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The Cockatiel Castle, Henry and Lori Castle, is located in Marysville Pennsylvania (Harrisburg area) and has been in operation since 1989. Presently the aviary consists of a large breeder room and a baby nursery/rearing room. As many as 150 Cockatiels are housed at the "Castle". The aviary hours are by appointment and for serious inquiries only. All babies are bred and raised on site in the Castle home. All babies are banded with a closed traceable band and all are hand-fed. Only weaned babies are sold to the public. It is not necessary to hand feed your own babies as some are led to believe. Castle babies are tame at weaning and a strong bond with a new owner will occur quickly. All visitors to the "Castle" are restricted from entering the breeding facility to help minimize stress and contamination. However the door that enters this area is glass so getting a quick peak at the setup and care isn't a problem. The baby nursery and rearing room are normally assessable to clients. The Cockatiel Castle's breeding season is from December to August. Raising cockatiels from hatch to weaning normally ranges between 8 to 10 weeks. In most cases, babies are held for several weeks following weaning before they are released for sale. The aviary residents and babies are fed a variety of foods from seed and pellet diets to fresh and cooked meals and treats. All new owners leave the aviary with specialized paperwork on their new bird. Among the information is feeding and general care instructions, warning of household dangers, pedigree and genetic background and of course the name of a good avian veterinarian. Every bird also leaves with a supply of feed to get them started off. Another aspect of the Cockatiel Castle is the participation in Cockatiel exhibitions during the fall months. The aviary has been fortunate to be rewarded for the breeding efforts and accomplishments over the years. To date Cockatiel Castle has six Grand-Champion cockatiels and ten Champions, not to mention the dozens of other pointed Cockatiels in the show quality flock. The Castle Aviary and their birds, are registered with the National Cockatiel Society. The aviary is most known for the Lutino and Pied mutations, which have become their specialty. This success has made it possible for the Castles to qualify for the National Cockatiel Society's Panel of Judges. Henry chose to take the opportunity and has been a judge for the society since 1996. The Cockatiel Castle is commonly seen among the vendors at Pennsylvania and surrounding states bird events. Although the events are normally a very hectic time, the Castles always welcome a visit from a fellow Cockatiel enthusiast. Not only is vending a great means to show and sell their birds, but they truly enjoy sharing their experiences and know how with anyone willing to learn. To learn more about Henry and Lori visit the About the Castles page. To contact the Cockatiel Castle or if you are interested in purchasing a Cockatiel and would like to visit the Castle aviary to see what is available, phone 717-957-4241 or e-mail TielCastle@aol.com.
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