I've been caring for birds for over thirteen years now. Time really flies. . . so do the birds! Over the next few months, I'll be adding information about other birds I've met along the way. I have experience with Gouldian finches, grass finches, doves, quail, ducks, geese, and yes, even a chicken. (But that story is for another day!) Enjoy your stay and come back soon!
Welcome to the world of FIDS (feathered kids)! The amazing and talented Flock currently consists of five cockatiels, seven society finches, two spice finches, and a pintail whydah. Each bird has his or her own personality and brings special gifts, lessons, and talents to the household. Some birds are quiet; others are loud, but all of them are messy! So, if you see any stray seed hulls or feathers during your visit here, don't worry about it. *hehehe*
Cockatiels are members of the parrot family. They are roughly the size and shape of a Cardinal. Cockatiels are social animals and demand LOTS of attention. In fact, when you bring a bird into your house, YOU become part of ITS flock!Cockatiels can live to be 12-15 years old, possibly longer with good care. Studies indicate that parrots can show the intelligence of a 2-3 year old human child. Imagine a human toddler with a beak, wings and appetite for paper--that's what my birds are like! Cockatiels are inquisitive and sensitive creatures. If I leave the room, they often whistle or scream until I'm back in sight. They can have quite an interesting vocabulary, too. Some of my males can say, "Good boy," "Up-up," "Come out" (of their cage), "Don't go," and "Bye-bye!" They can also quack like a duck and whistle simple songs like the "Mexican Hat Dance."
This is a closeup of Kiwi's head, you will notice that he has a sharp, hooked beak for opening seeds, preening (grooming), climbing and self defense. Unlike humans, cockatiels have a nostril, instead of a nose, on either side of their beaks. Birds don't have a good sense of smell. They compensate for it with a keen sense of vision and hearing. A cockatiel's ears are located on either side of the head, under the bright orange cheek patch, which is one of their distinguishing features.
Cockatiels also have a crest of long feathers located on the top of their heads. This crest helps to identify what mood a cockatiel is in. On a scared bird, the crest stands straight up! On an angry bird, the crest lies flat against its head. The crest of a relaxed cockatiel is somewhere in the middle.
A cockatiels' wings are the anatomical equivalent of our arms. Wings allow birds to travel to high places, fly long distances, and escape from predators. A bird's tail acts like a rudder, helping to stabilize it and guide it through the air. Finally, sharp claws allow cockatiels to climb vertical surfaces, groom themselves and pick up objects such as nuts.
Speaking of food, cockatiels eat more than seeds alone! They need fresh fruits and vegetables to stay healthy. In addition to seeds and wheatgrass, I feed my birds pasta, bread, rice, corn, broccoli, peas, carrots, potatoes and scrambled eggs. Human foods like coffee and chocolate can be toxic to birds.
Click on the links below to see who's who in the Royal Flock.
| King Kiwi | Prince Tiki | Princess Cody |
| Princess Ollie | Frosty, Resident Alchemist | Dungeon Master Misty |
| Meko, the Sarcastic Sage | P.J., Resident Wizard |
Whoops! Mom has to take a break and clean up our cages! She'll be back with some information about us very soon. Love, K.C.
Click on the links below to see who's who in the Royal Flock.
Well, Mom has done it again. . . This little spice finch asked for her help, and Mom couldn't just walk away, now, could she? Details to follow. Love, Cody
Click on the links below to see who's who in the Royal Flock.
| Macy | Simon |
Sadly, the great King Kiwi passed away in June of 2001. Please click on the links below to see the flock's tribute pages.
| Angel Kiwi, 8th Wonder of the Heavens |
Angel Finchy |
These pages are filled with general bird information detailed descriptions of some of the illnesses and injuries my birds have experienced over the years. Future topics include zinc poisoning, excessive egg laying, and other nasty stuff they've managed to survive.
| Ollie's Big (Toe) Adventure | Vinny's Liver Problems | Fun with Roundworms |
| K.C.'s Broken Back (x-ray) | Bird Feathers |
Here's where we get to do something we've wanted to do for a long time: embarrass our Mom! Hey, it's only fair. It does say "Keri and the Flock" right at the top of our webpage, right?
| Meet Keri |
Photos and text Copyright 1998-2006 by Keri Krause. Please do not use this material without my permission. Thank you!Last updated: 8/2/06
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