Description
Cockatiel
One of the first cockatiel facts you should become acquainted with is that they tend to live for a long time, with many of them reaching a life span of 20+ years.
That means that learning how to care for a cockatiel is a long-time commitment. The most important reason cockatiels have become so popular over time is that they have an amazing cockatiel personality.
They are comical, full of energy, and cuddly, so they tend to get along well with both other cockatiels, but also with their human friends. A cockatiel is a relatively small bird compared to other types of pet birds, especially large-sized parrots.
Cockatiels can be trained to respond to hand gestures and other triggers, but they aren’t the best when it comes to teaching them how to talk.
This bird is a whistler, which means that it will prefer to put together a whistling serenade if they love you or their companion rather than try to have a long conversation, instead.
No matter the types of cockatiels you might have browsed through while trying to decide on one, you should know that they are very social birds and don’t do well when being left alone in their cage for many hours or days.
Cockatiels Behavior and training:
Can cockatiels talk? Even though they are very social and they love spending a lot of time with their human or same-species companions, cockatiels aren’t the best pet birds when it comes to pronouncing human words.
However, that doesn’t mean that during your pet cockatiel lifespan, you will not be able to train him or her to do tricks. If you use edible rewards, you can almost always teach them to respond to certain hand gestures or other visual signs.
But before you start teaching your pet bird new tricks, you should focus on making them feel as safe and comfortable as possible.
Long and tiring training sessions can often make a cockatiel frustrated, so it’s highly recommended that you tend to the task early in the morning, when the bird is well-fed and rested.
Additionally, your training sessions should take place in a quiet area, preferably right next to the cage, so that the cockatiel knows he or she can retreat to a safe space in case something happens. Two to three short, 10-minute sessions every day are better than a long one.
Talk to the bird and offer plenty of praise, especially when the cockatiel manages to perform the trick you want them to. Have patience and dedication and always make sure your pet bird is at ease.
Characteristics and colors of cocketiels:
When it comes to the standard cockatiel size, you should know that this bird isn’t particularly large, but most adults do end up having a body length between 12 and 13 inches. The bigger they are, the more space they need in their cage, so that’s one thing to keep in mind.
As for the typical cockatiel colors you will come across in most pet shops, they are a result of long-time genetic mutations.
Males and females have been bred specifically based on their color characteristics, so there is a wider variety of color combinations present in cockatiels nowadays than they used to be.
Color mutations are the result of both genetic inheritance, but also the amount of melanin and lipochromes present in the cockatiel’s body.
Melanin is responsible for colors such as blue, brown, and gray, whereas lipochromes are responsible for red and yellow. A yellow cockatiel has more lipochromes than melanin.
Color mutations can be dominant, sex-linked, or recessive. For example, if a cockatiel is a lime and platinum combination, he or she is the result of a sex-linked mutation. Recessive mutations are present in fewer individuals, as would be the case of lutino mutations, where the cockatiel doesn’t have any melanin in their plumage.
The two colors that are most often encountered in pet shops, for this reason, are silver and gray, as both of them are dominant mutations. The color of the pet bird does not affect their health, behavior, or personality or their ability to be trained.
Cockatiel care:
How old do cockatiels live to be? Well, since they tend to live for anything between 17 and 25 years, you’re effectively making a long-term commitment when you buy or adopt one or a pair.
With the right type of care, it’s not actually uncommon for a cockatiel to live for as many as 30 years.
Fortunately, cockatiels can be kept as pets even by people who do not have prior experience of owning and caring for birds. In terms of equipment, you will have to get a cage that measures at least 18 by 22 by 18 inches, and if you want to get a pair, you’ll have to double the size.
There are plenty of sizable quality models on Chewy.com. Place the cage in a bird-friendly place such as a quiet room, bedroom, or your living room, and avoid setting it up in noisy or smelly places like the kitchen.
The cage should be fitted with at least two perches that have different textures, thickness, and are positioned at different heights. Ideally, you should spend at least 30 to 60 minutes per day interacting with your cockatiel, especially if it doesn’t have a pair.
Cockatiels are kept healthy by taking regular baths, so 1-3 times a week, give your pet bird a bowl filled with water or mist it with water using a spray bottle.
Health and common conditions
What is a cockatiel most predisposed to developing, disease-wise? Like other pet birds, cockatiels can develop some medical conditions, especially if they aren’t properly taken care of, but they can also get them from other infected birds that they share their living space with.
The most common diseases that affect cockatiels are the following.
- Chlamydiosis
- Giardiasis
- Candidiasis
- Fatty liver disease
- Reproductive issues
Cockatiels can be Chlamydia carriers even if they show no symptoms, and they shed the pathogen in their stool, so they can infect other birds. Most cockatiels that have this disease show respiratory signs and are generally lethargic.
Giardia infections usually cause digestive problems, with pet birds suffering from diarrhea and being very irritable and itchy.
Cockatiel Diet and nutrition
What do cockatiels eat? They tend to thrive on a varied diet, combined with regular exercise and plenty of social interaction. Here are some examples of what you can feed your pet cockatiel.
- Fruits (12-13%)
- Vegetables (12-13%)
- Sprouting seeds and legumes (up to 25%)
- Pellets and dry seeds (up to 50%)
In terms of vegetables, they can have anything from asparagus and cabbage to kale, parsnip, peppers, and potatoes. As for fruits, the ones you can give your cockatiel range from apples and apricots -no pits and seeds- melon and pears.
A cockatiel diet should never contain the following ingredients:
- Avocado
- Chocolate
- Alcohol
- High amounts of fat
- High amounts of salt
Most avian vets recommend avoiding cockatiel diets based on human foods. So, even if you run out of cockatiel food, it’s far better to cook some peas and beans and offer your pet birds a small amount of that rather than giving them commercial bread, chips, or any human snacks.
Cockatiels are also known to enjoy nibbling on flowers, which is why you can offer your pet birds chickweed, young nettles, or dandelions once in a while, just to spice things up.
Your cockatiel’s food and water bowls have to be cleaned on a regular basis, whether you tend to the task every day or once every couple of days. If you do not ensure this, they can become a health hazard as large amounts of bacteria and fungus can develop on them.
Michi –
Best cockatiels for sale in Houston, Texas. Must check out