How to Take Care of a Cockatiel for New Bird Owners: Everything You Need to Know.（2024）

Cockatiel: The Ideal Pet Bird

Cockatiels are small parrots, cherished for their diverse color patterns and distinctive crests. They are less noisy than other parrots but can still mimic speech and whistles. Due to their small size, cockatiels are easier to train and care for compared to other parrots. They are friendly and enjoy interacting and playing with their owners. With enough exercise and playtime, they make low-maintenance, ideal pets.

Did you know?
Cockatiels are one of the most popular pet birds and one of the best egg-layers among parrots. Their intelligence and friendly nature make them perfect for first-time bird owners.

Species Overview

• Common Names: Cockatiel, tiel, quarrion, weiro
• Scientific Name: Nymphicus hollandicus
• Adult Size: 12 to 13 inches (30 to 33 cm), weighing about 2 to 4 ounces (56 to 113 grams)
• Lifespan: With proper care, they can live 15 to 20 years, sometimes up to 30 years. The oldest recorded cockatiel lived to 36 years.

Origin and History

Cockatiels are native to the inland regions of northern Australia. Discovered in 1770, they are the smallest members of the cockatoo family, exhibiting many of the same traits and behaviors as their larger relatives. In the wild, cockatiels live in large flocks. They became popular pets in the 20th century due to their ease of breeding in captivity and their gentle, friendly nature. Today, cockatiels cannot be captured and exported from the wild.

Personality

These small birds are gentle and affectionate. They enjoy being held and petted but may not like being hugged. They simply want to be close to you and will be delighted to see you. Cockatiels are one of the friendliest bird species. However, untamed birds may show aggression and bite. You can prevent bad behaviors early on by ignoring bad habits. Do not scold the bird, as this can make it fearful of humans. Cockatiels aim to please, so reward good behavior and ignore bad behavior. They are intelligent birds that can learn various tricks over time, from waving and whistling to ringing bells. Many cockatiels will spend hours talking to their reflection in a mirror.

Speech and Sounds

Cockatiels make sounds and whistles but are not as noisy as some other parrots. Male birds are better at mimicking speech and whistles, but females can also excel. They are adept at mimicking household sounds, including alarms, telephones, and even wild bird calls.

Colors and Markings

Wild cockatiels have gray bodies, yellow faces and crests, and orange cheek patches. Males have brighter, more vivid face colors. Females have striped tail feathers. The differences between male and female birds vary by color, and it can be challenging to distinguish them, especially in young birds. To determine gender, consider genetic testing. The most common varieties are Normal Grey, Pearl, and Lutino, with Lutino being the most popular.

Normal Grey Cockatiel
Description: Gray body, yellow face and crest, orange cheek patches. Males have brighter face colors, and females have striped tail feathers.

Pearl Cockatiel
Description: Features small “pearls” of various colors on the feathers, commonly referred to as pearls, lace, or opaline.

Lutino Cockatiel
Description: Mostly yellow or entirely yellow body, orange cheek patches. Black-eyed is dominant, red-eyed is recessive. (Inherent baldness gene, so breeding two Lutinos is not advisable.)

To accommodate the pet trade, several color mutations have been bred in captivity over the years. Here are some common varieties and their characteristics:

Pied Cockatiel
Description: Wild-type cockatiel colors replaced by yellow or creamy-white. The irregular gray and white markings are typical of pied cockatiels, with the degree of piedness indicating the evenness of color distribution.

Cinnamon Cockatiel
Description: Feathers are brown or warm tan. Males’ colors are darker than females’; females have horizontal stripes on the underside of the tail feathers.

Emerald Cockatiel
Description: Feathers have a greenish sheen, a relatively rare color mutation.

Recessive Silver Cockatiel
Description: Cool gray feathers, red eyes.

Dominant Silver Cockatiel
Description: Warm gray feathers, dark eyes. Males have bright yellow faces, and females have gray-yellow faces with horizontal stripes on the underside of the tail feathers.

Albino Cockatiel
Description: Lacks feather pigment, entirely white with red eyes. (Combination of Whiteface and Lutino, breeding can result in severe baldness issues in offspring.)

Pied Cockatiel
Description: Typical wild cockatiel colors replaced by yellow or creamy-white.

Whiteface Cockatiel
Description: Lacks yellow and orange pigments on the face, typically pure white.

Yellow Cheek Cockatiel
Description: Yellow cheeks instead of the traditional orange, sometimes nearly golden.

Care

A pair of cockatiels will keep each other company, but this may affect their relationship with you and their ability to mimic sounds. Keeping a single bird is fine, but you need to spend significant time interacting with it daily. If your lifestyle doesn’t allow this, consider keeping a pair to prevent loneliness.

Cockatiels are naturally clean birds; their feathers produce dust for grooming and may leave dust in the cage and on accessories. Give your bird a bath or mist it with water weekly to keep its feathers clean. Regularly clean the cage, and many cockatiel cages have a removable bottom tray to make cleaning easier.

Cockatiels are active and need a large cage. Provide at least a 20-inch square by 26-inch high cage. The spacing between the bars should not exceed 3/4 inch to prevent the bird from getting its head stuck. Horizontal bars offer the best opportunities for climbing and exercise. The cage should have enough space for perches of varying heights, allowing the bird to move easily between them.

Additionally, provide cockatiels with rough perches or grooming perches to maintain healthy beaks and nails. If you need to trim your cockatiel’s nails, learn the correct method to avoid injury. If unsure, seek help from an avian veterinarian or breeder.

Cockatiels are vulnerable to some household hazards, such as large pets or fans. Ensure their living environment is safe and free from potential dangers.

Common Health Problems

The most common health issue in cockatiels is malnutrition. They often eat only seeds, lacking fruits, vegetables, and pellet diets’ essential vitamins and minerals. Ensure a varied diet to prevent this condition.

Cockatiels are also prone to fatty liver disease, usually caused by a high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet and lack of exercise. To reduce the risk of illness, ensure a varied diet and keep them away from pesticides, residual chemicals on fruits and vegetables, and fumes from cleaning products.

Most birds are susceptible to respiratory diseases and psittacosis (parrot fever), a harmful bacterial infection causing wheezing, sneezing, coughing, and nasal discharge. If you notice any signs of illness, take your bird to an avian veterinarian immediately. Prompt action can save your bird’s life.

Diet and Nutrition

A varied diet is key to any parrot’s health, including cockatiels. Seeds can be part of the diet but are high in fat and should not exceed 30% of the diet. Pellet diets are usually better as they are nutritionally balanced, preventing birds from picking out their favorite seeds and leaving the rest.

To ensure your bird gets all the necessary nutrients, provide various fresh vegetables and fruits. Generally, cockatiels eat about a tablespoon of food daily, making every bite important. Offer seeds or pellet mix in the morning, providing enough for what the bird will eat. Cockatiels are not prone to overeating. You can place food in a bowl or scatter it on the cage floor, as they are natural foragers in the wild, eating grass seeds, fruits, and plants.

Offer fresh fruits and vegetables in a bowl, removing any uneaten food after an hour to prevent spoilage. If your bird prefers an all-seed diet, persist in introducing a more varied menu. Provide proteins such as cooked eggs, legumes, and cooked meat in moderation. Sprouted seeds are also a good way to increase dietary variety.

Avoid feeding avocados, chocolate, coffee, and salt; these items are toxic to birds. Ensure your cockatiel gets a balanced and healthy diet to maintain its health and vitality.

Exercise

Like all parrots, exercise is crucial for a cockatiel’s

happiness and mental health. If your bird spends most of its time in a cage, ensure the cage is large enough for the bird to fly. Provide plenty of toys to stimulate natural play tendencies. Perches, ladders, and toys should be plentiful but not obstruct the bird’s movement in the cage. If possible, give your cockatiel at least an hour of outside-the-cage time daily. While not essential for all parrots, out-of-cage time helps with socialization and allows the bird to stretch its wings.

Breeding and Raising Chicks

Cockatiels are popular pet birds not only for their gentle nature but also for their strong breeding ability. A cockatiel can lay about 4 to 6 eggs per clutch, each roughly the size of a thumb. After mating, the first egg is laid about 10 days later, followed by an egg every other day. Incubation usually starts after the second egg is laid, lasting about 19 to 22 days. The chicks are raised for about four weeks, and they start learning to fly after two months. Male cockatiels mature at around 1 year and 9 months, while females mature at about 1 year and 3 months. However, they can start showing breeding behaviors as early as 9 months old.

During the breeding process, both male and female cockatiels take turns incubating the eggs and caring for the chicks. If the female is unable to perform her duties, the male can still adequately raise the chicks. Some females may lay infertile eggs; if these eggs are not removed, the female will continue to sit on them. To prevent egg-laying, you can cover the cage early in the evening to reduce daily sunlight exposure.

Like all parrots, cockatiels may view their owner or toys as a mate. Male cockatiels may display courtship, mating, or possessive behaviors, while females may lay infertile eggs. To encourage egg-laying, gently stroking the female’s back can provide sexual stimulation, but this should be avoided if egg-laying is not desired.

Recently, it has been discovered that cockatiels can hybridize with Galah cockatoos, resulting in hybrids known as Galatiels (a combination of Galah and Cockatiel).

Pros

• Small size, suitable for home keeping
• Quieter birds that can learn to talk and whistle
• Do not require extensive out-of-cage time, making them suitable for busy owners

Cons

• May bite if not hand-raised or well-trained
• May not bond or mimic sounds if housed with another cockatiel
• Produce a lot of feather dust (similar to dandruff), which can be problematic for people with respiratory issues or cleanliness concerns

Purchasing or Adopting a Cockatiel

When choosing a cockatiel, it’s best to select a hand-raised bird or one that has been frequently handled. Although cockatiels are common in pet stores, their background may be unknown, and they may be older, unaccustomed to handling, and harder to tame. Look for a bright, alert, and active bird. Avoid selecting a bird that sits quietly with fluffed feathers, as it may be ill.

When picking a cockatiel, consider the following points:

• Feather Condition: The bird’s feathers should be smooth, glossy, and lie flat against the body.
• Vent Cleanliness: The feathers around the vent (the opening where the bird excretes) should be clean, dry, and free of feces.
• Foot Health: The scales on the feet should be smooth, with no scabs or swelling.
• Nails and Beak: Ensure the nails are in good condition, and the beak is smooth and well-shaped.
• Nostril Condition: The nostrils should be clean and free of discharge.
• Baldness: Check if the bird has any noticeable bald spots on its head, which could indicate genetic or health issues.

Choosing a healthy, lively cockatiel will bring you more joy and companionship while reducing future health problems and care difficulties.

More Pet Birds and Further Research

If you’re interested in similar species, consider looking into:

• Budgerigars (Budgies)– Excellent mimics
• Quaker Parrots  – Great talkers
• Lovebirds - Colorful and lively
• African Grey Parrots – Exceptional talking ability and some level of language comprehension

Common Questions

Can cockatiels talk?
They are more likely to mimic other sounds in your home or whistle, but you can teach your cockatiel to talk.

Are cockatiels good for first-time bird owners?
Yes. Cockatiels are very suitable for first-time bird owners because they are friendly and low-maintenance. They are also quieter compared to larger parrots while still being sociable and playful.