Cockatiel

Is a cockatiel right for you?

The cockatiel is the second most kept cage bird after the budgerigar. It is recognised by its crest, the orange patches on its cheeks, and its whistling ability. Larger, longer-lived, and generally calmer than the budgerigar.

A cockatiel means a commitment of 15 to 20 years. A bird bought for a child will still be alive when that child goes to university.

Before you adopt

The number of vets who treat birds is limited in many places. Before getting a bird, check whether there is a clinic near you that sees exotic animals.

A healthy young bird has bright eyes, clean nostrils, smooth feathers, and a clean vent. Do not take a bird from a cage where any bird is sitting fluffed at the bottom or where droppings are watery.

Also look at rehoming groups; because of the long lifespan, adult cockatiels needing a new home are common and are often given with their cage.

Character and social needs

The cockatiel is calm, gentle, and social. Compared with the budgerigar it is considered less busy and more docile.

The crest is an indicator of mood: an upright, forward-leaning crest means curiosity or excitement, a fully flattened crest means fear or anger, and a crest held slightly back means the bird is relaxed. This is the most practical way to read your bird.

It is a flock bird. A bird kept alone regards you as its flock mate and expects at least two to three hours of active attention a day. If you cannot provide that, keep two birds.

Voice and speech: males are far better than females at whistling and learning melodies; some individuals also say simple words. Females are quieter. Do not trust sellers who guarantee speech.

Night fright: a behaviour specific to this species. In the dark a sudden noise can panic the bird into thrashing around the cage and injuring itself. Leaving a dim night light beside the cage largely solves this.

Cage and living space

• Size: at least 60x60x75 cm for one bird, markedly larger for two. Cage height matters because the tail is long.
• Bar spacing: 1.5 to 2 cm. In wider spacing the bird can trap its head.
• Perches: natural wood in different diameters. Plastic perches lead to sores on the soles of the feet. Do not use sandpaper perches.
• Toys: at least three or four kinds; chewable wood, bells, ladders, foraging puzzles. Rotate weekly.
• Position: a corner against a wall, at eye level, out of direct sun and away from draughts. The kitchen is absolutely unsuitable.
• A night light. To prevent night fright.
• Free flight: at least one to two hours a day with windows closed, mirrors covered, ceiling fans off, and other animals out of the room.

Clean the cage floor daily, perches and bowls weekly, and the whole cage thoroughly once a month.

Feeding

The most common and most lethal mistake is feeding only a seed mix. Seed is fatty and short of vitamins; cockatiels fed on seed alone develop fatty liver disease and die early.

The correct arrangement:

• Pellets (50-60%): a pellet formulated for birds should be the staple. Converting from seed takes patience and can take weeks.
• Fresh vegetables (25-30%): rocket, purslane, lettuce (green leaves), grated carrot, broccoli, sweet pepper, courgette, cooked sweet potato. Offer fresh daily and remove after a few hours.
• Seed mix (10-15%): as a treat.
• Fruit (small amounts): apple (without pips), pear, watermelon.
• Calcium: a cuttlebone should always be in the cage; it is critical for laying females.
• Clean water: changed every day.

Toxic items: avocado (lethal), chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, salt, onion, garlic, apple pips, fruit stones.

Lethal household hazards: overheated non-stick coatings (PTFE fumes), aerosol sprays, scented candles and incense, cigarette smoke, cleaning chemicals.

Health and lifespan

Average lifespan is 15 to 20 years; with good care it can reach 25.

Birds hide illness; by the time signs appear the condition is usually advanced.

Signs that mean a vet visit:

• Sitting on the floor of the cage, dozing with fluffed feathers
• Loss of appetite, or going through the motions of eating without swallowing
• Change in the colour, consistency, or amount of droppings
• Tail-bobbing while breathing, wheezing, open-beak breathing
• Nasal discharge or blockage
• Feather plucking, bare patches
• Loss of balance, drooping wings

Common diseases:

• Chronic egg laying (in females): one of the most frequent health problems in this species. In females that lay continuously even without a mate, calcium is depleted, bones weaken, and egg binding develops. Sitting fluffed up, straining, and abdominal swelling are an emergency. Prevention: reduce daylight hours to 10 to 12, remove nest-like dark spaces, and reduce excessive stroking of the back and base of the tail.
• Obesity and liver disease: the result of a seed-based diet.
• Feather plucking: caused by boredom, loneliness, stress, or illness. Enrichment and veterinary assessment are needed.
• Respiratory infections: related to air quality and draughts. Because this species is dusty, ventilation matters.
• Chlamydia (psittacosis): a bacterial infection that can also spread to people; lethargy, greenish droppings, respiratory signs.
• Tumours: relatively common in this species.

Taming and training

A young bird (8 to 12 weeks) is most open to taming.

1. Settling in (1-2 weeks). Put the cage in place, approach, talk; do not put your hand in.
2. Introducing the hand. Hold your hand still in the cage; after a few days bring your finger toward the perch.
3. Stepping up. Press your finger gently against the lower chest; the bird will step up. Use a millet spray as a reward.
4. Outside the cage. Release it in a safe room; it must learn to return of its own accord.
5. Whistling and melodies. Repeat the same melody several times a day in a calm setting. In males results usually come within a few months.
6. Limits on stroking. Stroking the head and cheeks is fine; avoid stroking the back and the base of the tail, as this triggers breeding behaviour and leads to chronic egg laying in females.

On wing clipping: the practice is controversial and many avian vets oppose it. Flight is part of a bird's physical and psychological health; achieve safety by making the environment safe.

History and life in the wild

The cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) is native to the interior of Australia and is the smallest member of the cockatoo family; its crest is the mark of that relationship.

In the wild it lives in flocks, migrates by following water sources, and feeds on seeds in arid areas. That flock life explains the social need of pet birds.

The species was described by European naturalists in the 1770s and brought to Europe in the 19th century. Australia banned the export of wild birds in 1894, so the world's pet population descends from the limited number of birds that left before then.

The wild type is grey-bodied with a white wing bar and orange cheeks. Colour varieties such as lutino (yellow), pearl, whiteface, cinnamon, and pied are the product of captive breeding; the first lutino appeared in Florida in 1958.