The Cockatiel Handbook

by Matthew M. Vriends

Book Overview

Cockatiels - parrot-related birds that originated in Australia - come in a variety of color mutations. This handbook gives detailed purchase advice, considerations related to caging, proper nutrition,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0764110179
• ISBN13: 9780764110177
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: B.E.S. Publishing
• Length: 183 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.5" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

Cockatiel

It really shows you all you need to know about cocktiels.My wife loves it.The Cockatiel Handbook

Must read for any cockatiel owner!

This was a very informative book, it helped me alot when i first brought home my tiel.

Excellent book with many colorful photographs.....

THE COCKATIEL HANDBOOK probably includes most everything you want to know about cockatiels. Matthew Vriends is a Dutch-born ornithologist/biologist with an advanced degree in zoology. He has written many books on birds, and traveled extensively all over the world including Australia, the native habitat of the Cockatiel. Dr. Vriends includes material on feeding, grooming, housing, health care, training and breeding of cockatiels which he has apparently done for years.In his first chapter, Vriends includes an overview of what to consider before you buy your bird. Throughout his book he elaborates on these initial points. He says costs should be a consideration if you intend to have healthy and happy birds. He includes text and photographs that show the kinds of cages, aviaries, and breeding boxes you might build to house your birds. He covers the diseases, illnesses, and accidents that can affect bird health and vet bills. He describes physical attributes of cockatiels such as hooked beaks, growing claws, and flight feathers must be addressed to avoid problems. Vriends suggests an appropriate diet to maintain health including the types of seeds cockatiels should eat, their vitamin requirements and vegetable preferences, and daily water intake. Vriends says the following, "No matter how hard you try, you cannot give your cockatiels the type or great variety of food they would find in the natural habitat. Birds in cages and aviaries should therefore be given a menu that is as high as possible in quality and variety...In the last few years, 'easy -to-feed pellet diets have become very popular. These types of diets can be placed in clean feeders or dispensers, and the birds can eat when and as they choose....Extruded diets are not new...but they are the newest alternative for pet birds...a cockatiel [..] that has spent it's life feeding on a diet consisting largely of seeds is not likely to become suddenly enthusiastic about extruded diets and/or pellets. Converting a bird to such a diet can sometimes be a difficult task and may require much patience. The best method...(goes on to explain his method)..." I understood Dr. Vriends to be saying pragmatic things, not championing seeds over pellets as another reviewer suggested. Dr. Vriends also discusses the upside and downside of whether to have more than one cockatiel and how your cockatiel might relate to children and other pets. He includes a number of photographs of children holding apparently content and loving cockatiels. He suggests ways you can interact with and protect your bird including training tips, sleeping requirements, and toys.

Very informitive, excellent text and pictures

The last part of the book is mostly for people who own multiple birds. The information is somewhat embedded within the book and is not stated bluntly. However, it if you read it carefully you will get the jist of it. I have not read any other cockatiel books but this is the one that helped me take care of mine and she seems to be pretty happy. I would not rate it 5 starts if my cockatiel was not happy, she is the boss! It is also fun to show your cockatiel the picture on the cover and let him/her either hiss or look at it. My cockatiel being a girl sits next and doesn't do anything. I ask her what she says and all she says is .

Pleasant, friendly, and informative

This could be the best book written about cockatiels. The language is casual and easy to understand, with an evident compassion towards the bird. It is filled with illustrations and color photographs of beautiful cockatiels to assist with the explanations. The book also has detailed chapters about feeding, health, behaviour, breeding, raising chicks, genetics, and so much more. It is an excellent guide for the bird breeder or the pet keeper, and it will even prove to be very valuable in emergencies.