Cockatiels are one of the most popular birds today in the United States. They are sociable, loving, happy and easy to take care of. This makes them awesome pets even for novices. Having a Cocatiel is very rewarding and not hard to give proper Cockatiel Care.
Cockatiels are actually a distant relatives to another popular breed, the parrot. They get their name from a Dutch word, “Kakatielje” that means little cockatoo. Cockatiels originated in Australia. There are many color “schemes” of cockatiels, including yellow, gray and white, with yellow being the most popular. With the proper care and the right diet, cockatiels will live uoto 20 years.
Cockatiels are outwardly expressive birds. They are very easy going, mild mannered and only not extremely active. These birds need TLC, they have to have contact. Cockatiels thrive by being touched and talk too. They will try to get their owners attention by making sounds such as singing and if trained by talking to you. They are usually are very happy, cheerful and content birds. They are also loving and will often will try to play with your hair. They will even lower their heads down for you to pet them! Although, their speech is a little rough, often barely understandable. The males are usually more vocal than the females.
Cockatiels are smaller, quieter, cleaner and bite less than their cousins, the parrot. They do make a great family pet, for several reasons. The longevety of cockatiels, the mildness and loving nature that is important for younger family members.
When choosing a cockatiel as a pet here are a few tips to remember…
- Hand feed your cockatiel so that it gets used to humans.
- Be certain of the sex of the cockatiel. Remember that the male are more vocal and a little more aggressive. Females are a little more “uptight” than the males, but tend to be more friendly.
- Cockatiels are not an expensive bird. However they do require a cage of at least 18″x18″x18″ but are thrive in a larger cage of 36″x18″x24″
- Cockatiels are birds, so they need to fly. Allowing them out of their cage is awesome for cockatiels. They do need exercise, this is another reason for a larger cage and time out of their cage.
- Cockatiels are extremely intelligence, so they need a lot of attention and physical and mental stimulation. Try to fight boredoom for your cockatiel, Cockatiels do chew on things, so make sure the toys you get are safe.
A healthy cocketiel is a happy cockatiel so the “right diet” is an absolute must. Do not put your bird on an all seed diet. Try and get a pellet-based diet. If you are against a pellet based diet, you will need to chop up fresh fruits and vegetables on a daily basis.
One more thing, cockatiels need between 10 and 12 hours of sleep every night or they will become ill, so cover their cage with a sheet to give them less distractions from sleeping as possible.
Cockatiels make great pet, actually awesome companions. If you only have one, it will form an extremely strong bond with you because it will think you are its mate. Cockatiels love attention and are very gentle and affectionate. They are excellent pets.