Product Description

Barron's Pet Handbooks provide information on healh care, proper feeding and housing, training and other animal-care details of interest to pet owners. All books are filled with handsome full-color photos, and instructive line art. Cockatiels - parrot-related birds that originated in Australia - come in a variety of color mutations. This handbook gives detailed purchase advice, considerations related to caging, proper nutrition, grooming, health care, and keeping the bird safe from household hazards.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #657694 in Books
• Brand: Barrons Books
• Published on: 1999-08-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: .82 pounds
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780764110177
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

About the Author
Matthew M. Vriends is a biologist/ornithologist who holds a collection of advanced degrees, including a PhD in zoology. Dr. Vriends has written more than 100 books on birds and other animals, and is widely regarded as an expert in tropical ornithology and aviculture.

Customer Reviews

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.

Pleasant, friendly, and informative
This could be the best book written about cockatiels. The language is casual and easy to understand, with an evident compassion towards the bird. It is filled with illustrations and color photographs of beautiful cockatiels to assist with the explanations. The book also has detailed chapters about feeding, health, behaviour, breeding, raising chicks, genetics, and so much more. It is an excellent guide for the bird breeder or the pet keeper, and it will even prove to be very valuable in emergencies.

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 I was leafing through it in the bookstore and I found some outdated information.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.