How to Live with a Cockatiel
What to Know About Your Cockatiel
Cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) are native to Australia and are relatively quiet, nondestructive, and entertaining birds. Although they can be kept in pairs or colonies, many owners believe that cockatiels are better pets when kept singly. If keeping more than one, be sure to give individual attention to each bird.
Young, hand-raised cockatiels adapt readily to new surroundings and handling. Gently handled and well-socialized cockatiels usually make outstanding pets. They should be exposed to new experiences (such as car travel, hospital visits, multiple household visitors, other pets) early in life so they become well-adjusted to these events.
Is My Cockatiel a Boy or a Girl?
If your cockatiel is male, its head and facial markings are often brighter than those of females. If you obtained him as a young chick, he would have had yellow spots under the primary wing feathers and bars under the tail feathers, which he typically loses around 9 months of age.
Vocalization is an early means of determining the sex of cockatiels — males have a melodious call and may learn to imitate words and songs. Some males can whistle tunes that are actually recognizable. Females, on the other hand, tend to have a more monotonous chirp.
How to Keep Your Cockatiel Happy
Cockatiels are playful and easily amused by simple toys and foraging activities. Because they love to chew, toys must be free of toxic metals, hooks, sharp objects, or small, easily consumed components. Fresh-cut branches with a small diameter from nontoxic, pesticide-free trees should be available in their enclosure for chewing. In the wild, cockatiels are ground feeders and often prefer foraging and exploration opportunities on the cage bottom.
Further information to keep your cockatiel healthy and safe