New bird, this one inside!

[southernsibe]

We have added a cockatiel to our family. It is a male, about two years old. Someone at the station brought him in and asked if anyone wanted him because his wife didn't have the time to take care of him. My husband brought him home, big surprise there! My son adores all birds and has been asking to have one inside for about a year so this comes at a good time. So far so good. He is very friendly to me, but is a bit intimidated by the kids. Anyone else out there have a cockatiel? I'd love any advice or stories. I know I should not have smelly things like glade plug in's, but what about scented candles? Are they safe?
Thanks
Rachel

 

[Windy Ridge]

Be very careful of non-stick pans. Overheating them can release gasses that will poison your birds.

:O

 

[southernsibe]

Thanks for that! I have stainless that I use.

 

[Tuffoldhen]

I was given a female last Spring...She has adapted to our home very well...I light scented candles here at home for a few hours at a time, hasn't bothered my bird....I will say you need to have contact with yours everyday...I always take mine out of her cage and talk to her alot, hold her close to not frighten her at times....she seems to be timid around my grandkids too... doesn't matter how often I tell them they need to speak to her quietly she still gets upset when they are around...lol

Tuff

 

[tink]

We had one for 15 yrs. She was great. Would come down and eat dinner with us. She loved potatoes, pasta and chicken! She was free all the time and would stay on her cage most of the timeand sleep inside at night. She would fly around for exercise then go back to her cage. They are messy.....seeds and poo. Never worried about candles or smells or pans.....
Enjoy
Tink

 

[birdnutz]

A good rule of thumb is "if it smells good It's probably not good for your birds" I had one lady bring me her lovebird she'd bought from me. In a little over an hour it had plucked it's whole chest bald and was laying on the bottom of it's cage. She stated that nothing had been changed when I was questioning her. Then her daughter mentioned that her Mom had just bought a new candle. Problem solved and everyone was happy. The oils in the scented candles are what causes the problems,the heavier the scent the worse it is. Another lady out here lost all her breeders by over heating a nonstick pan and the birds were upstairs. Theres lots of good web pages out there that will help you alot. Just search for toxic for caged birds. I would imagine that anything bad for caged birds would be the same for chickens.