Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 12/3/2007

Question
Hi
I have a male about 9yr old Cockatiel and he hates taking baths. I put him in the sink and all he wants to do is to get out! How could I make baths more enjoyable for him? Also I put vitamin in his water every day should I do that daily? And one more thing, he won't eat all the things in the cockatiel food so I started buying the parakeet food and give him these little balls of nutrients with the food he won't eat in them and he gobbles them down. I give him those occasionally . He also eats crackers, peanuts, broccoli , bread, and chips. Is he getting enough nutrients?

Answer
Hi, Michele,

I picked your question up from the question pool.

If you're forcing your tiel to bathe by putting him in the sink, no wonder he doesn't like baths!  He's most likely scared of baths/water now.  The right way to have done this would have been to gently spray mist your bird or allow your bird to bathe on his own by giving him a dish of water.  

Do not put anything in your bird's water.  When you add stuff to the water, bacteria starts developing and then your bird drinks bacteria soup.  This could make your bird sick.

If you are feeding your tiel primarily seed, your bird is on a poor diet.  You can add all the "fortified" seed you want, but seed is still seed...it's high in fat and low in nutritional value.  Crackers, peanuts, and chips are not good for your tiel either.  Peanuts are high in fat, low in nutritional value.  Broccoli and bread (depending on what type of bread) are the only 2 items you are feeding your tiel that might be healthy and nutritional.  No, your tiel is not getting enough nutrients.  Visit my website for more info:  www.angelfire.com/falcon/birdinfo/index.html.  www.birdchannel.com is also a good website.  

At 9 years of age, your bird needs a much better diet.

Chrys