SELECTING HEALTHY STOCK COPYRIGHT © 1999 LINDA S. RUBIN First published in the December 1999 issue of BIRD TIMES Magazine and the June 2003 issue of UK BIRDKEEPER FOUNDATION STOCK Whether selecting foundation stock solely for breeding purposes, exhibition, or to reproduce companion birds as treasured pets, finding healthy, robust stock is critical. All birds should be carefully and purposefully selected. However, breeders especially should embody top physical stamina and vitality as the forebears to the generations of cockatiels the hobby breeder is responsible for bringing into the world. HEALTH AND OVERALL CONDITION Choosing healthy stock would seem obvious, although it is surprising how many newcomers fail to recognize illness, let alone test new birds. A healthy bird should immediately attract your attention. Feathers should be sleek, without evidence of “puffiness” or fluffing out, and held close to the body, presenting a tight, clean appearance. There should be no damaged or soiled feathers, nor should they be missing in large numbers, although a few pinfeathers may indicate a bird is beginning or finishing a molt. Show judges often refer to a clean, tight, immaculate appearance as top condition, which generally goes hand in hand with brimming health. Birds that are not well maintained, or that receive only sporadic care, will usually reflect this state in their outward appearance. Poor care, complicated by overcrowding within a cage or flight, adds significantly to stress, which ultimately takes its toll on the entire flock. Birds kept under these conditions may appear sluggish, holding their feathers out from their body in order to stay warm (creating a fluffed-out appearance), and may show additional symptoms such as respiratory disease or other complications. Such individuals may also keep their head tucked in their wing, appearing listless and depressed. This state, however, is not to be confused with a healthy bird taking a routine nap in the afternoon or preparing to roost for the night. Although cockatiels do take momentary rests and are not animated 24 hours a day, they should return to some activity after a short rest period. The entire community in larger flocks will take naps at the same time of the day. Environmental conditions may also affect periods of inactivity. For example, birds from warmer climates tend to rest during the hottest part of the day like their wild counterparts. Check cockatiels closely for symptoms of illness such as discharge from the eyes and nares (nostrils); pasty vent or abnormal droppings; and tail-pumping, sneezing or wheezing, which is usually indicative of a respiratory condition. Before purchasing a bird, ask an experienced handler to feel the keel, or breastbone, running vertically down the front of the bird. The keel bone should not be sharp or protruding, and the bird should feel “meaty” on either side without appearing overly plump. Prospective buyers can be fooled when viewing birds that appear “fat and sassy” but are in fact quite thin under the layers of feathers. If the buyer is inexperienced, then a checkup should be scheduled with an avian veterinarian with the understanding that a bird may be returned if it is deemed unhealthy. ENVIRONMENTAL CLUES Whenever possible, examine a bird’s environment at the time of purchase. Conditions should be clean and tidy, with all birds appearing in good health. Closely examine the food and water vessels to check that they are clean and full; and look for clean perches of the correct diameter to ensure a strong foothold and prevent potential foot problems. Birds also utilize their perches as a “napkin” on which they wipe their beaks after feeding, so numerous dirty perches can indicate less than suitable upkeep. DROPPINGS Examine the droppings at the bottom of cages to determine if they are of the proper color, size and consistency. A cockatiel’s droppings can act as a barometer to its health. Although a cockatiel may be able to hide most of its symptoms until it is extremely ill, its droppings are a dead giveaway to any serious illness. Cockatiel droppings can be numerous and slightly variable in a flight full of birds, but they should not be enlarged, discolored, surrounded by a wet ring of water, or contain blood. Healthy droppings appear tight, round and firm, with either a black or forest-green colored ring surrounding a white, round center. Some brands of pellets or extruded diets may influence the color of droppings, turning the fecal portion brown. Birds fed a soft food supplement or fresh fruits and vegetables may have slightly looser droppings because of the increased water content. Breeding hens will typically produce very large, odorous droppings resulting from withholding their droppings in order to keep their nests clean and dry. Hens will eliminate these droppings in a selected spot outside the nest in the early morning and late afternoon when they come out to drink, bathe and eat. These droppings will return to normal size and appearance once egg laying and incubation is completed. FINAL DECISIONS There is no reason why a new breeder cannot obtain healthy stock. If a nagging voice warns you not to buy a bird, listen to it. Cockatiels are plentiful in captivity. There is always another breeder willing to sell you healthy stock. |
| SELECTING HEALTHY STOCK Copyright © 1999 Linda S. Rubin All Rights Reserved |
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| Multiple Bird Households by Linda S. Rubin |
| Copyright 2006 Linda S. Rubin |
| Ultimate Parrot Guide by Linda S. Rubin |