Cockatiel Care Guide | Everything You Need To Know! | TheParrotTeacher
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 มิ.ย. 2024
- Hey all, thanks for watching my Beginner's Guide to Cockatiel Care.
I hope if you're starting out with a new cockatiel friend that it's useful to you, or if you already have one some of the tips come in useful too!
I didn't intend for this video to be so long, but there's just so much to cover I couldn't fit it all in!
Any comments, suggestions, tips for new cockatiel owners are welcome as always!
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Cage set up: • How to Setup Your Cock...
How to stop biting: • Tips To Prevent Your P...
Cockatiel behaviour: • Cockatiel Behaviours a...
Watch this before getting a cockatiel: • Want a Cockatiel? Watc...
Teach your bird to sing: • How to Teach Your Cock...
Training: • Cockatiel Training | L...
Train to step up: • Parrot Step Up Trainin...
Signs of a happy cockatiel: • Signs of a Happy Cocka...
Tips for new owners: • Easy Tips For New Parr...
Cockatiel toys: • Guide to Choosing the ...
Train to tidy up: • How to Train Your Cock...
Common dangers: • Common Dangers for Pet...
Night frights: • Cockatiel Night Fright...
First aid kit: • Emergency Parrot First...
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#parrots #pets #cockatiel
Just rescued a cockatiel flying around my neighborhood. Thanks for the tips!
Glad they were helpful!
Same but it was in my backyard my dog was messing with it but he is fine now
Lucky
@@Murder.Muffin We actually named him "Lucky" 🤣
@@Murder.Muffin we have a similar user name!
I love how your wonderful birdies are with you! The are so fluffy and cute
Thank you!
These two are very well behaved (mostly) same with Pickles.
Our two new rescues are v.naughty lol
Fish is a beautiful singer.
This is a very important video for us cockatiel owners
Thank you. 🐦🐥
Hey Denise,
Thank you!
Pretty much I’m drawing one and then putting things to take care of them
Found you from a comment you made on flock talk. The profile pic caught my eye.
Hey Fatima!
Cool, I like many of her vids!
Hope you find my videos useful too!
I had 2 cockatiels, 1 lived to be 27,and the other was not so lucky and died at 24 .I offered veg and fruit for a long time after getting them ,but they never touched them.both birds also enjoyed very small amounts of crisps fed sparingly by hand.Cheese doritos were their absolute favourite. They also had lots of millet sprays. I also feel that an iodine block should always be available to our little feathered friends.
So it’s awesome your tiels lived to be so old! Always lovely to see!
The iodine block isn’t needed it’s an old school item! They should be getting any extras they need from their diet!
It’s also awesome you offered them good stuff, getting them to eat healthier can initially be a hassle and take time but it’s worth it!
Great vid 👍🏻
Thanks!!
Information appreciated, thanks.
Glad it was helpful!
Well explained informative content!
Thanks Alan!
Watched this again. Excellent. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Absolutely fantastic advice. Thank you so much
Glad it was helpful!
Good, Thanks!
Great care guide that you've provided for everyone on TH-cam!
Thank you! This is my older one though!
Excellent video! Very helpful.
Thank you!
You are doing such an amazing job. I inherited 4 cockaltiels and one budgie from a friend who passed last May. The flight cage is 8 ft long, 7 ft high, and 4 ft wide. I have my air purifiers, several new perches and am going to order toys from Planet Pleasures. They have toys I ordered from Amazon, but this was before I found you and Sophie. I am trading out their feed bowls for stainless now. She had them for approximately 8 years and they had been rescued. No history on them. They will not sit on my hand but I am taking my time. It seems they, especially Garnet and Opal are close to landing on my head. Pearl, Ruby , and Sapphire are more timid. I love learning about their individual personalities an what their sounds mean. They were not named when they came to me and ate only seed and Romaine lettuce once a week. I have been introducing veggies to them. The smaller the better. Thank goodness you mentioned avacados are toxic and hazardous household ideas. You have and are helping me immensley. THANK YOU SO MUCH!@@TheParrotTeacher
@@joannvitovec4735 no problems and it’s awesome you’ve taken them on! You seem to be doing things really sensibly and hopefully in time they will settle in and be happy interacting with you lots!
Target training could be a good place to start as well as using fresh herbs and soaked items to introduce them to healthier food items!
Thank you for the tips. I will get going with that.@@TheParrotTeacher
Ayyyy! This is gonna help me alot with my first bird ✨🤘
Awesome! Also cool name!
@@TheParrotTeacher ty :D
Yours too ✨🦜
When it comes to clipping a birds wings...I personally feel it's like amputating my legs, and expect to be just fine afterwards...I'll grow used to it right? Used to, yes. Happy life? Probably not. There's a reason birds have wings and can fly, clipping them makes you unfit as a birdkeeper (or any animal for that matter). This is MY opinion on the matter, I do not care if "clippers" disagree, you are wrong! Now to end on a happy note: Thank you so much for your cockatiel videos, I'm learning so much from you, Chip and Fish. I also have 2 brothers, Had them for oh about 5 days now. I'm very much a noob when it comes to keeping birds, I started in October last year. I've always loved animals, and I had aquarium fish for many many years. I see a lot of the experience and knowledge actually helps me now, say when it comes to being attentative of small changes, understanding genetics and such. I learned about genetics when I was breeding Siamese fighting fish, and now it helps me understand color mutations in finches etc. Wish all you bird and animal lovers the best in these troubled times, stay safe
I have to admit, I don't agree with clipping either. It solves no problems and apart from extreme medical reasons I can't find any rational reason to do it.
Thank you for the kind words!
i saw your video cool cage set up
Thanks great advice 👍
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you!!
No worries! Hope it was helpful!
I just got the air purifier you mentioned. Thank you
They can be so useful around cockatiels! We run ours at least once a day these days.
Hope it helps keep the dust down!
so cute!!!
Thank you!
Hi very nice video.... Very informative.... Was very helpful in taking care of cockteil
Hey Brinda!
Thank you, I'm glad it was helpful!
@@TheParrotTeacher
Tq 👍
@@brindakr7164 No problems!
Thanks
Your birds chip and fish have such cute names!
Thank you! 😊
This helped so much! I got a cockatiel and a for a day or two he was fine and just walked away from my hand but then he all of a sudden wanted to attack me 24/7 so this helped, ty!
Glad it was useful!
Finally a British person who can say herbs lol! Love this video, got a whiteface cinnamon pied boy recently, he’s only 9 weeks old 🥺
Glad it was useful! I actually have an updated one and loads more cockatiel content too!
Cute! What did you name them?
@@TheParrotTeacher saw that one too! I named him Dundee like Crocodile Dundee
Nice one and classic name!
I just came across this video and it convinces me to get a cockatiel
If you have the time and space they are awesome little parrots!
You mentioned candles. Excellent to mention. I use unscented candles with batteries in it. Even those I don’t keep in the bird room because they will chew on the wax if they have access which would be bad for them.
Also, self cleaning ovens is a huge no no. The parrot rescue told me of a woman who’s mother came to visit. While her daughter was a work she used the self cleaning on the oven and killed all 7 of their beautiful parrots. 🥺
Thank you!
There are so many common household dangers to parrots that people just don't realise. It's good you're so careful! We have one like that and like you keep it away from the little ones in case they chew it.
That's horrid...I'd have been furious if my parent did that. Well beyond furious to be honest!
Horrific I had no idea
I can't imagine what that must have felt like... I'm in tears
Definitely the most informative cockatiel videos I've watched so far,I got my hand reared male today,he is so friendly when he came home he didnt want to go in his new cage I had to hand feed him 🙈🤣,your birds are adorable,great videos godbless.
Hey Tom,
Thank you! Very cute that your new cockatiel it's already being ultra friendly!
I have lots more cockatiel content on my channel too!
@@TheParrotTeacher it's great!! He was hand-reared from egg I believe,so maybe this gave us a great start,I'm slowly making my way through your content!! We appreciate you,invaluable resource is this channel,godbless brother.
@@tomthompson2309 Thanks!
how much time should they spend outside the cage?@@tomthompson2309
I like you mate, I can tell you love your birds. I have a cocktail I call Master Chief (Spartan 117 😂) he's my one man army and tends to boss around my Yellow Crowned Amazon parrot who's called Cookie. He's very stubborn and domineering but it's not his fault. His old owner thought he was a girl and kept him in a small cage with another male. He let him and the other obe out to train them but the time they spent in the cage turned Master Chief into a bit of a bully. I've spent 2 years so far rehabilitating him and encouraging him not to bully other birds over food, he's extremely stubborn but he's learning and calming down. Hoping to get him a girlfriend soon as his company unfortunately died not too long ago (my 17 year old piead cocktail and my baby boy Sandy). I completely agree with you about the misleading you don't get a good bond with a bird if you have a pair rubbish. I've always had more than 1 bird and the bond has never suffered. Misty my little old man who died a few years ago (Sandy's mentor and farther figure) had a girlfriend I called MJ and he was still 100% besotted with me, used to fly to my bedroom in the morning to get me up just so I could give him a kiss good morning. He'd bow his head for me to kiss the back of his head. I've always believed it's down to how much you love your birds and if both your personalities sync with each other just like when people bond. It's got nothing to do with how many birds you have, you can't get to know your bird properly unless you see what there like with their own kind. Plus it's company for them when you're busy, most think they should get rid of their birds when they can't give them as much attention anymore. Not true, that will just sink them into depression because they lost their flock. Get them some company and they'll be happy to wait until you're finished doing whatever is keeping you busy. Having kids is not a reason to get rid of them either, kids eventually grow up and Cockatials are very social, loving, friendly family orientated birds, they'll happily accept the new addition if you take the time to teach your kids to love and respect them. I love the fact that you're encouraging people to let go of the sigma attached to caring for birds like cocktails. One of the things that drives me crazy these days is people thing grit purches damages birds feet and they don't. They will only damage them if they have no verity. I use plastic, wood, calcium and grit perches for my birds and none of them have ever had problems with their feet.
That's a cool name for a parrot! I see you must be a Halo fan!
It's really good you've taken the time to help him feel better and adapt to flock life! It can be difficult with rescues.
Yeah, there are lots of rubbish perches on the market and sadly lots of misinformation.
Thank you, there shouldn't be any stigma for actually treating a pet properly! It's a very old school view to just do nowt for them!
@@TheParrotTeacher have faith in yourself mate. I know how it feels to be frightened of your bird flying off out tge window. I'm a bird lover. The bonds I built with my birds for both them not wanting to fly off and me trusting them not to fly off didn't happen over night.
Have faith in yourself, trust that you can teach them how to survive and make there way home if they did decide to go on an adventure. There birds, trust them to be birds and migrate home. You can do it if you believe in yourself and they'll trust you to lead the flock. Believe in yourself for their sake and they will never disappoint you.
I believe you love your birds, now all you need is to believe in yourself to be 100% leader of the flock. You know what food they can and can't eat so teach them what to look for if they went on an adventure out the window. You'll know not to panic if they get lost and so will they.
Not trying to sound like I'm having a go at you. I'm Autistic so my words sound very blunt and never come out the way I mean them. Your a bird lover so don't be frightened of them. Book tell people to make the window into a forbidden fruit instead of reaching them how to survive if they ever escaped. You've got the skill to put a video like this together have faith in yourself to train them to survive.
thx good vid
Thanks for the kind comment! Glad it was useful!
The 2 cockateils sometimes had a casual fights...ive seen Yr videos on this... Thanks.
It does happen! It’s only if it’s very violent and constant it’s an issue! They will all squabble from time to time!
I already keep a handfed budgie and I'm hoping to handfeed a cockatiel chick next! I've already ordered the cage and toys and things. I just need to go down and choose one.
Hey there!
Sounds good! If you're experienced with hand feeding why not! Picked a name?
I got some pellets but is an all pellet diet good for a cockatiel? And I love the vid it helped me a lot
Thank you, glad it was useful!
All pellets is not ideal no. You want a balanced diet for your bird. Think of it like with a person! You need some seed, some pellets, some fresh veg etc!
Hi David - any ideas or links to a not too expensive outside stand perch like you have? the ones I have come across are very expensive.
Hey Raj,
I’d honestly suggest just shopping around and looking for sales! They are pretty expensive right now due to brexit
Hi great video I was just wondering what measurement is your cage I'm looking to get a new cage and yours looks like a great size
Hey Amy,
I have a cockatiel cage set up video with a mini tour of it along with links to where we bought it from! The comments also have dimensions!
th-cam.com/video/B76CFCkEjSM/w-d-xo.html
@@TheParrotTeacher thankyou
@@amycowman4879 No problems!
I used to have two female cockatiels however sadly one died of an illness not to long ago and their personalities were very different. the one that is still alive and is the older and larger one (the one in my profile pic),and she loves me but i think because of previous experiences from before we got her she is extremely scared of hands, and the other one was a year younger and pretty small for a cockatiel was very sweet and loved to go on my hands.
You can do work on desense and training around hands to improve the perception and relationship with them!
I have 2 cockatiels and I had them for over one months and I noticed their personalities are totally different stormy is a singer and is pretty sweet he is the first one to go my finger Griffin was a little grumpy for a long time because he was trying to recover from a mean cockatiel his personality is being really smart sweet and curious. he's the only one that can solved the forging toy i made for my birds and when I finally got to taming him he went from hissing at me to flying to me on command in one day it's crazy how fast he learns
It is amazing how much they differ and how quickly some of them pick up tricks and learn complex puzzles!
THANK U SOOO MUCH! Just got me a 3month old cockatiel yet to go through its first molting season, so unsure if my bird is male or female at this time. Trying to bond with it as much as possible. Hoping that watching ur vids will help me understand n bond better with my baby grey Pied cockatiel Paris. Wish me luck for the next 30+yrs!
Hey there,
I'm sure you and Paris will get on great!
where did you get your bird play stand? im from Canada
Hey Melissa, we got it from zooplus, but you can get it from Amazon!
Hello! Loving your channel!!! Any tips on getting cockatiels not to poop on you/in house when out of cage? Is that a possibility? 😂
Hey Emma,
You can toilet train parrots. However it comes with a few disclaimers. It can be a little difficult and also it needs to be done in a certain way or the cockatiel will just hold their poo in which is unhealthy!
So if you do decide to do it, you need to watch for the motion they make when they want to go. Then immediately pick them up and pop them where you'd like them to go with a verbal que or clicker click. You then reinforce with a reward. After a few (fair few) times they will generally start to go where you want them to. HOWEVER, you need to make sure it is easily accessible so they never have to hold it in.
Pickles is mostly potty trained but we don't do it with the others as we prefer them to just go when they want!
How did you transition your cockatiels to fruit and vegetables did you start with mixing it in the seed or just leaving it separate?
Hey Aaron,
Rather than writing it out it'd be easier if you took a peek at my fiance's channel. She has a video dedicated to converting to veg!
Do you put the chop in a additional food bowls
Hey Karen,
We put chop in the same food bowl but empty it out late afternoon and replace with an evening snack of pellets, some seed, spices etc!
Would you recommend house sitting a cockatiel for a week as a test run? To see if a cockatiel is the right fit for me and my home.
House sitting is always a good way of finding out what a parrot is like! Or helping out at a rescue!
I read on a website that bird owners get the max HEPA air purifier, which costs around $300. Do I HAVE to buy that one if I get a cockatiel or can I just buy the one like you showed in the video
Hey Ahtziri,
As long as it’s a true HEPA it’s fine! We have an expensive one as we have 5 parrots! But there are smaller ones that work well.
I have a couple of videos dedicated to the topic if you want to learn more specifics
This was really useful! Could you give me a bit more advice on feeding? How much feed should we give a bird (is there a certain % of their body weight?)? Also what ratio of veg to pellets should birds be fed? What is your opinion on seeds? And do you feed birds twice a day or leave them with food in all the time? Thank you so much for any response! : )
Hey Anna,
Honestly, we tend to consider pellets as an extra. When we do give them we usually provide a tea spoons worth per bowl per day.
Vegetable wise, we believe this should be the main component of a parrots diet!
We do feed twice a day! We tend to provide fresh chop, sprouts, sometimes a tiny bit of seed or flowers for some crunch. We then swap this out in the afternoon or early evening (depending on work) to a dry mix to leave overnight, as the veg can't be left due to the risk of it going bad.
The mix tends to consist of some seed, a spice, some flowers, pellets and whatever other healthy extras we have about! This is good as we can leave it for them to snack on overnight and their main feed has been the veg.
My opinion on seed is it's basically like Junk food for humans. A little bit is fine, but too much is bad. It's all about providing the right seeds and also in moderations. Also if you avoid providing the really naughty seeds that parrots love their treat value goes up and it makes training easier. After all if I can get free pizza for doing nothing, why should I work for it?!
My partner Sophie's channel has lots of videos on diet too I also have a few more on my channel worth watching!
@@TheParrotTeacher thank you so much for the reply! I really appreciate it. It's honestly so useful.
Welcome advice, you are a natural ‘non officious’ presenter. I own cockatiels and I have one suggestion regarding flying free. Please anticipate poops everywhere. The good news is that they are small, when you wait for them to dry up, about an hour usually, they detach with ease and, with the exception of bright fabrics, leave no residual mark. It is for me a slightly cumbersome but worthwhile price to pay for a happy healthy and loving relationship.
Thank you! That is very true! You will get poop absolutely everywhere lol.
You can also use "poop off" which we were sceptical about initially but have found to be so useful!
Where do you get those really long perches?
The natural bird product company if you mean the ones in the boys cage! They are custom made !
Thank you so much
No problems! If you have any more questions please feel free to let me know!
Do you give you Cockatiel edamame? Do you give them frozen mix veggies- the pet store I purchase mine from told me it was okay?
Hey Dawnika,
You can provide cooked organic edamame beans in moderation but it isn't really the best type of food for cockatiels!
Some people do provide frozen veggie mixes but honestly fresh is best! Even if you just prepare their chop fresh then freeze it it's much better than straight frozen from the pack!
Hi . Just want to say your videos are amazing and so informative. Im hoping in a few weeks to get a lutino boy and a female as well for company . What do you think ? Is a female a good idea ? Also do I have to get 2 cages or keep them in 1 in the right conditions . Thanks 😊
Thank you for the kind comment!
If you're prepared to manage hormones then sure! Also caging separately would depend on how on the ball you are with stopping them mating, but also if they were raised as a pair.
If you get them from separate places then caging separately for a while may be a good idea. If they come together they should be ok to be caged together!
@@TheParrotTeacher Thank you so much for your advice . It’s really helped . They have grown up together in the breeders home are hand tame and all the cockatiels seem to get on so hopefully fine . Im doing lots of research on everything I need to know . Thank you 🙏 so much
@@elliesresinart7260 Hey Elise,
If they've grown up together then they "should" be ok to be caged together with few issues. They'll be used to being together. Obviously bigger cage the better!
No problems, any more questions feel free to ask!
@@TheParrotTeacher thank you 🙏 I will do .
Do you recommend spraying with water?
Yes if they aren't terrified of it. A fine mist is usually the best!
Hello! =) Your beginners guide to Cockatiel Care video is very helpful to us. you have covered most of our questions with this video but there is just one i would like to ask you. we have had our 6 month old Cockatiel for roughly about a month now. (not long in bird terms) He hasn't been able to get out the cage due to him being too scared to step up. We haven't the biggest of cages but its not tiny either. It initially was only meant to be a sleeping cage as we would eventually like him to be out with us most of the day. Until we actually get to that stage hes been rather quiet, not as active. he will interact with us when he chooses and take millet out of our fingers (still not mad about millet) which we dont mind. We have toys in the cage but he doesn't interact with them much. I am starting to feel bad now as he been in the cage for 1 month and im sure he would like nothing more than to get out and stretch his wings. is there any tips you could give me or am i just thinking about this too much. Thanks again for your feedback. Kind regards! =)
Hey there,
Lots of the info you're looking for is actually in other videos I have on my channel! I have guides for bonding, target training and step up training as well as cage set up!
It's really good that he's taking millet from your hands, as that shows the start of trust. It's about slowly expanding that to trusting you and hands more and eventually step up training. It's also possible that millet isn't his fave treat and you need to find something more reinforcing!
Regarding toys, some tiels need to be taught how to play with them, it's like teaching a human child how to play!
What are you using in the bottom of the cage?
Hey Bonnie,
It's called Easichick. It's a type of substrate. I have a video on substrate vs bars that has more info BUT I intend to do a video dedicated to substrate with more info.
What about the bottom of the cage. How often does this need to be changed. If I use pellets or a paper ball type flooring for the cages, how often should it be changed?
I have a video on that too lol It's called All About Substrate.
I'd avoid using substrate pellets as many aren't safe for parrots.
@@TheParrotTeacher I wish newspapers were still popular. 20-30 years ago they were all over my flat. 😁
@@koolertrek We aren't fans of newspaper mostly because the dyes can sometimes present a danger or stain little feet at the least if wet lol
Do I have to use distilled water for baths and for drinking or is tap water fine?
That would depend on where in the world you are!
Here in the UK the general consensus is that tap water is completely fine!
@@TheParrotTeacher
Thank you!
Your video wasn't too long. Again, another great video!
I'm going to get my cockatiel a friend because he's lonely. He's 10 years old so is it ok to get a young one from a breeder or an older one? To get them acclimated should they be in separate cages next to each other and for how long before introducing them outside their cages?
Should a cockatiel's cage be in a bedroom or in the main living area?
Where did you get that toy in this video and the stand with perch and bowls?
My little guy lost all his powder down 3 yrs ago and his beautiful light grey feathers are now very dark and look oily. He's been feather plucking under his left wing and chest, but has no feathers on his thighs ( he didn't pluck these out).
Since then, I've spent over $2,000 going to different avian vets but disappointed because he's not any better and the vets weren't very knowledgeable since they mainly see cats and dogs. Any thoughts on why he has no feather powder and isn't this abnormal?
Last question (I promise 😊), do you have any videos on lighting? I went to five different vets in three yrs trying to find answers to his skin and feather issues and when I asked each one about full spectrum lighting, I got 5 different answers, so still totally confused 🤔.
I want to give him the best life and thats why I love and appreciate your videos and Sophie's because most birds have a very sad life but you're making a difference educating bird owners like me.
Thanks again and have a blessed week!
Cindy
So! where to begin!
It'd be better to get a bird of a similar age if possible. You could get one from a breeder too though. It all depends on your current ones personality.
Regarding acclimation. When you first get the new little one, keep it in a separate room for quarantine purposes, to protect your one and the new one.
Once you're happy both are ok, then move them into the same room but not right next to each other. This is so both have their own spaces and there are no territory issues.
Regarding introductions. I'd keep an eye on them both and how they interact. For some safety, you could bring one up to the others cage and see how they behave. You'll need to be patient in any case. They may bond v.quick or they may not get on that well at all! It's a difficult thing to judge.
We keep ours in the main living area so they can all be part of the action for the most amount of time. Also to give them plenty of space to fly. Some people have dedicated bird rooms, others keep in bedrooms then bring them to the living area for the day to sit on a stand! Again it really depends on circumstances/space!
Which toy did you mean? The big stand was from Ebay if I remember right!
Sadly we aren't vets. I asked Sophie too about this and honestly it does sound abnormal and an avian vet issue. Is his skin irritated at all? Or red? If so you could try to treat that.
You could use some warm water spraying, various teas (including spraying a diluted version)...BUT doing so if his feathers are oily could lead to him being quite cold. So if you did try this you'd need to keep him in a warm dry place after.
You could also try altering his diet to promote feather health. It's possible he has an allergy to something like wheat, corn or soy!
My apologies if you've tried all of this already!
We don't use lighting for our birds and generally just try to make sure they get as much natural light as possible instead. You can get decent UV bulbs and you'll need to use them for 4 hours a day or so. They should be positioned outside of the cage and there needs to be a space for them to move away from it too. You'll need to get a bulb specific to birds too. Some people do say it can be helpful but I wouldn't feel qualified to do a video on it beyond maybe a section discussing what I mentioned above!
Hope this is helping you out!
@@TheParrotTeacher Thank you. I won't bug you for awhile and really appreciate your time and help.
You and Sophie take care. I really love her videos as well.
(I was asking about the toy in this video for beginners cockatiel care😊)
@@cindywoodrum5037 Hey Cindy,
No problems!
Sadly the video is a bit long to whiz through to find which one you mean!
i might get a cockatiel, im so excited and cant wait! I love cockatiels, theyre soo cute! And, if i buy a cockatiel from a pet store, do you think they still will be easily tamed if the pet seller says theyre hand tamed?
Hey Sunny,
Sometimes pet stores lie about how hand tame a bird actually is. However, bonding with a parrot isn't especially tough, it just takes time and patience!
I have videos on Bonding, Bonding Mistakes and Training that might be worth watching!
@@TheParrotTeacher The pet seller seems like a pretty good person, that loves to help but I understand you. We used to have a cockatiel, but it was really aggressive. It bite, and couldnt let us go near him. So basically since that happened, I'm nervous to get a cockatiel. There is one 5 year old boy in our family and he acts like a 2 year old. I think you might know what I mean. He wont leave the bird alone, let alone the fact that he has killed 2 birds already. I'm just scared for the cockatiel, I want one, but I'm unsure, will it be tame, will I have enough time for it, and will it get enough sleep? Our family is used to go to sleep irregularly. Sometimes 12AM, sometimes 11pm, sometimes 10pm, and so on. Oh, and can you tell me exactly what does a cockatiels diet include? Sorry I'm asking lots of questions, I just want the best for my future bird!
I am in school for up to 7 hours. That's the maximum. I usually go at 8AM and two times a week I come at 3PM. I have a lot of time at home, though. I just want company and a pet bird that is affectionate.
Cockatiel diet is : Seed, Pellets, Vegetables, sprouted seed, some herbs!
The boy sounds like he needs some discipline and shouldn't be allowed near birds/animals. You could put a lock on the cage to prevent him accessing the bird.
Taming wise, I can't say for sure! It all depends on his personality, how he has been handled and the work you put in with him bonding and training!
Your bedtime habits don't seem to be the best for the bird. They need 9 to 14 hours of sleep MINIMUM or it can encourage hormonal or over tired behaviour. They also need a consistent routine.
You being in school isn't a problem provided you put in the time and effort when you are there!
Hope this helps you out!
@@TheParrotTeacher Yup, thank you so much. I've decided that I'll put him sleep at 9PM in my room, covering his cage with a cloth. And at the time I wake up, (sometimes 7am and sometimes 6.30am) I'll remove the cloth and change his water and probably food too. The old cockatiel we used to have was given toy dads friend, he is now tame by them and probably living his best life. But thank you you helped so much
Hi :) Wonderful tutorial!
I have a sort of request.. I have two rescue cockatiels, both lutinos, male and female who bonded well as soon as they got here :D But one, the boy, is completely blind and the girl is partly blind (one eye) we think. This makes training of any kind hard, as they can't see what's being offered and so on. The bind male is quite tame and sits on my hand, and the girl is getting more trustful as the days go by, which is great. I tried to find videos and info on how to tame/treat a blind bird, but it's not a lot. If you have any good advice on this I would be so happy - thanks!!
Hey there,
So this comment is actually well timed. I’m planning a video specifically on helping birds with visual impairment which will be coming up soon.
I also have a video on disabled birds that has some general tips that may help.
Further to this you could consider booking a consultation with our business (best behaved birds) and we would look into the individual circumstances of your birds and talk you through some training ideas! (We’ve had clients with parrots who has sight issues before)
is it ok if i keep a normal ringneck parrot with a cockatiel
Hey Jeremiah,
Honestly, that sounds like a bad idea. The difference in sizes and behaviours would likely create a recipe for disaster unless you have a huge aviary. If they are in separate cages then sure, otherwise no!
I wish I saw this soon, it's was extremely helpful! I took my cockatiel out it's cage an hour after I got it and we pretty much bonded instantly, but I get that birds can be different from each other.
Also, I found my cockatiel on the street, which was weird since there wasn't many birds like that in my area. Should I look out for anything? Such as any injuries or past owners? Because she seems ok but a bit well tamed to have been living outside.
That's an interesting way of finding a cockatiel lol!
Glad it was useful!
What brand of cage is that behind you?
I actually have a video all about it on my channel (it's one of my first ones!)
We had a budgie that flew into our large glass doors which probably started it's issues. Now we have a Cockatiel - if we don't want to continue to clip it's wings, what do people do with their large glass doors? The back of our home is basically glass - a 4 part big door to our pool cage and a huge corner window in the eating area. These are messy, high traffic areas (kids and dog coming and going and eating)
Options wise are stickers to make them more obvious as barriers, training, netting etc
I've had R2D2 for two days now, so far he won't take food from my hand if it's inside his cage, but he'll eat from my hand if I stick it through the bars. When we first got home though he must have been hungry because I poured some seeds into my hand and he ate out of my hand inside the cage. I think he'll take awhile, he's not very trusting. He's from a pet store, where as my last Cockatiel was a hand raised baby and very friendly straight off. He picked me at the pet store, yet still maintained a little distance. It's like he's interested in me but a little cautious too.
Sounds like you’re off to a decent start though! It may take more time due to his background but you’ll form a bond!
Hey brother! I am gonna have a cockatiel after Eid..so my question is when i will teach him step up training,should i have to repeat it multiple times?if so how much time..please reply
Hey Sakib!
When you get your cockatiel give them some time to settle. You can begin bonding stuff with them right away like sitting near the cage, treats through bars, maybe target training etc.
But wait a little while and see how they act before starting on step up training or getting them out. Training is an all the time thing! You'll have to keep rewarding the behaviour if you want to keep it going!
@@TheParrotTeacher ok thank u
@@SakibKhan-qq8dz No problems!
About preventing Night Frights, isn't it enough to just put a blanket over their cage, so the cockatiels are protected because they can't see what's beyond the blanket?
Or isn't that recommended? I always thought that putting a blanket over your cockatiels (or any pet bird) while they are sleeping, is quite normal?
It’s definitely normal, but the views on it are changing.
Many people still cover birds cages but there are some unwanted side effects such as increased hormonal behaviour, fear responses when it’s removed too quickly, the opposite effect as something scary happens and they can’t see it or aren’t used to it!
We generally don’t recommend covering, but some people do need to for whatever reason so we suggest partial covering. Just the top 1/3 or the back and sides.
I’ve actually got a video specially about night frights and lots of other cockatiel specific topics!
Im about to get a baby cockatiel (needs to be handfed) and i also want a lovebird, but most people say that they dont get along so well. So I was thinking if I'd get them both as babies so they'd grow up knowing each other and hopefully would lessen the lovebirds natural aggression orrrr should i just get 2 cockatiels insteadd?
You could try, but they would need to be housed separately!
Two cockatiels would be better as they would have companions of the same species. But do be sure you’re prepared for hand feeding and all the attention it requires!
Is it okay to buy a 8month old tiel from a pet shop. Will i be able to tame it
Hey Bojan,
You could do. Of course, with enough time, effort, training and patience you can bond and tame any bird.
Hello, I got a new cockatiel and am planning on getting him a mate soon. I played the sound of a cockatiel on my phone for him and he got excited and called out to it. I though that it might cause frustration but as you say in your video it’s fine to do. Is it ok to play those sounds for him while I’m out?
Hey there, once in a while is fine but while you’re out it’s best not to as it can lead to frustration!
@@TheParrotTeacher ok I figured that it would after a certain period of time🤔 Thank you very much!
I just got my cockatiel and he will step up and sit on my finger or shoulder but he hisses at me often. Should I not be trying to hold it and just keep it in the cage and talk to it?! I’m on day 2 with him
It depends on the individual bird! If he’s happy to sit on you then maybe do it but if he gets stressed give him some space. Also constantly reinforce for being with you.
There’s nothing to say you can’t do the passive stuff while you work on the active too! It always depends on the individual bird.
Your birds probably think you're seeing things with no one in front of you.
I bet lots of stuff us humans do makes them think “huh” lol
I’m curious how cayenne pepper is safe for them? It’s spicy so wouldn’t that be dangerous? Just curious, new bird owner here 🥰
No worries!
Spicy peppers are totally safe for them! In fact they can eat much spicier stuff than us as they lack the receptors to taste the spice! They can eat chilli’s that would make us cry safely!
Cayenne especially is useful for them as it’s a mild pain reliever!
There are some foods to avoid though such as avocado and many human foods for various reasons!
Hi
We got a cocktail from pet shop nearly 3 months ago and he only sings,play and fly when I put cocktail companion video on my tv.
He eats from my hand,but won’t come near me when he’s out,never mind to step up.
Hey Kinga,
It sounds like he's used to other cockatiels being around! I'd work on bonding, step up training and target training with him! I have videos on those topics on my channel!
@@TheParrotTeacher thank you kindly for your advise.We are thinking about getting him a real companion to keep him happy.
When it comes to training,I don’t want to push to hard-when he doesn’t want to do something this is it-turns his back to me and we are not talking 😆Will get there at some point,but he’s loved trained or not trained 😀
@@kingawisniewska8117
That can work. Just be aware that they may not get on and you may have to cage them separately! Sometimes bonding works instantly, other times it takes training and effort!
Of course! Training should never be forced and always done with positive reinforcement. Target training is the best place to begin. Sessions can be just once a day and only need last 2-5 minutes.
i had my cockatiel for a long time but when i approach her she will just bite me unless i got a treat, why is that so? what can i do?
Hey Lee,
It's likely because you haven't done enough training and bonding work with her!
I'd work on target training, step up training with treats and just general bonding work. I have some other videos that may be useful!
How long does it take for the egg to hatch for the baby bird to be born
Sadly me and Sophie don’t generally cover breeding or baby bird content as we don’t want to encourage it!
It does vary however!
I kept thinking about the vege you mentioned. When i read pepper i wondered why you were feeding your bird something spicy. Then you said bell pepper/red pepper and it took me a fee seconds to realise you meant capsicum. I'm neither from the UK or US ( from New Zealand) and we call those capsicum so i got a lil confused haha
Hey Bloo!
Sorry haha, I should have considered that! However, you can actually give them chilli's and hot peppers too. Our birds love chilli peppers. They don't have the same spice receptors that we do, so they can eat things that would make us turn red!
@@TheParrotTeacher interesting, didn't know that. Planning on getting a cockateil in future so this video's helpfull. Currently we cant get any bird though since we have two cats and one of them is a very keen hunter and it would probably stress the cat and bird out when they see each other
@@oddbloochicken
Awesome, glad it helped! I have a few cockatiel related videos on my channel if you want to view some more!
Ahh that makes sense. Cats and birds generally don't mix too well. It's great you've considered that before getting one!
I have a question!! I’ve had my cockatiel since 12 July 2021, she was 13 weeks old. I have no problem with bonding or her eating, or her character!! She has a large cage, but she is allowed free time. My question is, I’ve managed to put a few toys,perches e.c.t. My problem is, I can’t reach to the back of her cage, to put more toys/ perches?? Is it ok to only have toys, perches, food bowls, front and half way across the cage.
Hey Marj,
Sounds like a very big cage which is awesome! Generally yes, you obviously have some wasted space which would be awesome to use. But if you physically can't reach it you can't reach it!
Provided she has lots to do then its fine. You could consider poking through some toys, or maybe getting someone's help with a perch or two there. The other option is longer /bigger toys that extend to that area to make use of it.
@@TheParrotTeacher how can I send you photos of her cage?? At the moment she is on my shoulder and we are listening to Roy Orbison ! Longest time she has spent on my shoulder!!!
@@marjpartridge2959 Sounds cute!
Easiest way would be to send them to me or Sophie via instagram!
Sadly we just did our cage reactions videos!
Are chip and fish kept in the same cage?
They are yes!
First thing i would have said was don't get one if you aren't ready for a big commitment and willing to give it a ton of attention. So many people like getting pets period just to have and they often don't even care about them in the least.
Hey there!
I cover that in other videos as I completely agree with you! I have a few on that topic as I think it's very important to mention.
we have had our cockatiel a week now and so far all he wants is seed he has had A FEW bites of lettuce in a week. Im trying to introduce more but he wont entertain it, any ideas on when i can start to handle him etc? He is also a real quiet bird and only starts to talk so to speak on an evening? i have a bath for him also but he wont entertain much
Hey Leah,
Diet conversion can take a while! Especially if he's a little guy and recently weaned. The fact he's trying some lettuce is awesome as it means he is willing to eat greens!
If he's eating lettuce, try herbs such as fresh rosemary and mint too! They have a pleasant tastes to most parrots so it'll expand how much greenery he likes to eat. I'd keep at it. If you want more specific tips try my fiance's video (Birdnerdsophie) on how to get parrots to eat veggies!
Regarding handling, you haven't had him long and it depends on him as an individual and if he was hand raised. I'd take it at a slow pace and see how he responds. I have a good video on how to bond with your cockatiel that might be worth peeking at!
Bathing again is a tough one. Some cockatiel's LOVE IT others hate it! I wouldn't rush on that front, you can keep offering or even try lightly misting him to see if he responds positively.
I'd also recommend target training, it's a great training tool and helps with lots of things!
@@TheParrotTeacher ty so so much we got him from a pet store he is about 6 months old so ot sure on the hand raised part. He is a sweet white and grey boy. He today also took some millet while I was holding it so it is a start right? I really appreciate your help. I've subscribed to both channels
@@leahmccutcheon9600 no problems at all!
It’s good he’s willing to take some food from
You as that’s how bonding starts basically! Him linking you with good things!
@@TheParrotTeacher greatly appreciated 🥰
What is the first step to getting my birds to eat out of my hand. I'm trying to bond with them but they are so mean. I let get out the cage every day but when they see me they back up. I've been having them for 2 years and now I'm trying to bond with them
Hey there,
I have videos on bonding, including ones specifically to cockatiels!
It's worth mentioning that parrots are seldom mean for the sake of it. There almost always a reason behind it, in this case it may be fear/lack of motivation to interact with you.
can they eat watermelon and honeydew or cantaloupe? i ask this because i will have my very first pet to call my own and am new to owning a cockatiel
Hey Dana,
They can eat all of those in moderation, just avoid any skin and stick to the flesh! One quick thing to mention, cockatiels tend to be less keen on fruit and more so on veg from experience! so could be good to focus on that side of things!
What does it mean when my girl cocktail puts its head down under feet and tail feathers up in the air?
Hey Brenda,
That sounds like potential mating behaviour from the description. But that's just a guess as it could be a couple of things, it can be tough to tell from a short text description.
I have loads of questions to ask you. Firstly! How long outside of the cage do you think is OK?
Hey Zena,
That depends on your cockatiel! Generally you want to be aiming for an absolute minimum of 2 hours a day, but many do 4-6 depending on lifestyle. Some people have bird rooms or aviaries too!
Quality time is much more important than length of time. If your little one is out and is actively engaged with you for an hour, training, playing and having fun it's much more valuable than if they are out for 2 and not doing much!
@@TheParrotTeacher I chose to dedicate a room for the birds, just so they have a lot of space to fly mainly. Anyway, my idea is to leave the cage doors open, so they can go in and out as they wish. Is this a bad idea? There's nothing that can harm them, wires etc are hidden away since I got the cockatiels. When I only had finches that was not an issue, but I was well aware that these guys will chew :)
@@e1n697 Hey there,
Having a dedicated bird room is certainly an awesome thing. If it is bird proofed and there's no way they can harm themselves then I'd say go for it!
You'll need to be prepared initially in case there are any night frights, but over all I'd say a bird room or aviary is an ideal for most domestic parrots.
Having the cage door open is also fine. I'd recommend having them trained to go in when needed though if you can just in case.
I was wanting a cockateil but I thought it would be scaring my pet rabbit who lives in a room that probs gonna put the cage and I need to let the cockateil out to fly around so I was doing some research. could you pls do a nightcam and put it in the birdroom?
It's something we've been considering, but I'm not sure when and indeed if we would stream it live or just do it as a one off video!
Regarding the rabbit! It's possible it may scare the cockatiel too as they are prone to night frights. Sudden movements or noises can be really scary for them.
@@TheParrotTeacher oh, yeah your right, thanks anyway! I have never had a youtuber write back to my comments so this is so kind of you thank you!!! I like your videos by the way soooooo cute!
@@Mayonnaise_2 Really?! It's a shame more TH-camrs don't reply.
Me and Sophie try to reply to as many comments as we can.
Thank you!
@@TheParrotTeacher well thank you, and hope you are well! pls make more videos!!!!!! cause I love them!!!!!!
@@Mayonnaise_2 Will do!
Did you say sissel is good?
Yes, it is generally!
I don’t have pellets but I will give them fruits and veggie
Sounds good :)
@@TheParrotTeacher but how I make my bird to not be scared of me wen I try to teach him to step up I know we are not allowed to force them to do things they don’t want cause soon we clip his wings cause my house is really big and so he will not be lost
@@nasseralkhuzaei3467
You need to take your time with the bird. Get him used to being around you and being on you.
Giving him treats through the bars, sitting near his cage and being near him, putting your hand in the cage and keep it still are all good ways you can do this.
Once he is used to hands you can start training him to step up onto your hand. You could also use a small perch and use treats to help him step up.
Target training could also help!
Watch my bonding and step up videos for more tips!
my bird mainly eats: worms, seeds (and sunflower seed looking ones idk), millet sprays, and sometimes chews on apples . is this a healthy diet? she's 7 months old
Hey Chquiteaa!
Honestly, it's not ideal! It sounds like it's really high in fat, sugar and protein!
While all of the things you provide are fine in moderation it's like your little one is eating Mcdonalds daily at the moment!
Worms (depending on what type) are good for protein, seeds including sunflower good for fat and millet is junk food but fine as part of a balanced diet! (We use millet as a treat food for our cockatiels when training)
Your cockatiels diet only wants to be 15-25% seed and a mix of all different kinds! The rest should be mostly fresh veg, pellets, sprouted seed, some fruit.
Stuff like the worms can be given as a supplement along with herbs, egg etc!
Hope this helps!
@@TheParrotTeacher alright thx! 😊
@@TheParrotTeacher the worms are her favorite food and their the healthy type btw , she eats a lot of them when given (basically all
@@sealshit
Can still keep them in her diet, just don't give them all the time! If she loves them you could use them for training too!
@@sealshit No problems!
My cocktail is not much active,it won't eat properly and always feel tired and sit in one place,
Hey Jeevitha,
It sounds like he may need a visit to the vet to make sure he is ok. You can also try feeding him different foods - Veg, pellets etc. Also encouraging him/spending time near him.
If you've only just got him he could be settling in/nervous.
I just got mine a week ago and we keep trying fruit and vegetables but he doesn’t seem to like it he is only a 3, 4 months old. So far he only likes seed.
It can take some time and creativity! I have a video on getting your cockatiel to eat veggies that may give you some ideas!
ive had my cockatiel for 3-4 months and i cant get him on my hand or near my hand, any ideas why?
Hey Polar,
I'd say you need to work on bonding and training! I have videos on both!
Simple tips:
Interactions in and around the cage using positive reinforcement/treats.
Passive interactions near the cage, moving your hand deliberately.
Target training.
Can sleeve the hand is scary.
Can use a mini perch to train the behaviour.
@@TheParrotTeacher i have tried feeding out of hand or even having my hand close to the bird but he is too afraid to go close to my hand he just hisses or flies around the cage
@@polar_fusionn58 hey there!
Watch some of my videos on bonding! There’s loads of other cool you tubers too!
alright thanks for the help
@@polar_fusionn58 do u guys bond now? my parrot is the same :(
IF I let my new cockatiel out of cage will it go back in by itself?
Hey there,
It’s highly unlikely. Some cockatiels will go back in on their own but usually only if they are in dedicated bird room or have been trained.
I have lots more videos on cockatiels and parrots if you’d like to learn more!
would playing cockatiel sounds not make them hormonal??
Hey there,
Could you give me the timestamp for the bit in the video where I say that? It's been ages since I made this vid!
Just so I have some context and I can give you a proper reply!
@@TheParrotTeacher you said that playing bird sounds is OK but mirrors can make them hormonal. So i was wondering if bird sounds make birds hormonal? Is ot ok to play them when my bird is still getting used to his new house? He was a pet store bird. I use mobile so i dont know timestamp. Tjanks for the great content btw
@@myname-mz3lo So playing bird sounds on occasion is totally fine. Our parrots watch some videos of other parrots or even themselves. It's only if it's done constantly or when you want them to calm down or relax.
If you do notice your little one getting hormonal when they see videos then it's best to show them less or not at all. It can happen, but it's less common than with mirrors.
When he's getting used to your place, it may be best to use relaxing music or sounds to help him settle in so he doesn't get confused thinking other birds are in the house.. You can then use bird sounds once in a while later.
@@TheParrotTeacher thanks for taking the time to answer. That helps alot. ill wait till he is settled in.
@@myname-mz3lo No problems!
Can i give birds samphire?
There's conflicting info so better not to, to be safe!
can i give them cucumbers or strawberrys?
Hey Dana,
Both are completely fine in moderation and many parrots enjoy strawberries!
My cockteil doesn't eat any of the fruits ans not much fresh veges as well.... Can u please guide me.... How to make them eat
Tq
Hey Brinda,
Fruits aren't as essential as veg for their diet. I'd suggest trying Herbs and flowers first. Herbs especially are a great thing to get cockatiel's trying green things. (I have a video about herbs)
You could try grating your vegetables and mixing them in with seed to make them more appealing!
My partner Sophie has a great video on encouraging parrots to eat vegetables on her channel @birdnerdsophie !
@@TheParrotTeacher
Thanks heaps for the information and thankful for a quick reply.... Will follow the links and videos.... Will try these methods 👍❤tq
@@brindakr7164 No problems! Let me know how it goes!
How can u tell if u got mail or female
I have a video on that topic on the channel!
How do you tell the difference male female
I have a video on that topic!
I have to cockitiels and 1 cinnamon conure
Cool!
Can you please give me some advice, I got a Cockatiel about 3 months ago as a baby, he's gorgeous, and when I let him out of his cage, he comes and gives me a kiss, then he comes up to me often and gives me kisses, then all of a sudden he gets mad and start biting me, and I'm not really sure what to do. Thanks for any advice you can give me. I love the Videos. 😊😎🤗❤️
Hey Sharon,
I have videos on reasons why parrots bite that may help!
If he is doing it out of seemingly nowhere it might be worth filming interactions or just observing what's going on in the environment when he bites! Could it be a certain sound? A colour? The way you move?
There's always a reason behind biting!
@@TheParrotTeacher thanks so much, well I can't really figure out why he suddenly starts biting, but I do notice sometimes when he is sitting on my lap, and I make a sudden movement, he gets a bit of a fright, which I guess is understandable, but I'm not sure about the biting though. I will definitely take more notice next time. He is doing well with his talking which I really love too. 😊❤️😎
@@sharonpreston5224 Very cute! Sometimes it can be something as simple as that too!
Does the bird poop on you?
Sometimes! It comes with the territory!
As for the night Frights, and i dont mean this to sound cocky but my birds don't get night frights. When I first had cocktails they did get night frights but that rarely happens anymore. I find that the best way to stop night frights is to keep a light on (lamp, the landing light ect) but this doesn't stop them completely. The way to stop them completely is to keep their cages in your bedroom, let them out during the day to fly around but keep their cages in your bedroom. Having you near by to protect them eases their insacurities and relaxes them. The bond and trust you have with your bird and the permenant light on in the night time will see night frights end completely.
When I first got Cockatials they had night frights very often. So I started sleeping out in the living room with them to keep them company and relax them if they got scared. The more I slept out in the living room with them the less night frights they had. So now I sleep in the same room as them permanently and they don't get night frights anymore.
Hey there,
It does vary from cockatiel to cockatiel and how you approach the problem. Ours seldom have them too due to having the lights on etc. It's good that yours don't have them anymore!
Some people do like to keep cages in their bedroom, but we like them to have lots of dark uninterrupted sleep away from us!
@@TheParrotTeacher that's fair, it all depends on the person how much time they spend in the bedroom. And it's good for them to have uninterrupted sleep. But don't think your keeping them awake with the light or a lamp on. The night frights would just wake them up anyway.
This is the point I'm trying to make, all us bird owners started off by reading a care book about them. Most of those books where written by people who had no faith in themselves to teach them to survive if they ever flew off. They didn't have the family intamacy with their bird like they did with their families. Your bird will be awake because of night frights anyway. Your leaving a light on for them so why not a lamb in the bedroom. Your presence will make them feel safe. Have faith in yourself, your birds love you, trust them to love you too. The living room isn't the same as bedroom. A living room provides comfort and safety in the day, the bedroom is where we feel comfortable and safe at night. In the wild entire flocks sleep in the same tree, have faith in yourself to lead the flock and teach them how to survive. Once you accept that you can treat them as a part of your flock. I can tell you love them but like many you've been taught by people who didn't trust their birds, it's not your fault.
You've got play stands, i can see them in the video. Only bird lovers get pkaystands and get custom perches for their needs. Don't sacrifice your family because a book told you to train them they way they do. They where written by people who didn't trust their birds to come back. The Love for them is their I can see that, so have faith in yourself to teach them to come home if they ever got lost and believe they love you because they do. People make mistakes when training, them, that's why these books exist. But don't be so frightened of making a mistake that you teach them to panic if they flew off. Because if you panic, they will, you're the leader of the flock and they trust your decision. Have faith in yourself, you're a caringperson and love them for their own personality. You treat them like individuals because that's what they are. Don't let books written by people who didn't trust their birds make you sacrifice part of your family bond. There your birds so let them sleep in your room, it will stop the night frights completely because you'll make them feel safe. Let them out in the living room in the day to eat and play with the family. That bond will see them come home every time you let them fly around outside. A cat will only scare your bird if you don't believe you can protect them from it. A human will kill an animal to protect their family so be willing to kick a cat if it tries to eat a member of your family. Trust that you can protect them and the birds won't panic when their outside with you and see a cat. You don't have to kick the cat for being in your garden just be ready and willing to kick it if it seems overly interested in your bird. You bird will feel your confidance and be relaxed enough to not panic and fly off. And the cat will know your ready to defend your family and loose interest.