jayashree - 2013-03-13 hi, I have 4months old Alexandria (nane) i don't know it is male or female. I can see a pale yellow ring on the neck. I guess it is male. sometimes my nane is aggressive. every time when nane is hungry,nane does not self feed, he expect me to keep him on my shoulder and takes food from my mouth then he will eat by himself. feeding through my mouth is okay or not? if so, how to stop this?
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Jeremy Roche - 2013-03-13 Humans carry many diseases that birds or other animals can not fight. I would not recommend this.
Keenan - 2012-06-08 I have a very bright yellow cockatiel and I dont know what type it is and the vets are finding it hard to tell as well. Do any of you know what it is.
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Charlie Roche - 2012-06-08 There is really no way to know. You say it is bright yellow - all over? Check out 'cockatiel images on the net' as many have shades of yellow but not the entire body yellow. Many breeders will cross breed cockatiels to obtain a high color also.
Suzanne - 2013-03-12 Hi. I've been reading up on cockatiels because I wanted to know the lifespan of my lutino cockatiel. He will be 24 years old in April. He is solid white with orange cheeks and a yellow top notch. From what I read a bit ago the female lutinos are very bright in color which might mean yellow.
ananya roy - 2013-01-24 My kiki(lutino cockatiel) sings,squares her shoulders,walks a few steps and then gives a small jump. I was told that she is a 'she'. Now,how can i be sure that what is kiki- a 'he' or a 'she'? (other than dna testing,this technique is very rare and costly and not popular in india,especially where i live). Kiki does most the singing,dancing etc. 'she'? Is very vocal while jiko(grey cockatiel) ,a 'he' is less vocal and is tired of kiki's constant singing and following around. How can i be sure about their sex? Thanks
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Jasmine Brough Hinesley - 2013-01-26 Unfortunately there is no sure way to tell if they are female or male. In older adult cockatiels there are often barred markings underneath the tail feathers. These can be quite light colored though and hard to distinguish between a male and female. Also, if you provide a nesting box, the female will often build a nest there and that is good way to tell which one is female!
mario - 2007-11-15 Hi, I just put a down payment on a Lutino Cockatiel. I don't have him or her at home yet because it is still a baby and is being hand fed. He or she is so sweet, and funny too. I am excited and can't wait until he or she is home with me.
PS: I say he or she because I don't know its gender yet. Mario
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robbie - 2011-09-24 not easy to sex. but look under wings, if it has yellow spots its a hen.
starlasmith - 2013-01-07 hi,ive looked undermy lutinos wings and i see bright yellow and white feathers no yellow or white spots just solid colored feathers my 3 year old granddaughter is really wanting to name it luna but,what if hes a guy i dont want to confuse him,lol soo its important to me any suggestions?
Birdie - 2005-10-08 hi, i have a lutino cockatiel named sunny and i got it january 21st 2005. sunny is tame and loves me and my family. the funny thing is that i thought that it was a he until i read this page and realized that he was a she. this same thing happened with my old budgie that flew away last year. i love sunny and she loves me.
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starlasmith - 2013-01-07 how in the world can you tell without DNA test if your lutino is a male or a female ?
Anonymous - 2010-05-04 Please help why is my cockatiel plucking out his feathers he is nearly bald?
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Julie - 2010-05-10 Cockatiels (particularly females) can develop this terrible habit. In some birds it is nerves, they are uncomfortable about something in their surroundings. In some birds it is lack of stimulation from friends, family, playmates etc. They are very social creatures and need companionship. In some, it is due to hormones - this is mostly the female birds. Of the four females I've owned, three plucked to some degree. If I were you, I would definitely find a knowledgeable avian vet and have your bird checked for mites or a skin condition. A good avian vet can give you suggestions for curbing the plucking.
Sarah werner - 2010-09-14 Maybe give it some more toys to get his mind off it or some fresh leaves that are not toxic or if that does not work there is a bottle of liquid for sale called AVITROL FEATHER PLUCKING FORMULA and you spray it on the cockatiels back and they don't like the taste of it so they wont pluck themselves!
Lexi - 2011-08-10 You might want to be careful if a bird is really stressed if can kill itself by plucking it's feathers
Sandra - 2012-09-06 I have a 7 year old female lutino cockatiel and the bald spot on the top of her head seems to be speading down the back of her neck. She has been plucking her feathers for quite some time. She is also a very picky eater and only eats the small seeds in her food. Any information anyone can provide would be appreciated.
Kawshik - 2011-10-23 Can I keep Cockatiel in wooden cage? Would they destroy a wooden cage like Lovebirds?
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Jasmine Brough Hinesley - 2011-10-23 I would recommend against it. Cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) beaks continue to grow and they need cuttle bones and other toys to keep them nice and trim. A wooden cage might last for a while, but they will probably be prone to chewing on it to help keep their beaks in shape.
Charlie Roche - 2011-10-24 Sexing cockatiels --- The only way to accurately determine the sex of cockatiels 100% is through DNA sexing. However, many breeders get pretty accurate at determining the sex by appearance. Going from the eyes up the head and down to the neck, the females head is a smoth curve. The males head is not a smooth curve and feels/looks flatter. Much easier to see without feathers but you can see it and you can feel a slight definite slope (ridge) to the males head at the back of the top of the head. Look at the back of the cockatiels head - where that bare spot is and feel right there. The female pelvic bone is wider and sometimes you can feel this. Female is usually a little broader than the male. So humans might not be able to tell with 100% accuracy but hopefully they can. The Animal World article above in sexual difference also explains a barring of color. It is said that the male loses that barring of color under the tail when sexually mature - around 6 - 9 months. It is retained in the female. Hard to see. So lots of luck.
Anonymous - 2011-10-24 Thanks for the information. Can you tell me how to identify the sex without DNA test? Is their any other way to identify male or female? Because in Bangladesh we dont have any pet clinic where we can test the DNA.
francesg - 2011-10-28 I just bought a white male cockatil to mate. How can I tell if it's a male. It haves two bones just like the girl.
Sam - 2012-04-29 We paid $25 for a DNA tests. Look for specific bird shops and they should be able to send in a few feathers for testing. You get an official gender certificate in the mail. And their beaks should not rule out this amazing pet. We take ours in to the breeder every 8 weeks for nail trim and wing trim, and they can easily keep an eye on their beaks. Keeping an eye on it will prevent any major problems! These birds should live 25-40 years! Hope this info has helped.
kai - 2009-02-07 hi im just wondering how mutch do lutinos cost
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Deb Shults-Brod - 2011-11-21 I paid $89.00 for my little guy this past summer. He was 4 months old when I got him. So sweet but sassy too.
Charlie Roche - 2011-11-21 Cockatiels usually run about $25.00 if purchased directly from a breeder and big range of $50.00 - $100.00 if purchased in a pet store. The pet store costs more as they usually have to finish weaning the parrot and then they have to feed and house them until they are sold.
Kim - 2011-01-22 I bought my Lutino 8 years ago, and cannot hold her and she will not come out of her cage. When I tried to handle her she bit me very hard, even with gloves on, any suggestions on how to handle her?
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Editor's Note - 2011-01-22 Generally, it is easiest to tame cockatiels while they are juveniles (12-14 weeks of age). Because your cockatiel is older it may take a considerable amount of time and patience. You will want to spend some time with her every day - plan a time of day with few distractions and dedicate say half an hour just to her. Make sure her wings are clipped so that if she does fly away you can retrieve her fairly easily. Start by just trying to get her to step up on a stick or perch that you are holding - don't try to touch or pet her at first. Talk to her continuously to let her know you are her friend. Once it appears that she is getting comfortable with that and not immediately being aggressive towards you, you can attempt to start getting her to step up on your finger rather than a stick.
Here are some general guidelines to help you with taming your cockatiel: Characteristics of Birds
Lexi - 2011-08-10 You should start training her by approching her cage slowly on the side so she sees you coming. If she hisses stop but don't back away and then keep approching her. When you get to the cage slowly put your hand in but again going torwards her slowly then put your finger by her feet so she can step on and slowly take her out then spend time with her then put her away and repeat . But do this somewhere quiet .
Lexi - 2011-08-10 You should start training her by approching her cage slowly on the side so she sees you coming. If she hisses stop but don't back away and then keep approching her when you get to the cage slowly put your hand in but again going torwards her slowly then put your finger by her feet so she can step on and slowly take her out then spend time with her then put her away and repeat . but do this somewhere quiet .
julie - 2011-09-20 I have a lutino and a pearl. my lutino does bite too, however he has stopped here lately. I blow on him and get very close to him and say oh no you don't want to do that come on now and put my finger in front of him and my other hand close to his wing so he can't fly away and hold him close to my chest and walk to were I'm going to sit down and place him close to me and let him come to me while I ignore him. He will ease himself closer, then I say oh oh gooood boy and I have done this every day for a year or so and he has truly come around to being our friend. praying over them helps too, julie.
Susan - 2011-07-28 I bought my cockatiel when he was a baby and last week he turned 22 years old! He is a sweet, affectionate boy and has only gotten more so with age. He looks like a young bird too- no signs of aging. Loves jazz music and singing and says his name-"Hello Louie!" I've had dogs, cats, rabbits, fish, rodents, you name it and Louie is the most low maintenance of them all. I feed him Harrisons Bird food, bird seed, and offer him pasta, egg, spinach, and nuts when we're eating those foods.
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Charlie Roche - 2011-07-28 Wonderful I am a bird nut so great.
The Lutino Cockatiel is a beautiful pet bird, with a mostly white to light-yellow body and orange cheek patches!
hi, I have 4months old Alexandria (nane) i don't know it is male or female. I can see a pale yellow ring on the neck. I guess it is male. sometimes my nane is aggressive. every time when nane is hungry,nane does not self feed, he expect me to keep him on my shoulder and takes food from my mouth then he will eat by himself. feeding through my mouth is okay or not? if so, how to stop this?
Humans carry many diseases that birds or other animals can not fight. I would not recommend this.
I have a very bright yellow cockatiel and I dont know what type it is and the vets are finding it hard to tell as well. Do any of you know what it is.
There is really no way to know. You say it is bright yellow - all over? Check out 'cockatiel images on the net' as many have shades of yellow but not the entire body yellow. Many breeders will cross breed cockatiels to obtain a high color also.
Hi. I've been reading up on cockatiels because I wanted to know the lifespan of my lutino cockatiel. He will be 24 years old in April. He is solid white with orange cheeks and a yellow top notch. From what I read a bit ago the female lutinos are very bright in color which might mean yellow.
My kiki(lutino cockatiel) sings,squares her shoulders,walks a few steps and then gives a small jump. I was told that she is a 'she'. Now,how can i be sure that what is kiki- a 'he' or a 'she'? (other than dna testing,this technique is very rare and costly and not popular in india,especially where i live). Kiki does most the singing,dancing etc. 'she'? Is very vocal while jiko(grey cockatiel) ,a 'he' is less vocal and is tired of kiki's constant singing and following around. How can i be sure about their sex? Thanks
Unfortunately there is no sure way to tell if they are female or male. In older adult cockatiels there are often barred markings underneath the tail feathers. These can be quite light colored though and hard to distinguish between a male and female. Also, if you provide a nesting box, the female will often build a nest there and that is good way to tell which one is female!
Hi, I just put a down payment on a Lutino Cockatiel. I don't have him or her at home yet because it is still a baby and is being hand fed. He or she is so sweet, and funny too. I am excited and can't wait until he or she is home with me.
PS: I say he or she because I don't know its gender yet.
Mario
not easy to sex. but look under wings, if it has yellow spots its a hen.
hi,ive looked undermy lutinos wings and i see bright yellow and white feathers no yellow or white spots just solid colored feathers my 3 year old granddaughter is really wanting to name it luna but,what if hes a guy i dont want to confuse him,lol soo its important to me any suggestions?
hi, i have a lutino cockatiel named sunny and i got it january 21st 2005. sunny is tame and loves me and my family. the funny thing is that i thought that it was a he until i read this page and realized that he was a she. this same thing happened with my old budgie that flew away last year. i love sunny and she loves me.
how in the world can you tell without DNA test if your lutino is a male or a female ?
Please help why is my cockatiel plucking out his feathers he is nearly bald?
Cockatiels (particularly females) can develop this terrible habit. In some birds it is nerves, they are uncomfortable about something in their surroundings. In some birds it is lack of stimulation from friends, family, playmates etc. They are very social creatures and need companionship. In some, it is due to hormones - this is mostly the female birds. Of the four females I've owned, three plucked to some degree. If I were you, I would definitely find a knowledgeable avian vet and have your bird checked for mites or a skin condition. A good avian vet can give you suggestions for curbing the plucking.
Maybe give it some more toys to get his mind off it or some fresh leaves that are not toxic or if that does not work there is a bottle of liquid for sale called AVITROL FEATHER PLUCKING FORMULA and you spray it on the cockatiels back and they don't like the taste of it so they wont pluck themselves!
You might want to be careful if a bird is really stressed if can kill itself by plucking it's feathers
I have a 7 year old female lutino cockatiel and the bald spot on the top of her head seems to be speading down the back of her neck. She has been plucking her feathers for quite some time. She is also a very picky eater and only eats the small seeds in her food. Any information anyone can provide would be appreciated.
Can I keep Cockatiel in wooden cage? Would they destroy a wooden cage like Lovebirds?
I would recommend against it. Cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) beaks continue to grow and they need cuttle bones and other toys to keep them nice and trim. A wooden cage might last for a while, but they will probably be prone to chewing on it to help keep their beaks in shape.
Sexing cockatiels --- The only way to accurately determine the sex of cockatiels 100% is through DNA sexing. However, many breeders get pretty accurate at determining the sex by appearance. Going from the eyes up the head and down to the neck, the females head is a smoth curve. The males head is not a smooth curve and feels/looks flatter. Much easier to see without feathers but you can see it and you can feel a slight definite slope (ridge) to the males head at the back of the top of the head. Look at the back of the cockatiels head - where that bare spot is and feel right there. The female pelvic bone is wider and sometimes you can feel this. Female is usually a little broader than the male. So humans might not be able to tell with 100% accuracy but hopefully they can. The Animal World article above in sexual difference also explains a barring of color. It is said that the male loses that barring of color under the tail when sexually mature - around 6 - 9 months. It is retained in the female. Hard to see. So lots of luck.
Thanks for the information. Can you tell me how to identify the sex without DNA test? Is their any other way to identify male or female? Because in Bangladesh we dont have any pet clinic where we can test the DNA.
I just bought a white male cockatil to mate. How can I tell if it's a male. It haves two bones just like the girl.
We paid $25 for a DNA tests. Look for specific bird shops and they should be able to send in a few feathers for testing. You get an official gender certificate in the mail. And their beaks should not rule out this amazing pet. We take ours in to the breeder every 8 weeks for nail trim and wing trim, and they can easily keep an eye on their beaks. Keeping an eye on it will prevent any major problems! These birds should live 25-40 years! Hope this info has helped.
hi im just wondering how mutch do lutinos cost
I paid $89.00 for my little guy this past summer. He was 4 months old when I got him. So sweet but sassy too.
Cockatiels usually run about $25.00 if purchased directly from a breeder and big range of $50.00 - $100.00 if purchased in a pet store. The pet store costs more as they usually have to finish weaning the parrot and then they have to feed and house them until they are sold.
I bought my Lutino 8 years ago, and cannot hold her and she will not come out of her cage. When I tried to handle her she bit me very hard, even with gloves on, any suggestions on how to handle her?
Generally, it is easiest to tame cockatiels while they are juveniles (12-14 weeks of age). Because your cockatiel is older it may take a considerable amount of time and patience. You will want to spend some time with her every day - plan a time of day with few distractions and dedicate say half an hour just to her. Make sure her wings are clipped so that if she does fly away you can retrieve her fairly easily. Start by just trying to get her to step up on a stick or perch that you are holding - don't try to touch or pet her at first. Talk to her continuously to let her know you are her friend. Once it appears that she is getting comfortable with that and not immediately being aggressive towards you, you can attempt to start getting her to step up on your finger rather than a stick.
Here are some general guidelines to help you with taming your cockatiel: Characteristics of Birds
You should start training her by approching her cage slowly on the side so she sees you coming. If she hisses stop but don't back away and then keep approching her. When you get to the cage slowly put your hand in but again going torwards her slowly then put your finger by her feet so she can step on and slowly take her out then spend time with her then put her away and repeat . But do this somewhere quiet .
You should start training her by approching her cage slowly on the side so she sees you coming. If she hisses stop but don't back away and then keep approching her when you get to the cage slowly put your hand in but again going torwards her slowly then put your finger by her feet so she can step on and slowly take her out then spend time with her then put her away and repeat . but do this somewhere quiet .
I have a lutino and a pearl. my lutino does bite too, however he has stopped here lately. I blow on him and get very close to him and say oh no you don't want to do that come on now and put my finger in front of him and my other hand close to his wing so he can't fly away and hold him close to my chest and walk to were I'm going to sit down and place him close to me and let him come to me while I ignore him. He will ease himself closer, then I say oh oh gooood boy and I have done this every day for a year or so and he has truly come around to being our friend. praying over them helps too, julie.
I bought my cockatiel when he was a baby and last week he turned 22 years old! He is a sweet, affectionate boy and has only gotten more so with age. He looks like a young bird too- no signs of aging. Loves jazz music and singing and says his name-"Hello Louie!" I've had dogs, cats, rabbits, fish, rodents, you name it and Louie is the most low maintenance of them all. I feed him Harrisons Bird food, bird seed, and offer him pasta, egg, spinach, and nuts when we're eating those foods.
Wonderful I am a bird nut so great.