[olly&izzy]

I read this on ehow. http://www.ehow.com/how_2002456_lilve-with-cockatiel.html


Cockatiels are the messiest of all pet birds (though Canaries come in a close second), and scatter the most allergy-inducing dander and psittacosis-carrying saliva throughout the house. Watch for increased asthma, coughing, sniffling or unexplained bouts with pneumonia. Vacuum twice daily, wet mop often and clean the cage with gloves to reduce the chance of illness.


Do you think the parts about psittacosis-carrying saliva and pneumonia are true? I've been reading and reading and never seen anything quit like this concerning cockatiels. I had pneumonia 2 years ago and would hate to have it reaccure because of my new babies. I know there will be increased dust and feathers but wasn't thinking about pheumonia. What do you think.

 

[Tiki]

Cockatiels, Cockatoos and African Greys produce more dust than all birds, but they are not the messiest.

I dont think all of that is true.

 

[Laura]

Cockatiels, like their cousin the Cockatoo, throw off a dust, which is known as dander. Though it's not quite as bad as the cockatoo, it can irritate the allergies of those who are sensitive. To alleviate the amount of dust, try misting your cockatiel with warm water from a misting bottle or provide a shallow dish of water for your tiel to bathe in.
I also vacuum daily and use an air purifier thats safe for the birds.

 

[atvchick95]

I don't see where cockatiels are the messiest, mine are not messy at all, its my budgies who throw food EVERY WHERE!


With the disease, My boyfriends mom can't be around birds any more, (if she is its only for short periods of times), and it was because she cleaned up the pigeon coops and got a disease from it, i'm not sure if it is the same one though

 

[nic bike]

they are very dusty i have a Grey and tiel so i vacuum at least once a day i decided to take picture of some dust or dander here it is

i think its Nangano it looks a little to big to be flickys
sorry the photo isnt good its quite hard to take a photo of lol

 

[Bea]

I think that parts of that are true, but that it was possibly written by a neat freak. Cockatiels are very dusty, but unless you have allergies this doesn't cause much of a problem. Psittacosis can be carried by any parrot, but the chances of them having it and giving it to you aren't high.

 

[atvchick95]

my tiels must be the exception to the rule i've got 11 of them all in the same room all in black cages and I don't notice any mess, no dust, no dander no nothing

NOW look at my budgies cage or the tiels cage after the budgies have been in it and Oh my the wasted food all over the cage floor, and the carpet and i've got 13 budgies but 2 are in a cage to thier self and are not out of the cage ( as they're having babies)

 

[xxxSpikexxx]

Cockatiels can be dusty. I would buy a bird safe air purifier if you are worried. I had to sign a thing when I got my budgie Icarus. Saying I understand some birds could have Psittacosis. I guess so I could not sue if I got sick. That person must not like birds

 

[Aly]

Oh please...that had to be written by someone who doesn't own any 'tiels. All birds are messy in their own way. My budgies cage looks 10 times worse then my tiels. The dander off their feathers has never been a problem for me at all...They preen on me and leave the dust-I just rub it off. I vacuum everyday. If you have allergies they might be problem but Baby lived with my mom before who is allergic to EVERYTHING and she never had any issues. The saliva bit...if you have a healthy bird and are clean then you have nothing to worry about.

 

[nic bike]

Oh please...that had to be written by someone who doesn't own any 'tiels. All birds are messy in their own way. My budgies cage looks 10 times worse then my tiels. The dander off their feathers has never been a problem for me at all...They preen on me and leave the dust-I just rub it off. I vacuum everyday. If you have allergies they might be problem but Baby lived with my mom before who is allergic to EVERYTHING and she never had any issues. The saliva bit...if you have a healthy bird and are clean then you have nothing to worry about.

i agree i think he has slightly exaggerated (sp?) with the messiest bird statement and it is easy to clean. and my brother had allergy problems and the birds never made it trigger an allergic reaction.

 

[olly&izzy]

Thanks you for getting back to me. I'm not worried, I will vacuum everyday and keep everything clean. I'm going to research the saliva thing now to learn more. I love my birds and will just do what I have to to make it work. Happy New Year!

 

[Aly]

I'm going to research the saliva thing now to learn more.

I wouldn't worry about it. There are alot worse things around the house that can do more damage. As long as they are healthy it's fine.BTW you can send in a blood or feather sample to test for dieseases. There's lots of labs that do the test and you can see the result online.

 

[Mossybird]

Nobody in my family seems to be allergic to Sunnys dust. He does have an annoying habbit of pumping out dust as the family is eating. It looks like a big cloud hovering over the table. Bleh! I leave the table right around then.
Speaking of birds and food, once Sunny decided to take a leap right into my cereal. I have no idea why either. I guess he just felt like wadding in some warm milk.lol