You are here:

Birds--General/Feeding my 'tiel Millet Spray

Advertisement

Expert: - 6/10/2008


Question
I have 2 female cockatiels and when I feed them millet spray, they get very aggressive and nip at me when i try to feed it to them.  When I put them together in the cage after I've given them the millet spray they nip at each other aggressively.  Should I avoid giving them millet spray?

Answer
Hi, Taylor,

No, you don't have to avoid giving them spray millet.  They are only doing what pet parrots do!  Spray millet is very tasty to parrots, it has less fat than seed does, and it is nutritional.  Therefore, your tiels are just trying to hord as much as they can for themselves!  In other words, it's like giving a bag of candy to a group of young children who proceed to argue over who gets the most!  They are most likely nipping at you because you aren't giving it to them fast enough and/or they are afraid you might try to consume some of it yourself!  In your bird's minds, you are one of the flock.

Be sure to provide enough so each bird has it's own fair share of millet when you do offer it to them.  You might want to put a spray or half a spray on each side of the cage so each has its own or somehow offer the millet to each so the other doesn't have ready access to the other's.

Chrys

Birds--General

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Chrys Meatyard

Expertise

I`ve been raising/breeding/handfeeding/selling parrots for over 20 years (parakeets/budgies, cockatiels, 6 subspecies of conures, parrotlets, amazons, lovebirds, etc.). I've been published in "Budgies" and "Cockatiels" offered by Bow Tie Productions, and have written avian articles for publication in England. I can provide advice in raising healthy birds, handfeeding/weaning babies, some health problems (although I'm NOT an avian veterinarian), nail/beak/wing clipping, general husbandry, etc. I also have experience with racing/showing homing pigeons. I cannot diagnose specific illness over this website. If you suspect your bird is ill or if you have an emergency, contact an avian veterinarian or emergency pet clinic ASAP.

Experience

Experience: Over 20 years raising parrots and over 13 years raising pigeons. Organizations: Currently, American Racing Pigeon Union and American Federation of Aviculture. Prior member Miami Valley Bird Club, Southern Ohio Pigeon Association, National Cockatiel Society, Miami Valley Sportsman's Club, others. Publications: Monthly newsletters of bird clubs.

Publications
I've been published in "Budgies" and "Cockatiels" offered by Bow Tie Productions, and have written avian articles for publication in England.

Education/Credentials
American Federation of Aviculture, completed Level I course, Fundamentals of Aviculture. Keeping/breeding parrots and other birds for over 20 years.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.