Cockatiel Care
Cockatiel Care
Properly Taking Care of a Cockatiel for a Happy and Healthy Pet
If you have chosen a Cockatiel as a new pet, you must realize that there are thing you need to know for proper cockatiel care. First, cockatiels demand a pretty expensive up front cost. This should not scare you because the rewards for having a cockatiel are great. They also have a pretty high “maintainability” cost involving time and energy. You must be willing to commit several daily tasks and almost unlimited personal involvement. These bird are completely dependent on you. The love and satisfaction is returned to you tenfold.
One of the best paths to excellent Cockatiel Care is to provide your pet with the optimal living conditions and surroundings possible. The pet’s cage is a good spot to start. Keeping a tidy cage and environment is an essential requirement. Newspaper is the perfect source of covering for the floor of the cage. Since it can be easily cleaned of any wasted food, excess feather dust from your pet, and bird droppings.
Cleaning the cage frequently, as well as all accessories, using natural cleansing solutions that contain no harmful chemicals or fumes, is an excellent routine to follow. Performing this ritual will give your Cockatiel an environment that is clean and well maintained, and in addition, it will aid in the prevention of sickness.
Finding a good location for the cage, preferably an extremely peaceful and cozy portion of the house, is another factor that contributes to good Cockatiel care. This uncomplicated act will reduce stress in your pet that can be introduced by loud sounds, drafts, and sudden movements.
To ensure appropriate care for your Cockatiel, it is important to provide good energetic, as well as intellectual, exercise. The bird should not be permitted to remain inside the cage for extended periods of time. You should allow a short exercise schedule regularly, preferably on a daily basis, enabling your pet to explore his surroundings and “run” free. Because Cockatiels have extremely high natural intelligence, it is important that you express love and affection towards them, as this makes them candidates to be your companion, this in turn promotes good health and happiness.
Good diet regulation is also among the guidelines that should be followed to ensure proper care for Cockatiels. In order to thrive and remain healthy, your feathered friend needs more than pellet based food, such as a consistent diet of greens, vegetables, fresh fruits that are chopped, seeds, and even boiled eggs and other nutritious table foods.
Also included in the plan to ensure proper care for Cockatiels is the practice of good hygiene. Try to keep the feathers on the bird’s wings clean, as well as clipped, constantly, and provide bathing occasions as often as possible.
By starting with just these tips, you are insuring a healthy relationship with your cockatiel. Properly cockatiel care (from the start) will help you build a bond with your bird that will last for as long as 15 to 20 years.
{ 59 comments… read them below or add one }
i just like to say that i had my cockatiel for 10 plus year. She has the freedom of the house but she is mean. For all these years i still can get cloes to her unless i have her favorite toys then she my best buddy
Sounds like my youngest daughter, The bond has to be set early from my experience. Just make sure you have her toys.
hey, your website has helped me alot. thank you.
Thanks, I am sorry I have been absent due to illness. I just updated he site though.
I have two pairs of cocktails two males and two females all in a big cage they have laid two eggs but it has been almost a month and still nothing…is this a problem? Are my eggs bad? Do they need a nest? Do they sell nests? Or make their self nests? I interact with my bird ALL the time but with my two kids I can’t let them out as often as I would Like…do the females need to exercise as well ? The last time I let my female out she hit the wall and ceiling so many times she hurt her nose…thanks and god bless…
I can’t answer you question based on the information given.
In my experience the eggs should have built some rough thing, that might resemble a nest. Also, the eggs have to be warm, whats the ambient temperature in the room?
Every bird needs exercise, but physically and mentally . Be sure to have a decent amount of toys. Cockatiels will get depressed with the same ‘ole toys.
Children will cause a cockatiels some irradiation if left unchecked, this will add the birds nervousness.
Thanks,
Francis
Hi, Someone gave me a young Cockatiel and this poor bird chewed off its right foot! It is dry at the end of the foot about where the ankle would be. This girl had two bratty children so I don’t know if the poor bird was just stressed out and neglected, if someone has an idea on why this has happened and how to better take care of him/her, please let me know.
Thanks
I am not sure if I can answer this question properly. There are many reasons for cockatiels mutilating themselves. This is always so sad when it happens.
Although, some reasons for this behavior could be…
* Nervousness / Overly Stressed
* Allergies
* Contact with Toxins / Cleaning products / Personal Care Items
I hope this helps,
Francis
Can a Cockatiel and a parakeet live peacefully together? that means as “buddies” housemates, etc.
Honestly, I don’t know. I have never put those birds together.
I will say that birds can be territorial, even with their own kind.
Francis
hi i found a cockatiel and he doesnt seem to be injured but it doesnt fly away , the wings dont look that are clipped, but i just want to know what to do from now on
Karen,
Don’t do anything, if your bird can fly it will. If for some reason it can’t it can still get enough exercise.
Take Care,
Francis
I was wondering what Should i feed My pet cockatiel exactly? And how Often should i feed Them The Different types of food? Thank You
This didn’t help at all… covers no basics what-so-ever. Waste of my time.
Sorry to hear that Wayne. Maybe you should cage her. She will be absolutley, 100% dependant on YOU. Feed her at a regular time every day. Talk to her constantly. When you let her out to fly, do so in a confined space. Be in the room with her- just watching. Then put her back into the cage. Make a dead-on rutine of this. I don’t know how long it will take untill she is broke- if ever it does happen! This is a highly motified version of how I deal with “cranky colt syndrome”.
Hope I helped.
Hey, my grandmother really wants a pet. Are cockatiel’s a good pet for someone elderly? She lives alone and would probably be as dependant on this bird as much as it is on her. I’m just wondering how much (weekly) maintenance i will be doing to help her out.
Hello Liz,
Yes, cockatiels make for great pets for the elderly. Their needs are basic, but they are time consuming. Cockatiels, if the “connection” is made need a lot of love.
Take Care,
Francis
i just inherited a 19 yr old cockatiel and she was the runt who they never expected to make it….thank u for the helpful information to keep my baby alive more than 20.
Stacy,
Good luck with your cockatiel
Take Care,
Francis
this website will help me in the long run. going under favorites!
Hello Birdboy,
Thanks for the encouragement
Take Care,
Francis
I am happy I found your website, My husband and I are new cockatiel owners..we have perry in a large cage filled with different perches and toys in our family room(no drafts) and he seems to be happy, just wish we knew what his little noises mean..sometimes he sings sometimes he sounds quiet excited..can not get him to eat anything except seeds, however I do offer greens and fruit…anything that could help us be a better parent to perry would be so helpful..
Hello Susan,
Seems like you have a perfect situation for Perry. Just keep offering the fruit, he may come around.
As for being a “better parent”, it sounds like your doing a great job already!
Take Care,
Francis
thank you my bird was a rescure and give to me i love her to death she is never in a GAGE and comes with me everywhere
how can you shower them.
I just bought 2 cock from a person and they dont like being touch. How can i distinguish between girl and the boy.
Hello Ester,
Take a spray bottle and warm water and spray mist over the birds. They will do the rest to clean themselves.
Take Care,
Francis
hi i have just got my cockatiel and im not sure wether it is a gurl or boy has any one got a idea how you can tell ?????
Hello Bethany,
There are many “ways” to know the sex of your bird, these are “ify” at best. The ONLY way to really know to take to a vet. The vet will do a DNA test.
Take Care,
Francis
Thank you for all the great information. We’ve had our 2 cockatiels for 4 weeks and we are really enjoying them as we get to know them better – and vice versa.
Hello Karin,
Thanks for the compliment. Enjoy your birds as much as possible.
Take Care,
Francis
Good site, and great info. we have a 6yr old male
that was a rescue. We also have a 3yr old Cherrypie
conure (male). have a good holiday, and
Happy New Year.
Jeff
Hello Jeff,
I had a great holiday season! I hope yours went well too.
Take Care,
Francis
I have my cockatiel for 4 days now. He’s 6 months old and doesn’t go out of his cave. He doesn’t sing as well. How can I help my bird? I’m feeling sad it’s like I killed my enthusiasm for buying it. Pleace help me
Hello Zhice,
These behaviors will come, it just takes time. Your new bird needs time to adjust.
Take Care,
Francis
HI, I HAVE BABIE COCKATIEL ABOUT 3 WEEKS OLD WHEN WOULD THEY BE ABLE TO EAT ON THERE OWN
Can Ifeed my Cokateils with chicken pellets.
Hello Premnath,
I personally wouldn’t do that.
I rotation of pellets, fruits and seeds should do fine.
Take Care,
Francis
hi just purchased 2 babies (9mos old boy & girl) after the death of Pepsi we had him for 7yrs after my son found him, never knew his age. My question is that the cage I had for Pepsi i m using for th babies but i donot have a grate on th bottom of th cage so that they cannot eat th paper or their droppings. Is it dangerous to their health? or do i have purchase something to cover it? or should I also shred paper on th floor of the cage???? i m a very concern “mommy” MADDIE
Hello Maddie,
I would like to say that you should do something about the grate. It is not good for ant bird to step in their own dropping. At the very least put down some paper and clean the cage often.
Take Care,
Francis
Females are supposed to have horizontal lines on their lower tail feathers. If you have a couple, the male sings, females pretty much screams and not that often.
I had a female for almost five years and she was mean, we called it her attitude. However, she was very much bonded with my father and husband, i guess they choose who to hang with.
If they dont like to be touch, they may have spend too much time in a cage, give them lots of attention and they will come back for affection.
If the female is laying eggs you need to put a box (pet store) in the cage and made available material to build a nest. The will not sit on the eggs at plain sight.
Always keep food in the cage, make sure is good. Also clean water, they will feed based on the activity during the day. Fresh fruit (tropical) is a great treat and a good source of vitamins which are not provided entirely by the seeds.
I hope this helps and enjoy you pretty bird
This really answers a lot of my questions! Thanks!(: And @bethany if you haven’t already found out the gender I was told my cockatiel’s gender by a professional, so I’m sure one near you would be able to help…Good luck!:D
Hello Heather,
Yes, that is my advice, as well.
Take Care,
Francis
I have only just got a pet cockatiel but I’m not sure how to tell if it is a boy or a girl, I have tried asking my vet but they don’t know
how do you clip their wings
Hello Nicholas,
Clipping a birds wings are tricky, at best. I would seek professional help. I have heard of people doing this incorrectly and harming their birds in the process.
Take Care,
Francis
Hi Esther and Bethany.
It is very hard find out the sex of a cockatiel without DNA testing from a vet. Some say that males are more vocal and have brighter red markings on the cheeks. However this does not gaurantee that the cockatiel is a male.
To be 100 percent certain you will need to take them to your vet and get them DNA tested.
Hello Jelix,
I agree with your statement, and thanks for answering these questions.
Take Care,
Francis
Hey I just bought my pearl cockatiel three weeks ago from bird paradize, new jersey. They said they are still hand feeding it so it is going to take another two weeks before I could take it home. I went to play with it 3 times within in the last 3 weeks and it seems really friendly and comes to you and looks like it is easy to tame because when I say step up now it steps up. After I purchase the bird I will be home with it for a month or two because I am going on vacation for three weeks, but my dads home and he usually leaves for work at 4 and comes back around 2 pm. My dad said he will play with the bird after he gets home but there’s a huge break from 4 to 2 so I was wondering if the bird will be fine in the cage playin with its toys for 10 hours by itself everyday?
Hello Sanju,
This is tricky, but I think that will ok, if there are enough toys, food and water. Coupled with a lot of playtime with dad when he gets home.
Take Care,
Francis
Hey I might be getting a cockatiel but i had a parakeet before, so is it bad to have a cockatiel in a parrakeet cage and can they eat parakeet food?
i have a cockatiel that is 28 years old
Hello Wanda,
Awesome! 28 Years old is impressive.
Take Care,
Francis
i am new to bird keeping and i am thinking of gettong a cockatiel because i have been told they are good beginner birds. is this true? any other tips on keeping cockatiels? oh and when you let them out to exercise (this may seem like a stupid question) how o you get them back? do they instantly bond to you? or do you have to wait until they bond with you until you can let them out for exercise? what if they dont bond with you! *freaks out!*
Hello Mimi,
First, I plan on posting more on your question “any other tips on keeping cockatiels?” so please come back often.
They do not instantly bond, normally. It is like any other friendship you have had, it takes time. Once the bond is made it is hard to break.
Please don’t freak out
Take Care,
Francis
If your cockatiel has thin strips on its tail feathers its most likely a girl. You can also check by feeling their pelvic bones. If the pelvic bones are wide you have a female and if they are narrow you have a male
Just want to say I purchased a cockatiel when i was just fifteen I’m now forty-eight and Telemachus is still with me. You can do the math. He’s been with me through high school, college, marriage, kids and beyond. He’s getting pretty feeble these days but still has heart to whip up a tune every now and then and still remembers little sayings that he has picked up along the way through all the years. He has been a loyal friend and campanion for all these many years and i will miss him terriblly when he is no longer around.
Hello Jon,
That is a touching story, I love hearing a successful pet story. You know the ones that show how much they mean to you, and how much they have given to you.
Thank You,
Francis
I love my cockatiel! He’s so adorable! You can tell it is a boy or a girl by looking for eggs in your cage. A girl lays eggs, and a boy does not. Also, you can put them in the shower with you and they just flap around on the floor! After, you blow-dry them dry. Or, you can just take a water squirter and spray them with it on mist.
Hi, my birds had 2 baby Cockatiels that are 3 months old. After 6 weeks they were hand fed with formula. Both male and female flying, healthy, & happy. Then the female became weak and not flying. She is on an antibiotic and is eating. Still very weak but a little stronger. Her feet curl up but sometimes open. Very sleepy but is happy to see us. Can anyone give me a clue to help her? Kim
Hello Kim,
The best recommendation that I can give you is this…
Make sure that your cockatiel is seeing an Avian Vet. and that you are keeping the vet informed. I know you want an immediate answer, but being cautious and safe is the best bet.
Take Care,
Francis