Cockatiels as Pets

Cockatiels have personality, attitude, and agility. Originating from Australia, these birds have become very popular pets. Cockatiels thrive on attention, and social interactions. Many like to be scratched under the chin, have their heads stroked or take part in a sometimes one-sided conversation. Kept as either an individual bird or a pair, cockatiels bring much entertainment into a home. They make excellent first pets and adapt well to apartment living.

Please note: cockatiels are not suitable for young children (less than 10 years of age). Children should always be supervised by an adult, and should never be solely responsible for the care of the bird. Cockatiels will bite if frightened or threatened.

Description

Most cockatiels are 12 – 14 inches long, with the tail making up about half of that size and weigh 75 to 100 grams. Generally, cockatiels are grey and yellow with a beautiful yellow crest on the top of the head. These birds can live from 15 to 30 years. Numerous colour variations and mutations are available, such as a white-faced bird, lutinos, pearl, and pied. Younger cockatiels have stripes on the underside of the wings and tail, which fade with maturity. The males tend to have more colour variations, and a prominent crest. The females maintain the horizontal wing and tail stripes for a much longer period of time.

Cockatiels have limited mimicking ability, but have a wide array of whistles, shrieks, and calls. They can learn to answer the microwave timer, telephone ringer, voices as well as songs on the television or radio. Some birds, with time and training, can become exceptional mimics.

These birds can be kept as individual pets or as a pair. However, to have a tame, trained bird, a single cockatiel makes a better pet, as pairs tend to bond to one another rather than their owners.

Before acquiring a cockatiel, make sure that the cage and supplies are set-up and ready. This preparation ensures the bird will have an easier transition into the home.