Chat Week Events Reptile & Amphibian Chats Dog Chats Cat Chats Bird Chats Small Mammal/Exotic Pet Chats Subscribe to our free email newsletters about pets and animal issues Email Address:

PHCoosmom: Wendy LaBanca is Rhode Island state coordinator of the American Cockatiel Society, co-founder and bird show coordinator of New England Cockatiel Breeders & Exhibitors, and a noted breeder of cockatiels. She also owns the ShowTiels and TielBreeders email lists. She has received the National Cockatiel Society Presidential Award in 2004 "for exceptional performance and support way above and beyond the required responsibilites of the position" in and "for your dedication, support and loyalty toward NCS" in 2005.

PHCoosmom: We are going to talk Tiels tonight. Welcome Wendy.

Wendy_LaBanca: Hello and Thank you

PHCoosmom: Wendy, Can you give us a short history of your relationship with tiels?

Wendy_LaBanca: Sure, About 11 years ago, I rescued a parakeet that we had for about a year until his passing. A year later, we decided to get another parakeet and went to a local pet shop. It was then that I saw my very first cockatiel and it was love at first site. I had Rosie for about a year and studied everything I could get my hands on regarding cockatiels. I then purchased my first breeding pair and the rest 'is history'.

PHCoosmom: I am mostly familiiar with big birds. One of the biggest questions we have is how to tame a tiel who is fearful. Any good suggestions?

Wendy_LaBanca: Like the larger parrots, tiels can be tamed the same way. It takes time and patience. Are the wings trimmed? If not, that will help. Go slow and let the tiel learn/know that you are not going to hurt him/her.

Wendy_LaBanca: You can offer favorite treats and work with him in a seperate room, away from his saftey zone of his cage, like a bathroom.

fireladie: I have a friend who has a tiel that was a former breeder, but since has lost her mate, what can she do to make her an appropriate pet again? She is somewhat bitey, and likes the saftey of her cage.

Wendy_LaBanca: That is going to take lots of time. First she needs to get used to being alone, without her mate. Spend time just talking with her in her cage, offer her her favorite foods. You can leave her door open and let her come out when she wants to instead of forcing her to.

fireladie: Thank you much, I will pass it along.

donhorse_nr: Wendy, could you please explain what sex-linked mutations are in cockatiels? Cockatiels have so many mutations, it becomes very confusing.

Wendy_LaBanca: There are sexlinked, recessive and autosomal mutations in cockatiels. Sexlinked genes come from the males. They can be visuals or carry the genes in splits meaning they can throw the genes to his children. Females are visual only: what you see is what you get.

Wendy_LaBanca: There are also dominant mutations.

Wendy_LaBanca: A sex-linked gene is any gene located on the X chromosome.

PHCoosmom: Wendy, can you give us a short list of health concerns for Tiels? What kinds of things should a tiel owner watch for?

Wendy_LaBanca: Signs of illness to be aware of are if a bird shows a lack of activity, the feathers are ruffled, or if it shows any signs of weight loss (weight loss can be quick and fatal).

PHCoosmom: Any particular illnesses that are common to tiels?

Wendy_LaBanca: Some of the common illnesses and injuries your cockatiel could contract are broken wings or legs, cuts and open wounds, overgrown beaks and nails, lameness or sore feet, feather picking, feather cysts, weight loss, heat stroke, shock, concussions, egg binding, indigestion, eye disease, mites, watery eyes, colds, tumors, Psittacosis, coccidiosis.

donhorse_nr: Wendy, could you tell us about night frights, and is there any truth to the tale, that red-eyed birds such as lutinos and fallows are more prone?

Wendy_LaBanca: Night frights are very common.

Wendy_LaBanca: A bird's natural instinct is flight so when they are startled after the lights are out, they are just trying to get away from what is frightening them. Red eyed birds like Fallow and Lutino and Whiteface Lutino (albino) are more prone to it.

PHStilts: Fire, your question please

Wendy_LaBanca: It's best to have a night light on so your tiels can see and get their barings. ga

fireladie: For a none bird owner... what is one thing people wouldnt expect about tiels in terms of diet, behavior, ect?

Wendy_LaBanca: Non-bird people don't realize how messy birds are. :)

PHStilts: I know Absoultely nothing about teils, are males or females more affectionate? or is there Really not a Differance? ga

Wendy_LaBanca: Males are comical and independant. Females tend to be more cuddly and more quiet than males. Males will sing all day long. ga

PHStilts: Coos, your question please

PHCoosmom: I will once again yield to Don. Don, your question please.

donhorse_nr: Thanks. I have many Tiels. Many of my cockbirds talk non-stop. Why is it that only in Tiels do the cocks talk and the hens don't??

Wendy_LaBanca: Well, the 'norm' is that hens don't talk but not the rule. I have a few hens that talk just as much as the boys do. It's a form of display which nature has left to the boys. ga

PHStilts: Fire, your question please

fireladie: again a non bird owner... but would tiels be considered an "easy" bird to have as a first?

Wendy_LaBanca: Cockatiels make wonderful pets for the first time bird owner. They don't require those huge cages, aren't quite as loud, smaller, easy to train.

PHCoosmom: Wendy, can you give us an idea of the dietary needs of tiels? Do they do well on pelleted diets or should there be more seed in their diet?

Wendy_LaBanca: Good question. While pellets are a great, well balanced diet, it is not considered good to feed a pellet only diet. Cockatiels are naturally seed eaters. Tiels need variety for their own well being besides just diet concerns. One would get bored really quickly eating the same thing day in and day out. I suggest seed, pellets, millet, veggies, any foods that are good for humans. Stay away from chocolate, caffeine and avacado. Balance is the key. Tiels will be just like human children and only eat their favorites.

Wendy_LaBanca: Some tiels that are on pellet only diets have had liver and kidney issues also. Variety is best.

PHCoosmom: Thank yoiu.

PHCoosmom: Can you tell us a bit about the American Cockatiel Society? What is their mission?

Wendy_LaBanca: This is probably the most thorough way to tell you about them.

Wendy_LaBanca: The purposes for founding the American Cockatiel Society were: To encourage an interest and understanding of the cockatiel as a pet, breeder, or exhibition bird. To maintain an official standard of perfection for judging the ideal. The A.C.S. show standard was completed in 1979 by Nancy A. Reed; with input from Earnest A. Hart, noted writer; and several members of the society. The visual standard was drawn by Dr. Walter J. Lavoy).

To maintain a panel of qualified judges, so that judging will be of uniform quality, governed by the A.C.S. standard. To encourage closed banding, selective breeding, and record keeping. (In 1978, A.C.S. began offering its members coded, traceable, colored bands. Select breeding and record keeping has helped to improve on mutations and produce cross mutations.) To increase interest in mutations through study pertaining to the genetics of the cockatiel.

To exchange ideas and inform all members throughout the world by the medium of the ACS Magazine, (the magazine covers every aspect of cockatiels. One will find articles on pet birds, breeding double and triple cross mutations, how to condition and prepare for a show and much, much more.)

To support research pertaining to the nutrition and ailments of the cockatiel. To hold, support and exhibit at the American Cockatiel Specialty Show each year.

san231_nr: Wendy, what is the average lifespan of a well cared for Cockatiel? What special care can be used when caring for an older cockatiel?

Wendy_LaBanca: The average life span is 20 years. I've heard of a 32 year old tiel! The oldest was fed just a seed diet, never came out of his cage, etc. I would be sure to offer a good, well balanced diet and lots of TLC.

Wendy_LaBanca: Genetics definitely play a role in life span too.

Rouen: is there an average age which chronic egg laying can become a problem, and does it happen more often in unbred hens?

Wendy_LaBanca: Low calcium is the main reason for egg binding. It can happen to any hen at any age but as long as they are getting enough calcium, it should not happen.

PHCoosmom: Wendy, I think Rouen was asking more about cronic egg laying than binding. Can you comment on how common that is?

Wendy_LaBanca: I'm sorry, I read that wrong.

Wendy_LaBanca: Multiple factors may contribute to excessive egg-laying. These include: Being hand-raised or imprinted on a human (from a young age the bird has viewed a human being as his mother, or one of his own species) Hormonal imbalance (possibly genetic) Other illness Poor diet (e.g., seeds only)

PHCoosmom: In a case where the diet is good and husbandry is good, how can you prevent Chronic Egg laying?

Wendy_LaBanca: You can change the environment to help stop or prevent egg laying. Moving the cage, perches, toys, etc. Certain ways of 'petting' tiels also can stimulate them such as on their backs so that should be limited/stopped during her 'season'. If everything else fails, an avian vet. might suggest a shot of Lupron which will temp. shut her reproductive system down and stop the egg laying but this is only used if all else fails.

Chance: I apologize for this not exactly being a direct cocatiel question, but I was wondering if there were any similarities between cocatiel breeding and other Aussie grass parakeets breeding (specifically rosellas). There isn't a lot of into out there for the grass keets, but quite a bit for tiels.

Wendy_LaBanca: I'm not that familiar with Rosellas but I have bred English Budgies and parakeets before. Sorry I can't help more.ga

PHCoosmom: Folks, time for us to say thanks to Wendy and allow her to get back to her flock. Thank you Wendy and we do appreciate your work.