs, scrambled eggs, and some dairy products like yogurt and cream cheese like cottage cheese.

water

Fresh water is essential. You should change the water in your cockatiel cage every day and make sure it’s always clean. Change the water when you see it’s dirty. Cockatiels love tossing food around and it can end up in the water. Be prepared to change it regularly as dirty water can harbor dangerous bacteria.

Toxic Foods

You must avoid feeding your cockatiel any food. These are found in spicy and salty foods like garlic, onions, salt, caffeine, sugar and sugary foods, greasy snacks and treats. Avoid avocados, rhubarb, chocolate and human food in general.

obesity

Wild cockatiels fly many miles every day. This burns a lot of calories. So always be careful not to overfeed your cockatiel. This is one of the most common health issues in captive cockatiels and one of the main reasons they may live shorter lives than they should.

It’s important to research the potential foods you’re feeding your pet bird and to consult a veterinarian immediately in any emergency.

General information

Next to the budgerigar, the cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) is probably the best known and most widespread member of the parrot family. These Australian aborigines, with their elegant long tails and crested heads, have the exotic looks of a cockatoo. They are graceful, gentle, and generally calm birds that do well in a household with children. Cockatiels make an excellent first bird for a family.

“Cockatiels make an excellent firstborn for a family.”

Larger than budgies and smaller than larger parrots, these entertaining birds are easy to care for and provide endless hours of entertainment and companionship. A single bird can have better social interactions with human family members than multiple birds in the same home. With proper attention, these birds can live happily without other birds. They are excellent whistlers and possess a limited ability to speak, although their voice is whistle-like. Men tend to be better speakers than women, although both sexes can be taught to speak with enough repetition.

They are beautiful fliers and enjoy plenty of activity and play. Like all parrots, these birds need to be entertained to be happy. Taking them out of their cage daily and providing them with a TV to watch or a radio to listen to will help keep them from getting bored. Cockatiels love to chew; Therefore, providing bird-safe toys will easily distract them from the unwanted destructive chewing they might otherwise be doing indoors. Non-toxic, untreated branches, bits of wood, paper, and cardboard are good choices for cockatiels to chew on.

Obtaining a Cockatiel

Cockatiels can be adopted from animal shelters or purchased from a pet store or reputable breeder. When choosing a cockatiel, try to choose a young bird as they may be easier to tame and train. Older, wild-caught, colony-raised, or parent-raised birds may prove more difficult to tame. Hand-reared babies often make better pets because they have been fully socialized with humans. Young birds are generally easy to tame and adapt easily to new environments and situations.

It’s important to expose your new bird to a variety of events (people young and old, males and females, other pets, car rides, visits to the vet, etc.) to keep him calm and balanced. A lively, alert bird that is interactive and alert is more likely to be healthy. After receiving your new bird, have it checked out by a veterinarian familiar with birds as soon as possible.

Veterinary care

Like all birds, cockatiels require annual routine veterinary health exams. Your vet can perform a physical exam, grooming (including clipping of claws or wings if needed), and lab tests (including blood and stool analysis) to ensure your bird is healthy. During these checkups, your veterinarian can identify and discuss your bird’s health, nutritional, and behavioral issues, and make recommendations for future care. Veterinary exams help prevent disease and help maintain a long-lasting, healthy relationship between you and your bird.

characteristics and attitude

colour

Wild-type adult cockatiels have gray bodies with yellow faces and orange cheek patches with white on the front part of each wing. Color mutations include lutino (white to lemon yellow), pied, pearl, cinnamon, and many combinations thereof. The mature coloring occurs after the first molt, around 9 – 12 months.

Adult males have solid gray coloration on underside of tail feathers and solid gray long wing feathers with no spotting on underside; They have a bright yellow face and bright orange cheek patches.

have solid gray coloration on undersides of tail feathers and solid gray long wing feathers without spots on undersides; They have a bright yellow face and bright orange cheek patches. Adult females have horizontal fine yellow stripes or stripes on the undersides of the tail feathers and yellow spots on the undersides of the long wing feathers; They have a paler yellow face and duller orange cheek patches.

Immature male and female cockatiels are the same coloring as mature females.

Weight: Average 2.8 to 3.5 ounces (80 to 95 grams)

Size: Average 12.5 inches (32 cm) long

Lifespan: 10 to 14 years (maximum 24 years)

Diet: Commercially formulated pelleted food should be offered as a basic diet, supplemented with smaller amounts of vegetables and fruits, with seeds as an occasional treat. Consult your veterinarian for specific recommendations based on your bird’s age, health, and activity level.

Breeding: Sexual maturity is reached at around 8 to 12 months of age. Cockatiels are prolific breeders year-round, but need large cages, lots of exercise, a large nest box, and privacy to breed successfully.

Clutch size: 4 to 8 cream colored eggs hatch in 18 to 20 days; Young leave the nest in 5 weeks. An egg can be laid every 48 hours.

Cage Size: At least 60cm x 60cm x 90cm long (2ft x 2ft x 3ft) per bird.

Is perfume poisonous to birds? 3 things you should know

Few people think about the effect their perfume has on those around them, and that’s especially true when it comes to the impact it has on wildlife. But did you know that birds have one of the most delicate respiratory systems in the world? Because of this, certain chemicals can severely damage their health and even lead to their death.

Perfume and other fumes are highly toxic to the respiratory tract of birds. This is mainly due to their natural ability to convert gases into oxygen for flight. As a result, toxins can travel through their windpipes and be absorbed into their bodies, causing them to become ill or die.

What you need to know about birds and perfume

Perfume itself is not harmful to birds, but the chemicals used to create perfume are. So if you wear perfume around your bird, you should be careful.

Many birds can suffer respiratory damage from even a single exposure to synthetic fragrances.

Let’s take a look at a few things you should know about birds and perfume.

1. Birds’ respiratory systems are very different from ours

A bird’s respiratory system works very differently from that of a mammal. In fact, it’s so variable that air quality can really affect your health.

First of all, bird lungs are not built like human lungs.

The main difference is that instead of lungs, birds have air sacs throughout their bodies.

They have seven respiratory systems, and each of these “lungs” is highly efficient at being able to take in more oxygen per breath.

This is important so that they can fly long distances. More oxygen means more energy they expend to stay afloat in the air.

It also means they can fly farther without using too much power.

Because their sacs are designed to metabolize oxygen more efficiently, birds are more sensitive to certain chemicals, including smoke, chemicals, and fragrances.

2. Toxins can cause bleeding in the lungs of birds

If a bird inhales a significant amount of toxins like perfume, its lungs are likely to start bleeding.

Bleeding refers to excessive bleeding. This extra blood can then cause a bird’s lungs to fill with fluid, leading to suffocation.

It only takes one exposure for a bird to become ill, and it can suffocate within minutes. So if you have a pet bird, it’s important to keep it away from toxins.

Even if it’s just a tiny amount, repeated exposure can also lead to their death.

To avoid this, keep any fumes, fragrances, or cleaning supplies away from the bird’s main living area.

If you apply perfume at home, try doing so in an enclosed space away from your pet. Alternatively, you can put it on outside on the way out.

Take your pet bird to another room when cleaning and be sure to open the windows to let fumes out faster.

3. Birds respond to chemicals, NOT smells

A major concern of bird owners is that the smell of their perfume, cologne or aftershave can harm their birds.

But the truth is, it’s not the smell that causes harm; it’s the chemicals.

However, you can use the scent to determine if the perfume contains toxins.

For example, perfumes with strong smells and those spray particles are much more intense than others. The stronger the smell, the heavier the toxins.

So keep an eye out for whatever is in the area.

Don’t be alarmed, however, as most birds don’t die when someone comes by with a scent. Just try to be careful what you spray around the bird.

Even air fresheners can be a problem, especially when they spray into the air.

Of course, it is almost impossible to completely avoid toxins in the air.

But one way to reduce the number of toxins in the air is to get an air purifier, like this LEVOIT Air Purifier for Home from Amazon.com.

It features a 360° air intake and is effective in any room up to 219 sq ft.

While it doesn’t eliminate everything in the air, it does help reduce the number of chemicals your bird could potentially inhale.

Other chemicals that are harmful to a bird’s respiratory system

In addition to perfume, many other harmful chemicals can be dangerous to a bird if it inhales them.

If you want to avoid the risk of your bird getting sick, we strongly recommend that you memorize this list.

These are the most harmful chemicals a bird can breathe:

aerosols

Aerosols can include:

air freshener

bug spray

polishing

deodorant

hairspray

The list of aerosols goes on and on, but you just have to keep in mind that anything sprayed out of a can will become airborne and end up in your lungs.

So if you think it’s strong for you, it’s definitely too strong for a bird.

smoke

Smoke is also very harmful to a bird’s respiratory system, but that doesn’t just include smoke from a fire.

Smoke refers to any smoke including but not limited to:

Fire

cigarettes

chimneys

BBQ grills

burned food

If a bird inhales smoke, it can have a severe reaction that permanently damages its health.

So remember that if you are a smoker, nicotine gets into your bird’s airways and it can make them sick.

cookware

Teflon is a common cookware material that’s surprisingly toxic to birds.

Teflon itself isn’t harmful, but the nonstick cookware releases six toxins when heated. If a bird constantly smells these chemicals, it could be susceptible to disease.

Birds that experience symptoms from this are known to have Teflon toxicosis. Teflon poisoning mainly occurs when the Teflon pan is left on to stop the dry burning.

So if you keep your bird anywhere near the kitchen, always be careful with the cookware you buy.

kerosene heaters

Kerosene heaters are designed to remove oxygen from the air. That being said, the heaters emit pollutants that are toxic to your bird.

To avoid this, keep kerosene heaters away from where your bird is.

Sources

The answer to the first question was yes. But the parental response to the offspring’s terror was anything but heroic; Instead, it was a bit like those childhood nightmares where the louder you yell for Mom and Dad in a crowd, the quicker they leave you behind.

The new findings add to growing evidence that many animals can smell the fear of others, including species not known for their bloodhound powers. It has long been thought that birds and humans in particular rely on sight and hearing rather than smell when assessing the world and its surrounding threats. However, recent research shows that birds do have a nose for news, that humans are strongly influenced by smells in ways they are often unaware of, and that one class of odors likely to affect both humans and birds is smell of a is despair of fellow man. Human studies have shown that the sweat of anxious people causes anxiety and heightened alertness, and even improves cognitive performance on tests.

Biologists have long recognized fear factors in nature—chemical signals given off, intentionally or unintentionally, by a distressed person that end up producing similar feelings of fear or excitement in the recipients. Ants that are disturbed in their nest produce alarm pheromones that mobilize the colony’s defenses. If air is blown over a rat’s cage while it is being electrocuted to its foot, rodents downwind of the shock event will respond with a full-blown stress response, as if they had also been electrocuted.

In the 1930s, Karl von Frisch, the legendary Austrian honey bee researcher, discovered that the skin of an injured minnow leached a substance he called fright substance into the water, prompting other nearby minnows to immediately flee with apparent antiminnow intentions. This year, researchers finally isolated the active ingredient in frightener from fish skin mucus: sugar chains called chondroitins, which are so repellent to fish they could be a great gimmick on your loved one’s next fishing trip.

Last week Mel wrote a great post that made clear the dangers of commercial air fresheners and chemicals in the bird environment. A cockatiel owned by a nursing home resident was struggling to breathe while being exposed to fumes from a plug-in air freshener, and Mel had to come to the rescue.

Air freshener warnings have been around for a while and as usual some people take them seriously and others don’t. We know that good air quality for your parrot needs to be high on your priority list, so let’s start at the beginning…

Why do air fresheners harm a bird but not a human?

A bird’s respiratory system is very dynamic and transports oxygen much more efficiently than our own respiratory system or that of other mammals.

The best example of this may come from the early days of coal mining, when workers placed a cage of canaries down the shaft of mines suspected of containing deadly gases. After a period of time, they re-entered the mine and assessed the condition of the canaries to assess the safety of the area for humans.

Birds were used for this test because it was quickly established that a bird would process and succumb to toxic air faster than a similarly sized mammal. A mouse, for example, would take twice as long to die.

The breathing apparatus so beneficial to a bird in the wild puts it at risk in the human environment.

Air fresheners have two dangers…

1) Many are released into the air in spray or aerosol form. This is a problem for birds. Sprays are made up of particles that stay airborne, leaving a bird with no choice but to breathe them in. Aerosols are particularly dangerous because the contents of the can are under high pressure and the spray escapes with greater force for smaller particles, staying afloat longer and reaching greater distances. For example, powdered carpet deodorants also contaminate the air when shaken out, and the light powder is carried away in the normal air currents of the home. Plug-in air fresheners and scented candles use heat to project their scent into the air and currents to disperse it.

2) These products contain toxic substances. If it’s not bad enough that all those particles get into your bird’s body when you breathe, multiply that problem by 100 by adding poison to it. Serious. Don’t you think that there is actually a flower meadow in the jar of the “Spring Breeze” scented air freshener? no These smells are created in a laboratory using chemicals.

And just for the record, these products aren’t good for you, your family, or the other pets in your house either. Just because we don’t die from something doesn’t mean it’s safe.

I’ve found over the years that some people get annoyed with me when I keep asking them to change their habits and give up certain products. However, birds are not like humans, cats or dogs and therefore we need to make adjustments to the way we do things when we keep them in our home. Sometimes it’s uncomfortable for a while, but over time, new things become the norm. Keeping your bird alive and healthy should be the only motivation you need to change your habits.

If your house stinks, clean it.

If you don’t have many birds in a room, or if you haven’t changed the substrate in a while or cleaned up fallen food from the bottom of the cage, you should never smell your birds in your house. Never accept smells as part of keeping birds, dust yes, smells no.

The best ways to prevent your house from smelling funny are:

Vacuum frequently, move the cages and clean underneath frequently.

Keep the recycle bin emptied.

Clean pet areas like litter boxes and dog beds regularly.

Steam clean carpets and upholstery as needed. Steam has been shown to clean just as effectively as chemicals and much safer.

Use the exhaust fans in your kitchen and bathroom and invest in a good quality HEPA filter to remove odors from the house.

Open the windows wide whenever the season permits and let the fresh air do some of the work.

Recipes for “Common Sense Scents”:

Smells are a big part of how we perceive our world. Scents can define a person or place and evoke wonderful memories. The smell of baked cookies or cakes will bring you home in an instant.

Having birds doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a nice smelling home – it just means you need to create aromas in a smarter, safer way using common sense.

The combinations of fruits, extracts, spices, and herbs you can use to make your home smell like a piece of heaven are endless. Individual tastes and experimentation will help you find the perfect taste.

On the stove:

It simply involves adding ingredients to boiling water and reducing the heat to a simmer. As long as you add water as it evaporates (never leave a pot unattended), you can keep a pot full of goodies simmering all day.

When choosing ingredients, I find that the sturdiest are the most durable for a long simmer, like bulbous herbs like sage and rosemary and fruits still clinging to their skins. I also find that fresh herbs are better suited to a larger space due to their aromatic potency – they can become overwhelming in small spaces. Sometimes I add them at the cooking stage and remove them after about 15 minutes of simmering.

Here are some simple but fragrant recipes:

AUTUMN AND CHRISTMAS FRAGRANCE:

Apple Spice: 1 tablespoon cloves, 3 cinnamon sticks, 1 apple sliced ​​into wedges, and 1 cup cranberries.

Winter delight: zest of 1 orange, 2 teaspoons dried nutmeg, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 3 sticks of cinnamon, and two 1″ thick slices of ginger (for a variation, add 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract).

Pine forest: 1 sliced ​​lemon and a handful of fresh pine needles.

SPRING AND SUMMER FRAGRANCE:

Italian spring: 1 lemon slice, 1 handful of basil sprigs, 1 teaspoon of black peppercorns

Island Getaway: 1 tablespoon coconut extract and 2 lime wedges.

NOTE: Don’t forget other dry spices like allspice, anise (or star anise for more potency), and apple pie spice, and try adding your favorite spiced tea to the water.

Pour your favorite recipes into an intricately decorated mason jar to make a wonderful and unusual gift for the holidays or as a thank you to your host for the hospitality.

In the oven:

In an ovenproof ceramic dish, place 1 tablespoon of your favorite extract in a 300 degree oven for about an hour. Your house will smell delicious.

Cut a few lemons in half and bake them on a foil-lined baking sheet at 225 degrees for 60-90 minutes.

ATTENTION: Experiment! There are many other types of extracts that you can find at your local supermarket. A Google search can open up a whole new world for you.

Essential Oils

Essential oils are extracted from plants and provide their fragrance very strongly. A few drops is usually more than enough to get the job done.

Some people like to sprinkle a few drops here and there throughout the house. Others don’t want to risk oil coming in contact with their carpet or furniture and choose to use a diffuser. There are different types of diffusers: some are electric, some are used with candles, others are simply made of porous materials like terracotta that collect and hold the scent of the oil. The latter are, in my opinion, the safest for use with parrots.

A few other options are using a small jar about 1/3 full with baking soda, sprinkle in a few drops of the essential oil and cover with a perforated lid. Another method is to use cotton balls or essential oil sprinkled fabric in place of the baking soda.

Keep in mind that the quality of essential oils can vary in the marketplace. Some have additions that might be undesirable. Young Living essential oils are a good choice and are used most often by parrot owners whose opinion I trust.

potpourri

Potpourri is a mixture of dried botanicals, essential oils and an absorbent fixative that keeps it smelling nice for a long time (usually made from natural, non-allergenic cellulose). The dried ingredients and fixative, as well as containers and sachets, can be purchased online from a place like this.

When using scents to change the way your home smells, remember that even if it doesn’t contain many particles or toxins, it can still be uncomfortable for your bird (or your family) if it’s too strong make it dangerous .

Some herbs and essential oils can definitely be overwhelming if used excessively. Remember to be careful with the ingredients at first – you can always add more as needed. Pay attention to your bird’s reaction to new smells.

We’d love to hear your recipes and ideas for parrot-safe room fresheners and deodorizers.

Author Patty Jourgensen specializes in bird health, behavior and nutrition and has worked with and cared for rescued birds since 1987.

Nothing can spoil a pleasant afternoon on your porch or deck than a flock of unruly birds or a swarm of insects. Whether you’re eating or enjoying a cold drink, getting rid of one of these troublesome species is a chore.

Before you spend a lot of time and money on deterrents, think about the color of your outdoor living space. Did you know that multiple colors naturally attract birds and bugs?

Here’s a breakdown of their color likes and dislikes:

birds

From finding a mate to picking the ripest berries, birds rely heavily on their ability to see color. Bright colors attract a variety of birds including blue jays, hummingbirds, orioles, warblers and goldfinches.

Even darker shades of grey, brown and dull green are likely to attract cautious temperament birds such as quail, pigeons and ground feeders. These colors comfort birds and create a sense of security.

One color that most birds avoid is white. A dull or bright white signals alarm and danger to birds, prompting them to avoid those areas.

mistake

Beetles see colors a little differently than birds – beetles see colors in the UV spectrum.

In nature, beetles are attracted to brightly colored flowers as they are usually a source of food. The same goes for your porch or deck, minus the food part. Insects are naturally attracted to bright colors like white, yellow, or orange.

Colors like green and blue are not perceived as vividly in the UV spectrum, which deters insects from these colored objects.

mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are a special problem, so they get their own category alongside regular, friendly bugs.

Mosquitoes see dark colors more easily, which is why you always hear it’s a good idea to wear light colors to avoid the pests. The same goes for your outdoor design. Light colors like white and yellow are more likely to deter mosquitoes than dark shades.

To get rid of those pesky bloodsuckers, schedule a visit with the pros at neighboring company Mosquito Joe.

Our reaction to music is seen in many different ways and on many different levels. Music can evoke happiness, sadness, and a variety of other emotions. That’s why we listen to it. But do animals experience the same kinds of emotions as we do? The internet is full of YouTube videos of parrots and other birds hopping along to a song. Of course, the meaning of a song’s lyrics is likely to be lost in a parrot, but certainly the music, with its different beats, harmonies, vocal patterns, and other elements, can evoke behavior in a bird that is often understandable. In addition, it is easy to see that birds themselves use their own birdsong to communicate and beguile others of their kind.

Since Darwin, birdsong has been considered to determine whether it is a musically rewarding trait. Over time, the many neural responses to music have been studied to determine what the intentions actually are, or if birds are receiving a pleasurable “reward” moment. Without getting into the incredibly complicated test phases created for a 2012 Emory University study, scientists found that when female birds heard bird song, they responded to the music in ways similar to humans. In short, the same neural pathways that the human brain uses are the same pathways that are used in female birds. For male birds, they showed a different acceptability that couldn’t easily be determined as positive, negative, or indifferent. In fact, some songs seemed to infuriate male birds.

Birds dig music

As for man-made music for a bird’s ears, many bird owners believe that what is heard is valued and sometimes shown in a dance. Common parrot dances consist of pumping and bobbing movements; Moving back and forth between rooms and other various forms of what could be considered a bodily response to the music being heard. We can appreciate that some birds learn to move during a “preferred” song because the bird has been taught to do so. Many owners simply start a song, start dancing, which elicits an imitative response from the bird. Ultimately, the same song will make the bird “dance” just as the bird was taught to do.

Finally, there are many tales of birds responding to a particular style of music, even to the point of rejecting a song through behavior that is identifiable to the owner as dislike. Other studies have confirmed that parrots can be picky about the type of music they prefer. Some seem to prefer calm and complex classical music, others calm pop, while others prefer louder, grittier melodies. But it was found that most if not all birds disliked popular electronic dance music. Given the individuality of humans and animals, it’s not surprising that birds showed a unique preference for what they were willing to hear.

Another unique but small study gave several parrots the ability to choose songs themselves. A touch screen was installed in the cages, giving the birds easy access to different types of music that revealed unique preferences. Over the course of a month, both parrots together chose their personal favorites no fewer than 1,400 times. This study encourages the use of selectable jukeboxes for parrots in their cages to provide them with another method of self-entertainment.

Much is still unknown about how birds appreciate music. But one thing is certain among owners: their birds seem to like any kind of music – just not harsh ambient electronics.

Last night as the sun went down I began to wonder how pet cockatiels sleep in their cages at night.

Then I began to wonder how cockatiels sleep at night; Do they need complete darkness or a night light?

To answer this question, cockatiels sleep better in low light so they don’t get night terrors. Therefore, cockatiels can or should have a night light to help them get a good night’s sleep.

We’re going to look at this in much more detail, so let’s get into it!

Can cockatiels sleep in the dark?

Yes, since the light confuses the bird and makes it think that it is day when its instinct tells it to stay awake and alert in case of predators.

However, in the case of cockatiels, a very dim night light may offer some comfort to your cockatiel, who may suffer from night terrors.

Darkness can hide many things and this can cause additional stress or worry for your cockatiel.

What is a cockatiel’s sleep pattern?

When sunset begins, a cockatiel gets ready for bed and prepares for sleep.

Like most animals that live during the day, a cockatiel’s vision in the dark is poor, making them particularly alert to sounds or sudden lights.

As pets, most birds need more sleep than we do.

They typically need between 10 and 12 hours of uninterrupted sleep.

Darkness and safety are key to allowing your cockatiel to get a good night’s sleep.

What are night terrors?

Night terrors are particularly common in cockatiels as they are the breed that suffers the most.

Cockatiels are prone to night terrors, where they can startle and thrash and thrash about in their cage.

A night terror can be caused by anything, a breath of cool air, a sudden bright light, a shadow, a sudden noise, etc.

Often it resorts to their instincts as they fear it is a predator and in the wild they would fly vertically to escape.

There are several ideas to prevent cockatiels from experiencing night terrors.

For some, feeding before bed helps and for others, a dim light or night light may help.

Of course, this depends on your cockatiel and their preferences.

Why do cockatiels have night terrors?

To answer this question we have to think of the cockatiel in the wild.

Because cockatiels in the wild spend a large part of the day foraging on the ground, they have adapted their survival instincts to get airborne quickly.

Because of these cockatiels, they have quick reflexes and instincts that ensure their survival when a predator is nearby.

In the wild, the night is often filled with noise and the constant glow of the moon.

However, when these disappear, the cockatiel’s survival instinct increases to become alert to passing predators.

Therefore, in a house that is silent and totally dark at night, a cockatiel will be aware of every single sound, shadow or light, making it far more likely to instinctively attempt to fly away, resulting in a night terror.

So, a night light can help rid your cockatiels of night terrors.

What can cause night terrors?

Night terrors can be caused by a variety of things; a perceived threat of noise or light, change in routine, change in environment, or sudden light or vibration.

There are a few ways you can help relieve your cockatiel of night terrors, and many times it involves perfecting his sleep schedule so he feels as safe as possible.

Are night terrors dangerous?

Night terrors can be dangerous for your cockatiel and extremely distressing for him and you.

They make a cockatiel flap and move to fly away from a perceived danger that could harm them when they sleep in their cages.

During a night terrors, your cockatiel could fall to the floor of its cage, which could result in injury.

It’s like a horrible nightmare, but if you calm your cockatiel down, you can bring it back to a calm state.

Should I cover my cockatiel cage at night?

Because cockatiels need to feel secure to sleep, covering their cage can help them.

However, a light source is still needed.

Place your cockatiel’s cage in a quieter part of your home or in a corner where he feels safe to ensure your cockatiel gets a good night’s sleep.

Covering your cockatiel’s cage can prevent sudden noises or lights from startling them completely and allowing them to act on instinct.

Covering their cage and letting in some light will help create the perfect sleeping nook for your cockatiel.

However, covering it too tightly without letting light in, or covering it too lightly and letting in sudden light can cause night terrors.

This will create a comfortable sleeping area for your cockatiel

There are several ways to prevent night terrors.

Some recommend an air purifier because of the white noise that keeps cockatiels quiet.

A night light should be used to create a calming light presence when your cockatiel is sleeping.

Minimizing noise or disturbing light can help protect your cockatiel from night terrors.

It is difficult to stop or prevent night terrors, as cockatiels have adapted to react quickly to sudden sounds or changes in their environment.

However, the small changes and observations you make can help your cockatiel in the long term.

Overall, a cockatiel should have a dim light source when resting.

The night can increase stress levels and awareness for a cockatiel, making it a nerve-wracking time for him and his owner.

Observing their surroundings and caring for them is the first step in curbing the onset of night terrors.

Therefore, a night light would be beneficial to reduce the chances of your cockatiel getting night terrors.

pet talk

Caution: Essential oils can be very harmful to your pets!

from dr Norette L. Underwood

I found this wonderful article from Natural News about essential oils and your pet. As aromatherapy becomes more mainstream, more and more people are using essential oils at home. Unfortunately, as some people find, this doesn’t always have a positive impact on the animals in their lives.

There are many reports of animals being harmed or even killed by essential oils. Tea tree Melaleuca alternifolia has gotten a bad rap lately, most likely because it’s so widespread. Well-meaning owners have used this oil to treat dermatological ailments like bites and scratches, only to end up at the vet with an animal showing signs of toxicity like ataxia, incoordination, weakness, tremors, vomiting, or depression.

Misinformation is also a huge problem in this area. As more people turn to a more natural approach to living, companies are springing up to take advantage. Thousands of products contain essential oils in their ingredients; Pet products are no different. The average person, unaware of the dangers, can easily think that these products are completely safe when in fact they are not.

Many products for cats also contain essential oils. Unfortunately for cats, many cat owners are unaware that by using these products they can slowly cause toxins to build up in the cat’s system, leading to a slow onset of organ failure. A cat’s liver cannot process toxins the way a human’s or even a dog’s can. The chemical components of oils, such as terpenes, phenols, and ketones, are no exception. The effects of this can show up immediately or take years.

Birds are known to be sensitive to odors and particles in the air, and essential oils are no different. Gillian Willis, a toxicologist in Vancouver, has seen many cases of bird poisoning, including a well-meaning cockatiel owner who, seeing a abrasion on her bird’s foot, applied a drop of tea tree oil. The bird became depressed and died of respiratory failure within 24 hours, despite veterinary intervention. Even spreading oils around a bird can have dire consequences.

All is not lost

While this may all seem daunting to an animal lover who also enjoys the benefits of flavoring, all is certainly not lost. A little knowledge can go a long way when incorporating essential oils in and around your animals.

Selection of essential oils:

Purity can be an issue when it comes to essential oils (EO). For cost reasons, many essential oils are diluted in other substances. When selecting essential oils for therapeutic use for you and your pets, you want only the purest available. To determine this, there are a few important things to consider:

* EOs should not be oily or leave a greasy residue.

* The packaging should include the common name (Lavender), the Latin binomial (Lavandula angustifolia), the country of origin, the method of distillation, the part of the plant used, the batch number, the amount of oil in the bottle, contact information of the company, how the plant was grown, and the words “100% pure essential oil” or the ingredients if in a carrier or blend.

* The price usually determines the quality.

* Not all bottles of the same size but different oils should have the same price. In other words, if they stock 50 different types of oils but each 5ml bottle costs $7.40, something is wrong and you can guarantee those oils have been adulterated in some way.

Use of quality oils in households with pets:

Once you have your essential oils and are happy with the quality, the task is to use them properly. Remember, just because a product is natural doesn’t mean it’s safe.

There are some essential oils that should never be used on animals: anise, clove leaf/bud, garlic, horseradish, juniper, thyme, wintergreen or yarrow, to name a few.

For dogs, essential oils can be used in a variety of ways, from bathing them to calming nerves through diffusion. Some points to remember:

* Dogs can’t tell you what works or doesn’t work. Therefore, you need to watch their reactions closely. Excessive scratching, sniffing, nervousness, or whining are signs to look out for.

* Internal use of essential oils is generally not recommended.

* Introduce the oils little by little.

* What is good for a big dog is not good for a small dog. Size matters and less is definitely more when working with oils, for animals or humans.

* Never use oils near the eyes, mouth, nose or genital area.

Cats are particularly sensitive. Spreading oils or cleaning products around the house can also be harmful. Make sure the cat has a way to “escape” to another room with fresh air. Oils should never be used topically as your liver cannot process them.

Because of their extreme sensitivity, birds should never be exposed to oils, either externally or in the air.

Fish do not tolerate oils or floral water. The oils that are not water soluble would end up sticking to the fish and causing a multitude of problems up to and including many times death. Hydrosols each have their own pH level and can wreak havoc on the pH level in the tank and also harm the fish.

The best thing for an animal lover would be to educate themselves even more for the sake of their pet. However, one must warn against searching the internet, as misinformation is everywhere. Be sure to check the author’s credentials before following any website’s advice. There are a few good books on the subject, one of my favorites, and the reference for this article is Holistic Aromatherapy for Animals by Kristen Leigh Bell.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/022909_pet_health_essential_oils.html#ixzz40rbb1Mkr

Cockatiels should have a balanced diet to ensure they live a healthy and long life. We take a look at some of the things a cockatiel can eat.

pellets

Many experts would suggest that pellets are part of a stable diet for cockatiels. It’s not natural for birds to eat pellets, but it’s easier to provide your bird with a good pellet-based diet. There are plenty of custom pellets out there, but it doesn’t have to be the only food on their menu.

seed

Seeds from various grains, hemp, sunflower, and other plants can make a good base for your cockatiel’s diet. When feeding your cockatiel seeds, always make sure the seeds are clean and free of any dangerous fungi or other substances. Always provide your cockatiel with a fresh batch of seeds; Cockatiels are very thorough at extracting seeds from their shells, so their bowl could be full of inedible shells and no food at all.

Do not include fruit seeds in your bird’s diet. Many fruit seeds are poisonous.

fruit

Cockatiels enjoy eating almost all types of fruit; some examples are apple, mango, papaya, banana, blueberry, grape, nectarine, orange, apricot and honeydew melon. Fruit should be served in small portions, chopped or shredded. Offer your cockatiel a small piece of fruit to see if he likes it or not. Don’t be afraid to vary this as you learn what your cockatiel likes. Care should be taken to ensure that fruit seeds are not included in the fruit you feed your cockatiel. Fruit seeds contain cyanide, a toxic element that can be very dangerous to cockatiels. Always wash fruit thoroughly to ensure it is free from pesticides and chemicals. Given your cockatiel’s size, a small amount of cyanide can be fatal.

vegetables

Vegetables are very good for cockatiels. Vegetables like carrots, broccoli, beet greens, sundried tomatoes, corn, kale, spinach, sprouts, squash, sweet potatoes, mustard greens, and turnip greens are delicious treats. While most vegetables are better fed raw, cockatiels prefer squash and cooked sweet potatoes. Of course, always avoid spices. Wash all vegetables to ensure they are chemical and pesticide free.

proteins

Cockatiels are safe to eat small amounts of meat. Choose only good quality chicken and beef or some fish. Cockatiels also benefit from boiled eggs, scrambled eggs, and some dairy products like yogurt and cream cheese like cottage cheese.

water

Fresh water is essential. You should change the water in your cockatiel cage every day and make sure it’s always clean. Change the water when you see it’s dirty. Cockatiels love tossing food around and it can end up in the water. Be prepared to change it regularly as dirty water can harbor dangerous bacteria.

Toxic Foods

You must avoid feeding your cockatiel any food. These are found in spicy and salty foods like garlic, onions, salt, caffeine, sugar and sugary foods, greasy snacks and treats. Avoid avocados, rhubarb, chocolate and human food in general.

obesity

Wild cockatiels fly many miles every day. This burns a lot of calories. So always be careful not to overfeed your cockatiel. This is one of the most common health issues in captive cockatiels and one of the main reasons they may live shorter lives than they should.

It’s important to research the potential foods you’re feeding your pet bird and to consult a veterinarian immediately in any emergency.

You can ask any bird owner and all they will tell you is that having a pet bird is one of the best things that can happen in your life because of how funny they are and how affectionate some birds are. Of course, as a bird owner, you should also ensure that you do everything in your power to provide them with a species-appropriate home and environment that is conducive to their overall health. This includes making sure you prioritize their health when providing them with a safe and healthy living space in your home.

In this regard, one of the biggest sins any bird owner can commit is to light candles around them. The reason you should never do this is because wax is poisonous to birds. Almost all bird species have very sensitive airways. That means it’s a mortal sin to burn anything around birds, as it’s sure to irritate their airways. This includes burning candles.

However, not all types of candles are harmful to birds. There are certain types of candles that are safe to light around your home, even if you have pet birds around. So if you are looking for bird-safe candles that you can have in your home despite lighting them in the same room as your birds, these are the ones you should look for:

Candles that are harmless to birds

Soy Candles

image source

Soy candles are considered some of the safest candles to use around birds as they are 100% natural and are not ordinary candles in the sense that they are not made from harmful synthetic ingredients. Rather than using traditional wax, they are made from soy wax, which is a processed form of soy oil. This means that if you light it up near your birds, your pets will only be able to breathe in organic ingredients that won’t damage their airways. Additionally, soy doesn’t produce a lot of smoke and heat that could potentially harm your birds. It is a clean burning product that produces no harmful ingredients when burned. This reduces air pollution in your home, making it a safe and livable place for your pet birds.

Otherwise, soy candles are also good to use because they burn longer than conventional wax candles. They are also sustainable because they are made from renewable resources. And the good thing about the scent of a soy candle is that it doesn’t give off a very strong odor that can potentially irritate and harm your bird or even ruin the flavor of your meals at home.

Beeswax candles

image source

Beeswax candles are similar to soy candles in the sense that they are made from all-natural ingredients, as opposed to paraffin candles, which are made from synthetic materials that are full of chemicals that can be harmful to your birds. As the name suggests, beeswax candles are organic and come from beeswax, the substance excreted by bees when they make honeycomb. These candles are essentially made of the same organic material as honeycomb.

The reason why you should choose beeswax candles is that not only are they free from harmful ingredients, but they are also good at fighting pollutants in your home. Burnt beeswax is said to produce negative ions that ward off pollutants and dust in the home. They also fight odors and mold in your home. With that in mind, not only are you lighting a candle that is safe for you and your bird, you are also making your home a much healthier place to live in, as beeswax candles help purify the air of harmful toxins and pollutants.

Aside from that, beeswax candles also have relaxing properties that will help you relieve stress while meditating or enjoying a quiet evening on your couch watching your favorite shows along with your pet birds. You will find that you and your birds will enjoy the sweet smell of honey that comes with beeswax candles. The only issue you have to carry is how expensive they are compared to soy candles.

Yankee candles

The main reason traditional candles are harmful to your birds is that they contain many different chemicals and oils that can pose a hazard to your pets. The paraffin wax as well as the scented oils in ordinary candles tend to be quite dangerous to your pet birds and can even be toxic to your body in the long run. As such, your usual scented candles should be out of the question if you have birds in your home.

However, Yankee candles could be an exception to this generalization. This company has long been dedicated to producing candles that are made from organic and pure ingredients that are free from harmful ingredients that can harm you and your birds. The company ensures that its products are completely safe and can be used in a home with birds and other types of pets. For this reason, various bird owners like to use this brand. And the best part is that they haven’t had any problems with Yankee Candles. So if you are in the market for a branded candle that is safe to use on your birds, you might want to consider Yankee Candles.

Soy or beeswax? What’s the better option?

Although Yankee Candles are not believed to be harmful to your pet birds, soy candles and beeswax candles are your best choices as they have been shown to be much safer compared to regular scented candles. However, you may be wondering which of the two is better for your birds.

Here are the differences between soy candles and beeswax candles:

I was playing with my cockatiels with my son the other day when he started testing their sense of smell.

He would offer them different things with different flavors and see how they responded.

It was an interesting methodology, I thought, and an interesting question, too—but I thought my son’s experiments would only get us so far.

So I decided to do my own research and find out.

Do cockatiels have a good sense of smell?

The simple answer is not really. Birds generally do not have a good sense of smell, as it is probably the least advantageous sensory apparatus for a creature capable of flight. Most of their senses are more attuned to sight and sound. They have some sense of smell, but it’s not great.

There is a very old myth about birds that if you find a baby bird alone on the street, you should not touch it because the mother will sniff you and reject the chick.

That’s wrong for the simple reason that a bird wouldn’t be sensitive enough to smell you on it.

In any case, let’s take a special look at the cockatiels.

How good is a cockatiel’s sense of smell?

The simple answer is not very.

While there isn’t much direct research on cockatiels specifically, we do know that their sensory receptors are there, but they are fairly limited.

In fact, compared to most species, cockatiels do not have a particularly keen sense of smell.

The same is true for birds overall, and there are many evolutionary reasons for this.

For one thing, almost all birds must have brilliant eyesight.

Birds of prey certainly have the best vision, coining terms like “eagle eye” as they need to be able to spot prey from very high altitudes.

Cockatiels don’t need such good eyesight, but they still need to be very keenly visually aware.

This means that over millions of years they had less scope for selective adjustments in hearing.

When you are moving in the air at high speed, it means that the air is constantly blowing away from you.

Perceiving smells in this movement, even if you have a very sensitive nose, would be extremely difficult.

So cockatiels have olfactory receptors, but they’re not very useful.

They are just an additional layer to their picture of the world, just like ours.

Do they actually have a nose?

Do cockatiels have a nose?

Yes, cockatiels have noses—though not in the same way we do.

It’s just a couple of slits on the front of her face that allow scent molecules to enter.

They don’t have nostrils, rather these small slits are called nostrils.

Their noses don’t stick out of their faces like ours do.

This is primarily a question of aerodynamics.

Just like with their ears, if cockatiels had a long nose sticking out of their face, it would massively increase drag when flying.

So their noses are just little slits that let air through and let some scent molecules in.

They don’t breathe through their mouths, only through their noses – so the main function of their own olfactory system isn’t even to smell odors.

Definitely yes, they have noses, they just don’t stand out that much.

Can cockatiels smell food?

Yes, cockatiels can smell food – as far as we know.

Again, there is a regrettable lack of research and experimentation on the subject, so it’s difficult to say for sure.

However, they can see for themselves that they perk up in the presence of smelling food, even if they don’t see it.

This is difficult to measure or define, but they are clearly sensitive at some level.

However, they used other means to identify food.

They will look at it and use their beaks to feel it.

This gives them the information they need to identify themselves.

What about their owners?

We all know that dogs know each other by smell, so how do cockatiels know us?

Can cockatiels smell their owners?

Again, the simple answer is that we don’t really know.

What evidence we have would suggest they don’t identify us by our smell.

That doesn’t mean they don’t know us – they just do it by sight and touch, rather than smell.

The simple fact is that cockatiels in particular are not sensitive to any scents that we might give off.

They know and love us by sight, but they probably couldn’t understand us by smell.

While it was once thought that cockatiels had no sense of smell at all, we now know that they do.

It’s just not particularly sensitive or advanced.

However, this isn’t a flaw or deficiency – birds wouldn’t be as successful around the world if they needed a better sense of smell.

There’s just not much benefit for a bird to have a great sense of smell.

They spend most of their time flying through the air, where the air is moving too fast for them to smell.