Cockatiel Care

Cockatiel is a wonderful bird that is not only beautiful, but an intelligent pet. The cockatiel is known for its social and gentle behavior. This bird does not demand much and is also a great pet, even for beginners. Cockatiels are found in Australia and are the smallest species of the cockatoo family (parrot family). The name cockatiel rhymes with the Dutch word "Kakatielje" that means 'little cockatoo'. In this article, we shall discuss cockatiel care and information.

Cockatiel Information

Cockatiel is one of the most popular pet birds around the world. The cockatiel has a distinct raised crest that makes it even more endearing. The natural colors of cockatiel is pale gray with round orange cheek patches. The pet cockatiel comes in different colors and is about 14 inches long and weighs about 75 grams.

Behavior
The basic cockatiel behavior is quite timid and shy. Any strange noise or loud sounds can make it hiss and retreat to safety. The motto of cockatiel seems it is better to retreat than to fight. However, if need be, they may bite. The cockatiel is very sociable and moderately active. They love to be touched, played with and spoken to. They are always up to some trick that will catch your attention. They love singing and if taught to whistle they will keep whistling all day long. They are very cheerful birds and have an affectionate nature. They will climb over your shoulders and groom your hair. You can shower all the love you have and cuddle these birds, as this is all they want from you. They can be trained to talk and whistle and it is said that the male species are generally better with the training part. The cockatiels do not bite as much as the parrots and are cleaner. You should always keep in mind that these birds need to be hand fed. Female cockatiel behavior shows that they are generally more nervous than male cockatiel.

Life Span
The cockatiel life span is about 20 to 30 years. However, the average cockatiel life span is just 10 years, as some owners do not take proper cockatiel care. You need to take good cockatiel care to keep your pet healthy and live a longer and fuller life.

Breeding
The easiest birds to breed are cockatiels. All you need to do is get two cockatiels together and wait for the eggs to be laid. Soon, you will be able to enjoy watching the chicks coming out of their eggs. However, cockatiel breeding has more to it that you should know.

Cockatiles reach puberty at around 18 months and this period is called by the breeders as 'safe to breed'. You should avoid mating cockatiels before 18 months of age, as this may result in serious defects in the chicks. You need to get male and female cockatiels together and within a few days they will begin to mate. Soon, the female will lay eggs and incubate them for about 3 weeks. The eggs are not to be touched till the mother stops incubating them. You will find some females will lay eggs even if they are not mated. These eggs will however be infertile. To stop the female from laying infertile eggs, you need to place her in dark rooms for longer periods.

Cockatiel Care

Cockatiels are wonderful pets and good companions. You need to take good cockatiel care to give them a quality life. The following paragraphs on cockatiel care and information will help you care for your bids better.

Bringing Home a Cockatiel
When you go to buy a cockatiel, make sure you do not buy a sick bird. You need to be very observant while buying cockatiel as birds tend to hide illness in order to avoid looking weak in wild. You need to see that the cockatiel is chirpy and responsive. The birds should have clear eyes and the vent area (the area where the bird excretes from) should be clean. The bird should not be too fluffy and unhealthy looking. Look at the bird droppings at the bottom of the cage. Do you find them normal or is something wrong? Once you are sure, you have found the perfect bird, you can buy him.

Cage
You need to invest in the biggest cage you can afford for you cockatiel. The cage should have horizontal bars as cockatiels love to climb. The perch should be firmly fixed and be able to provide plenty of exercise to your bird. Place the cage in an area where it can always remain around the family. Do not place it in a secluded spot or you may have a sad, depressed bird as pet. If you want to let out your cockatiel from the cage, make sure the room is sealed properly. The bird should get no chance to escape.

You can use avian water bottles to provide the bird with clean water. Before you pull out the water tray, make sure your cockatiel has learned to drink water from the bottle. You need to place two food trays in the cage. One for seeds and one for fresh foods. The cage should be cleaned everyday and disinfected regularly. You can use a bleach solution to disinfect the cage.

Food
Cockatiels survive on many different kinds of seeds and fruits in the wild. You need to decide what you would like to feed your pet and understand its likes and dislikes. You can feed him formulated and well-balanced pellets or offer him with fortified seed mixes. You can feed him fruits if you like and even try giving him some healthy human food. But never feed your pet cockatiel salty, greasy or sugary foods. You will end up with a sick cockatiel if fed recklessly. You can feed your cockatiel with sunflower seeds, vegetables and seed mix.

Grooming
You need to groom your cockatiel feathers to keep them attractive. The cockatiel will itself do the cleaning, but you can spray a light mist of water to remove unwanted oil or grease. You need to trim its feathers to avoid it from flying off. You can visit a local pet shop or vet for trimming the wings of cockatiel.

Sleep Periods
You need to provide ample rest to your cockatiel to keep it healthy. Cockatiels sleep for about 10 to 12 hours at night. You need to maintain their rhythm of sleep everyday or else you will have a noisy pet when you are trying to sleep.

Cockatiel Dust
Just like the cockatoos, cockatiels produce a powdery down. This powdery down covers their feathers and can trigger asthma attacks and allergies. If you or someone in your family has asthma or prone to allergies, make sure you take this under consideration before bringing a cockatiel home.

Baby Cockatiel Care
You need to take really good baby cockatiel care. Make sure that the baby cockatiel does not catch any bacterial or fungal infections. You should handle them with care. You should avoid hand feeding baby cockatiels if you are working or going to school. You should consult a local pet shop or vet and learn proper baby cockatiel care.

Cockatiels are great pets who learn to trust their owners completely. They love to be cuddled and play with their owners. In case of male cockatiels, they learn simple tricks and learn to talk. The females are less talkative than the males. Cockatiels are prisoners in your home, as they are not allowed to go out of your house. You need to take good cockatiel care to make their life happy and fun-filled. Cockatiels love your attention, so make sure you shower them with loads of love. I hope this article on cockatiel care and information has helped you learn a bit more about your new pet.