Pet cockatiels don’t put the wear and tear on their beaks and claws that
their wild brethren do, and so a little grooming may be in order. As mentioned
earlier, cuttlebone helps your pet keep its beak nice and trim. But if for some
reason its beak grows to the point where it needs trimming, some pet shops sell
the tools necessary to get the job done. The same is true for the more common
problem of overgrown claws. If you are going to perform the task of grooming
your pet, you must be exceedingly careful not to accidentally snip into a blood
vessel.
You can actually see the blood vessel in your pet’s claw as a dark, reddish
line about two-thirds the length of the claw. If you’d rather not take the
chance, there are professional groomers that could do the job for you. Your pet
cockatiel also enjoys grooming its feathers. You can help it along by very lightly
misting it once or twice a week with warm water. Just a soft, gentle misting is
usually enough to get it grooming its feathers with its beak. Be careful not to
soak or really wet your pet or it may develop a cold or even pneumonia.
Handling
When you first get your pet cockatiel, the best thing to do is to place it
in its cage; preferably in a quiet spot in your home, and leave it alone. This
is in order to allow it to calm down and settle into the new sights, sounds,
and smells of its new home. After a couple of days, approach the cage without
making any sudden or jerky movements. Perform your housekeeping chores then
leave it alone for another couple of days before continuing your regular, daily
housekeeping duties.
Try communicating with your pet cockatiels at this point, letting it get
used to your voice and the sight of your hands. Once your cockatiel is more or
less used to your presence, usually after about a month, open the cage door and
slowly introduce your hand into the cage. Gently stroke its head and breast
with your finger, and then slowly retract your hand.
Do this for at least a week, preferably two, and then the next time, after
again gently stroking its head and breast, move your hand over the bird and
wrap the last three fingers of your hand over its side and gently grasp it
around the body while nestling its neck between your thumb and forefinger. Once
your cockatiel allows you to handle it in this way, you should have no problem
handling it for grooming or other purposes.