Cuddly, outgoing and comical are just three reasons why the cockatiel is the No. 1 pet bird in America. Cockatiels are also talented whistlers, and male cockatiels in particular are known for their whistle serenades, which can be directed at their favored person, their favorite object or their mirror reflection. When not whistling or keeping themselves busy foraging for food and fun around the cage, cockatiels often enjoy spending their downtime snuggling on their favored person’s shoulder. A healthy, well-socialized cockatiel can make a great family pet and is also ideal for apartment living.
They come in a variety of color mutations, some rarer than others. The price can vary greatly depending on how desirable a certain color mutation is and its current availability.
Cockatiels are native to the semi-arid regions of Australia. This open environment might be a reason why cockatiels don’t have the ear-piercing screech of parrots originating from dense rain-forest habitats. Wild cockatiels fly to the ground to forage for food. Cockatiels readily breed in the wild, and they are also easy to breed in captivity, which makes them widely available as pets at a lower cost than most other parrot species. Wild cockatiels are always on alert for predators and are light sleepers. A pet cockatiel might have an occasional night-fright episode, where it thrashes around the cage at night as if startled. You can help your cockatiel find its way back to its perch by leaving a night light on in its room.
What You Should Know Before You Get a Cockatiel
Cockatiels do have a reputation for demanding attention of their owners on a regular basis so make sure you do have the time and dedication to own a cockatiel.
It is best to get a young bird that is handfed. If parent-raised, it should have been handled regularly and be quite tame already.
Do Cockatiels Need A Companion?
Cockatiels are very sociable birds and will get depressed if they are left alone for long periods of time. Unlike many birds, can live alone without a partner, but if they are alone they will need a lot of attention from their owners. They will begin to see their owner as their mate and will want to be in regular contact with them. … Cockatiels are very docile and do not mix well with other species of birds. They may hit their heads against cages, pull their feathers, refuse to eat, or become angry.
Cockatiel Care Guide
A cockatiel needs a cage spacious enough to accommodate multiple perches, toys, food bowls and have plenty of room to flap its wings without hitting them against anything.
A cage with a large door front is ideal because it makes it easier to return a cockatiel to its cage, especially since cockatiels can be flighty birds. Cockatiels are natural ground foragers and will forage on the bottom of the cage if given the opportunity; cover the cage floor with newspaper and sprinkle crumbled treats or millet sprinkle seed for your cockatiel to find. Cockatiels are social birds and thrive when given opportunities to interact with you, whether it is gently petting their cheek feathers, being talked to or simply being in the same room as you.
Males have slightly brighter plumage and get more yellow around the face and crest.
However, it can be hard to determine sex in very young birds. Both sexes make good pets, although it is recommended that you not put mirrors in the cages of male cockatiels as they will strut about to show off and can become aggressive to protect this “mate.”
Very little time is required for training a cockatiel since they are very intelligent and easy to handle. It is easier to tame and train a single bird than two birds, as they will prefer the company of each other to you. Females are naturally quieter so males are easier to train to talk.
Cockatiels love climbing and stretching their wings, as well as playing. Keep the quantity of toys and accessories in the cage light so that you don’t inhibit the bird’s movements. They enjoy a variety of toys such as seed treats, swings, ladders, bells, and mirrors. Tree branches and wooden chews provide excellent exercise and keep the beak trim. Bright shiny plastic toys are for parakeets, not cockatiels! Never give a cockatiel rubber toys!
A tame cockatiel will enjoy a parrot playpen outside of the cage. It makes a superior cockatiel toy and can be equipped with ladders, perches, swings and hanging toys. 10 to 12 hours of rest are needed each day for a healthy, well-adjusted cockatiel.
Sexual behavior: Males will strut and show off. Avoid mirrors. Hens generally don’t become aggressive, but don’t encourage egg laying by giving any nesting material or sleeping huts.
Breeding: Cockatiels are extremely prolific breeders and generally make excellent parents. Hand-feeding can be difficult for beginners as these birds are prone to sour crop. Many breeders have gotten away from commercial formulas due to their belief it is the high protein content in these formulas that causes sour crop.
Cockatiel Diet
Fresh food and water must be provided daily.
Pelleted diets will provide a fairly balanced feed, however it does not contain the phytonutrients (antioxidant pigments) that are found in vegetables, fruits, grains, and seeds. These will need to be supplemented with green foods such as dandelion leaves, weeds, carrot tops, celery, watercress, spinach, peas, seedling grasses, and millet.
Various fruits will also be enjoyed such as apples, oranges, bananas and others. Proteins can be offered in the form of mynah pellets, dog food, and even mashed hard-boiled eggs. Cockatiels are notoriously finicky eaters; so starting them on a nutritionally complete diet right away is best for them and for your sanity.
Try to avoid sugary treats for your bird; cockatiels have a high risk of diabetes.
Do not feed avocado, as it can be toxic to birds! Although it was previously thought that grit was needed by cockatiels, it has been found that they do not need grit and can actually cause problems if given to cockatiels.
Parrots that eat seed whole without shelling it first require grit, but cockatiels shell their seed before eating it so grit should not be provided. Cuttlebones are needed to help provide calcium and to help keep the beak trim.
Cockatiel Lifespan
Their lifespan is 15-20 years, but I have heard of cockatiels living much longer than this. A healthy diet and adequate exercise can extend their lives quite a bit. Get them a cage large enough to flap the wings and play.
10 – 14 years in the wild .
Cockatiel Sounds
Cockatiels are more inclined to whistle than talk. Male cockatiels are more likely to talk than females, and some can learn to speak a few words or phrases. Cockatiels tend to chirp rather than screech, and their relatively lower noise volume makes them a good apartment pet. Your cockatiel might chirp a contact call if you leave the room in an attempt to keep in contact with you.
Distinctive sound is not at all offensive. Very pleasant chirping. Whistles easily, so if you don’t want the bird to whistle, don’t whistle to it as it will learn quickly.
Cockatiel Health Issues
Cockatiels are very robust birds. Like most parrots, they should not be put near drafts (avoid putting the cage near a drafty window, especially at night).
They can develop fatty tumors so avoid high-fat diet (no seed-exclusive diets). Do not put the cage near a window where headlights might flash at night to prevent startling the bird, which can cause night frights.
It is normal for a cockatiel to sneeze a few times a day to clear out dust or dander from its nares, which might be accompanied by a clear discharge. If the sneezing is persistent and/or the discharge is not a clear color, contact your avian veterinarian.
Cockatiels are excellent fliers and need more frequent wing clipping than other parrot species because they are capable of flying not long after having their feathers trimmed.
Cockatiels molt (shed old feathers and begin growing new ones) a couple times a year.
It’s important to know that cockatiels do come with their own issues that might affect your decision in choosing a cockatiel as a pet
Cockatiel Dust: cockatiel can create an abundance of bird dust. This dust comes from white powder-down feathers that grow close to the bird’s skin. These feathers emerge among the down feathers, and both are used to help insulate the bird.
What’s unique about the powder down feathers is that the tips crumble into a fine dust as the bird preens, spreading the powder throughout the feathers and helping to waterproof the bird. The dust isn’t a problem for most people, but it can create respiratory issues and even aggravate asthma for others.
Egg Laying Cockatiels: Even if there’s no male around. Frequent egg laying is a problem in cockatiels, and though egg laying is biologically innate, many female cockatiels will lay way too many eggs in short succession, causing potential health issues. Just because she’s laying eggs does not mean that your cockatiel needs or wants a mate or to have babies. It means that her body has been sent external signals that it’s time to nest, and she can’t help her instincts.
Sensitive Respiratory System: Cockatiels have a very sensitive respiratory system, it can succumbs to fumes easily.
Fumes from non-stick coating pans like Teflon, candles, air fresheners, aerosol sprays and fumes from chemicals use to clean your house, can be deadly for a cockatiel.
You will need a larger cage: Cockatiels have long tails and need a larger bird cage, otherwise its tail will rake against the bars and dip into the water cup, or worse injure itself. Cockatiels also need to exercise, or they risk becoming “perch potatoes.” An overweight cockatiel can develop fatty tumors, gout, heart disease and general illness.