The Cockatiel

Cockatiel

Breed: The Cockatiel

Description: The cockatiel is one of the most popular pet bids. They are a small parrot which comes in a variety of colour patterns, though most commonly seen in grey with a yellow face. Usually males have brighter colours, where females are darker.

Characteristics: Bringing a Cockatiel into your home is not a decision to be taken lightly, they are time consuming, as they need daily exercise and attention and their cage needs to be cleaned regularly. They can be quite expensive between the initial cost of the cage and food, toys and other supplies. They can also be very messy and noisy and take a fair amount of dedication and time to tame and train. For those willing to make the commitment, the Cockatiel can be an amazing pet and friend.

These birds thrive on attention and are very sociable and easy to tame – they love spending time out of his cage and with humans. The Cockatiel is not a bird that just stays in the cage looking beautiful, it is a bird needing interaction and wants to get out and spend time playing and being active.

For families, males make a better choice than females as they are less prone to bite or nip and they talk and whistle more – females tend to be quieter but are more apt to screech and hiss. The Cockatiel startles easily and is not the best around toddlers and young children as they could bite if frightened.

Once tamed, it is important the bird receives daily attention to keep them that way. Without human companionship they can quickly revert back to their wild nature. When in a family environment it is important that all members of the family participate in the care so the bird does not become one-person dependant. Some cockatiels will enjoy the company of another of their kind, where others will not. Care should always be taken when putting two birds together and it should be something that is worked up to over weeks, even months. Cockatiels should not be caged with other type of birds as they could get hurt.

Origins: The Cockatiel is a native of Australia. They were officially recognized in 1832.

Special needs:  The Cockatiel needs about an hour of daily exercise, a clean cage, a healthy diet that includes fresh fruit and vegetables and attention and companionship to keep them happy and healthy. When buying a cage, one should purchase the largest cage they can, at a minimum it should be at least big enough for the bird to fully stretch out their wings and flap them. They need daily attention and should not be left alone for long periods of time, Cockatiels that don’t get enough companionship can get very depressed and sick.

Highlights:

- The usual life span is about 15-20 years , but with good care, have been known to reach 30.

- The Cockatiel is not a good choice for those who suffer from bad allergies or asthma.

- When bringing a new bird into the house where there is already a pre-existing bird, quarantining the new bird for 30-60 days is mandatory as it could carry disease that could be easily spread.

- Due to instinct, the Cockatiel will hide when it is ill, as a sick bird in the wild makes easy prey. Owners need to always watch their birds carefully for any sign of illness.

- A bird should never be given alcohol, avocado or chocolate as it can kill him. It is also best to avoid rhubarb, raw potatoes, cabbage, eggplant, anything with caffeine, milk or cream, any type of junk food and asparagus, as they can make them sick.