7 Signs that tell if your cockatiel is sick

Cockatiels are one of the noisiest, liveliest, sweetest and most playful pet birds around. These beautiful exotic creatures form strong bonds with their owners and spend plenty of time entertaining them to their highest capacity each day. Not every bird shows clear signs of sickness but the symptoms shared below might help you figure out if your pet cockatiel is sick.

Refusal to eat at mealtimes

Cockatiels might be picky eaters but once you adjust them to a suitable diet, they feed with gusto so refusal to eat is a clear red danger sign.

Losing feathers

Cockatiels are proud of their plumage and preen themselves constantly to maintain their gorgeous looks. If yours is losing feathers even without getting into fights with other birds, then you need to be concerned. Depressed cockatiels often pull out their feathers themselves out of frustration.

Irregular bowel movements

Keep an eye on the form of the bird droppings because they will indicate any problems associated with bowel movements, food poisoning, etc.

Paranoia and cold attitude

Cockatiels are very affectionate birds, which love to play especially with their owners. If your lively pet suddenly seems frightened and tries to keep its distance from you then it is a stress related problem and you must try to keep it stress free.

Low activity levels

If your cockatiel is not rushing to meet you when you come to see it and has a reduced sound level, then you should be worried that it is not making a racket like normal ones do.

Body movements

Cockatiels are stunning acrobats with a knack for precision landing and balance so if your bird is showing a low quality of acrobatics, then there has to be a medical reason for it.

Head positioning and breathing

Cockatiels are susceptible to a variety of respiratory illnesses so try to check its breathing every other day to ensure that it is regular. If your cockatiel keeps tilting its head at awkward angles with jerky movements it could be a symptom for a breathing problem. 

How to care for your love bird and keep it happy?

Love birds present a delightful scene as colorful little parrots twittering away while being engaged in a self invented playful game with their feathered companions. Their color mutations have allowed them to be bred in captivity and in the wild resulting in brilliant hues of green, red, yellow, peach, blue, black, orange and many other shades. They have an aura of cuteness around them reinforced by their facial markings, which are often present as a single shade covering the entire face, and their friendly temperament towards mates and owners.

Source: http://www.downloadjpeg.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/lovebird_color.jpg

Personality and behavior

They have been aptly named love birds for the frequent displays of affection characteristic of their species. However, this also means that they are passionate and prone to extreme emotions like jealousy if they feel like they are receiving insufficient attention or if they can see that someone else is getting their share of attention. Love birds can also be pretty territorial at times with the females being more prone to such feelings as compared to males.

Source: http://www.downloadjpeg.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/love_birds_couple_birds.jpg

  

Food habits

Love birds are like any other birds when it comes to diet so food products with a high fat content are a big no for them. This means that seeds should be considered only as treats and rewards for instance during training. Bird food pellets claim to contain all the essential nutrients required to keep your love bird properly nourished. However, you must take care to read the labels and go for only the highest quality processed food with a minimum amount of artificial ingredients included in them. A good idea is to opt for comparison shopping online, where you can easily read details about every food product on your screen and compare prices to select the most suitable one. A reliable website known for its superior quality range of bird supplies is Lovemypets, where you may conveniently browse appropriate bird food supplies. Fresh fruits and vegetables form an important part of a love bird’s diet and must not be excluded. In addition, a number of dietary supplements may be incorporated to boost strength and immunity.

Source: http://www.dailybackgrounds.com/wp-content/gallery/love-birds/cute-love-birds.jpg

Housing and favorite hangouts

A cage should be selected according to the number of love birds you wish to house together. The bigger the better but avoid getting round cages because love birds like to perch on their cage bars. They must be able to move freely inside so length is more important than height. Decorate it with plenty of places for them to hide and tuck themselves into like a tiny tent for snoozing. Love birds are notorious attention seekers and they bask in the attention provided by their owners, snuggling up to them and perching on their shoulder. A bird bath will take care of its hygiene plus love birds enjoy splashing around and its adorable to watch! 

Source: http://www.angelinasnest.com/_borders/2006%2001-17%20ANA%20Angel's%20Wings%201GALPAGE.jpg

Entertainment

Love birds need loads of toys to keep them playing for hours when you are unavailable. They are some of the most fun loving pets around and love to chew more than anything else. So, be vigilant about keeping them well entertained or else your precious belongings maybe destroyed by small but sharp and effective beaks if they get bored. Something to remember is not to get them any toys in which they might get stuck or accidentally strangle themselves with so always purchase safe toys for your love birds after a short research.  

Source: http://www.tawafyo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/cute-love-bird-images-7.jpg

Love birds are extremely rewarding pets and not all difficult to keep if you are committed to fulfilling the needs of these spontaneous and beautiful birds. They are a favorite of bird lovers across the globe owing to their sweet temperament, playfulness, small size (approx. 6 inches) and ease of handling.