[.ca] Cockatiel Handbook, The (ISBN 0764110179)

Outdated Information:
In Matthew M. Vriends book "The Cockatiel Handbook" you will find a lot of outdated information. Following this outdated information can have a devastating result for your cockatiel, and recommend that any new cockatiel owner purchase a book about the basic care of cockatiels that is published AFTER December 1999. Follow up-to-date information from local bird clubs and organzations, as well as having annual visits to your local avian vet. If you have any questions about basic care of your cockatiel, don't hesitate to ask your vet, pet store, or local breeder.

Inaccurate food information:
This book has wonderful pictures but that's not what counts. I was leafing through it in the bookstore and I found some outdated information. Firstly, the author recommends a mostly seed diet with some veggies, fruits, and pellets. It is now known that seeds are fattening and should be a small part of the cockatiel diet. Pellets are the main food source. He also said that grit should be in a cockatiel's cage to help digestion. Actually, sick cockatiels may eat too much grit and DAMAGE their digestive system. This guy needs to get the facts straight. The information in this book will subtract years from your bird's life if used.

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 \o..\c 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.

Stinks:
This guy is wierd,I don't think he's owned a cockatiel in his life!! Not for the first time bird owner because of all the false info. Why 2 stars? It does have a few helpful tips and some cute pictures.OK to have on your shelf but your going to want a better one soon.(Don't buy his lovebird book either}

Inaccurate information:
As a veterinarian I am involved in serveral bird rescue groups and this book disturbs me on several levels. One, the author presents the idea of cockatiel breeding as a way to support the hobby. There is currently a huge problem with bird mills as there used to be with puppy mills, and the last thing needed is novice breeder thinking they can make money by breeding cockatiels. Two, the author is poorly informed or inaccurate about several points of diet,taxonomy, and general health. I do not reccomend this book.