Cockatiels For Dummies

Natural-born charmers, cockatiels are small colorful parrots native to the Australian desert. When raised by people, they’re usually calm and cuddly and have an inquisitive, adventurous disposition. Cockatiels are just large enough to be handled easily, but they’re not so big that they require a great deal of space in your home. And while the cockatiel’s gentle nature and captivating personality encourage you to form close and lasting relationships with them, taking one into your life brings with it a host of specific requirements and responsibilities that you really need to be aware of before you take the leap into being a cockatiel owner. Written by a leading national expert on companion birds and a lifelong cockatiel owner and breeder, Cockatiels For Dummies is your total guide to adopting, caring for, and forming a loving relationship with one or more of these diminutive parrots. It gets you up to speed on how to: Decide if a cockatiel is right for you and your family Select a healthy cockatiel Provide a suitable indoor environment Supply a satisfying and nutritious diet for your pet Train your cockatiel Communicate with your bird through body language Interpret your bird’s moods Breed cockatiels for fun and profit Author Diane Grindol provides loads of sensible, easy-to-follow advice along with fun facts, trivia, amusing and informative anecdotes, and tips on how to have a great time with your feathered friend. Among other important topics, she fills you in on what you need to know about: The pros and cons of pet stores versus breeders when choosing a cockatiel Assessing a bird’s health and disposition and getting a health guarantee Feeding, grooming, caring for, and socializing your pet Exercising your cockatiel Training your bird to be a great companion Keeping your little pal happy and healthy for life A fun guide for you and your cockatiel, Cockatiels For Dummies is the only book you’ll need to help you have the best possible experience with this smart, perky, incredibly loveable avian breed.

"Filled with the information every bird-owner...needs." Joel Murphy, DVM, ABVP, author of How to Care For Your Pet Bird Praise for Birds for Dummies(r) "Squawk about this! A lighthearted...informative book about the care and maintenance of our fine-feathered friends." - Gary A. Gallerstein, DVM, author of The Complete Bird Owner's Handbook "At last - a book that contains more than just pretty bird pictures. This was fun to read. It is clear, concise, factual, useful, and understandable." -Linda Biggi, owner, Bird Gardens Full-color guide to pet birds inside! "You will not be disappointed." Walter Rosskopf, Jr., DVM, Dipl. ABVP Certified in Avian Practice Get the word on birds! From finches and canaries to conures and macaws, this friendly guide describes the species that make the best pets, explains how to select the bird who's best for you, offers tips on bonding with your feathered friend, and provides expert advice on feeding and grooming. Discover how to: Choose the right bird for your budget and lifestyle Create a bird-friendly environment Minimize noise and mess Keep your bird groomed, fit, and healthy Bond with your bird Get smart! www.dummies.com Register to win cool prizes Browse exclusive articles and excerpts Get a free Dummies Daily(TM) e-mail newsletter Chat with authors and preview other books Talk to us, ask questions, get answers

How can you keep your cockatiel's mind active and engaged? What foods are most nutritious and most interesting for your pet? What do you need to know about mating and breeding behavior? What's the best way to hand-raise chicks so that they get the most from their parents, and from you? All your questions are answered in this complete book for the cockatiel enthusiast, presented in beautiful color. The Complete Book of Cockatiels includes the most recent information on nutrition, breeding and social behavior from the University of California-Davis cockatiel research project. This is a book serious enthusiasts will learn from and novices will treasure. Everything you need to know to keep a healthy, happy bird is here. Topics include choosing a bird, choosing a veterinarian, nutrition and feeding, daily care, enclosure design, socialization and play, treats, toys, training, safety concerns, medical emergencies, communication, behavior and breeding. A selection of stories from cockatiel owners illustrates how these charming birds have changed people's lives. A treat for the eyes and the mind.

Cockatiels are great as pets. They are clever, cuddly and can be easily socialized. Although cockatiels are generally easy to care for because of their small size, this book will provide you with some useful tips so that you can maximize their true potential. Compared to other bird species, Cockatiel parrots don't live for 50 years or more. These birds have an average lifespan of only 10 - 20 years! However, if you take good care of them, they will certainly live longer than you might expect. Cockatiels can easily become part of the family and a loving companion if you are willing to put in the time and effort to take care of them, and this book will teach you exactly how! Included in this book: Care Costs Feeding Grooming Health Housing Supplies Training ... and much more!

From special diet suggestions to explaining how to create the ideal housing environment for your feathered companion, this book is the perfect guide to learning more about these talented and social birds. T.F.H. has teamed up with Animal Planet(TM) the only television network devoted to the unique bonds between humans and animals, to present an exciting new series of family-friendly, comprehensive guides to superior pet care. Each book features newly written text from animal experts on a variety of topics, including feeding, housing, grooming, training, health care, and fun activities. Useful tip boxes in each chapter show every member of the household how to make the most out of owning a pet.

Lovable and charming little pets, these little wonderful cockatiels are some of the most popular pet birds in the world. These creatures are related to parrots and hail from the wilderness of Australia. In captivity, when allowed to interact with people early and often, cockatiels are affectionate and gentle. Thanks to their relatively compact size, cockatiels can be handled with ease. You won't need a big house to keep these birds happy. A cockatiel will be glad to see you return home from work, sit next to its cage for a bedtime story, or stay by your side simply treasuring your company. This bird's warm disposition can readily endear it to the right owner and household. While you don't have to be an experienced bird-handler to provide a suitable home for a cockatiel, taking one home does entail a good amount of responsibility and other certain cockatiel-only requirements. Prior to making the commitment, it's vital you know what you and your bird are in for. This book was written for the beginner cockatiel owner in mind, plus anyone considering one of these fascinating creatures as pets. You'll learn what to look for when selecting a bird, how to care for your cockatiel and form a nurturing relationship together, what to feed your cockatiel and more. With this book you'll quickly discover how to create a living area where your bird will thrive and live a long happy life. Need help deciding if a cockatiel is the pet for you and your family? This book will help you approach the decision-making process in a smart way. You'll also find out about basic training, breeding, grooming, cleaning, and bonding with cockatiels. A tamed cockatiel is a well-behaved bird that's a joy to have around. Included, too, among crucial topics are common diseases that harm cockatiels and how to bird-proof your home. The goal is to keep your little pal safe without dampening its curious and cheerful nature.

Parrots make a wonderful alternative to the traditional pet. They’re as loving, intelligent, companionable, and entertaining as a cat or a dog but they surpass them by far in many other ways. They don’t require walks around the block, they’re perfect for apartment living, most have long life spans, and they’re full of personality. Besides, when was the last time you saw a vibrant blue cat or had a conversation with a talking dog? Whether you are just thinking about buying a parrot or you’ve had parrots for years, Parrots for Dummies is full of helpful information about how to be the best parrot guardian you can be. Parrots for Dummies is packed full of useful tips, hints, reminders, and warnings about everything related to parrots and their care, including: Picking a parrot Bringing a new parrot home Parrot behavior made simple Taming and training your bird Travel tips Author Nikki Moustaki, avian care and behavior consultant and author of Parakeets for Dummies, gives you all of her experienced advice about owning, caring for, and loving parrots. She draws on her professional knowledge as well as her personal familiarity with the bird to show you how to make the most of your parrot-guardian relationship. She includes information on: Purchasing and adopting a parrot Proper housing and food Parrot illnesses and diseases Correcting behavioral problems Living in a multiple parrot household Breeding and showing parrots In addition to all the help and guidance, Parrots for Dummies comes with a full-color insert with pictures of over 25 different kinds of parrots to help you choose a new pet that catches your eye or find your existing pet’s nearest relation. So whether you’re buying your first parrot or looking for some advice about an old friend, Parrots for Dummies has something for you.

From two noted experts-the first in-depth book on teaching your bird to talk Teaching a bird to talk isn't as difficult as it may seem. In this easy-to-follow guide, avian experts Diane Grindol and Tom Roudybush reveal how you can communicate with your parrot far beyond "hello" and, in turn, understand what your bird is trying to communicate to you. Teaching Your Bird to Talk compiles an impressive amount of background, training, and research regarding bird vocalizations, walking you step by step through the behavioral mechanics of training parrots to talk (as well as starlings, mynahs, and other birds). Whether you want your bird to mimic words, talk on cue, or have some understanding of what you are saying, this guide shows you the type of training you need to do with your bird. The book also takes a close look at the work of Dr. Irene Pepperberg-the world's foremost authority in the field of parrot intelligence and trainer of Alex the African Grey Parrot. * Identifies which species of bird are likely to talk and which aren't * Explores field research on regional languages and dialects of parrots in the wild * Features true stories from owners of talking birds * Explains how to handle problems with vocal parrots, such as screaming and using inappropriate language * Offers tips on feeding and housing birds, and finding an avian veterinarian