Cockatiel

Cockatiel sound

• Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus)
• Weight: 80-120 gm
• Sexual maturity: 6-12 months
• Maximum recorded life span: 32 years
• Origins: Australia

 Behavior

• Relatively quiet bird.  Better known for whistling ability than for talking.
• Cockatiels that are parent-raised, but also exposed to regular human handling through weaning, grow to be tamer and better adjusted than those that are entirely handfed or parent-raised.
• Tamed birds readily adapt to new surroundings and activities – expose early to daily activities in your household as well as to other pets
• Are intelligent, curious, and easily amused with simple toys.  They love to explore their surroundings
• Cockatiels are very social and require regular interaction with people in order to satisfy their sociable nature.
• Cockatiels may bond with humans, cage mates, toys, or other cage furnishings.  Courtship, mating behavior and egg-laying commonly result.
• Foraging stations, puzzle-feeders, and “busy” toys provide necessary environmental enrichment and reduce the chance of feather picking, aggression, or other problems
• Birds with unrestricted access in the home will encounter numerous dangers: drowning, toxin ingestion, electrocution, injuries, etc.  Cockatiels should be confined to their cage or housed in a “bird friendly” safe room when not under direct supervision.

Diet

• Seeds are high in fat and low in many essential nutrients.  When offered a seed mixture, cockatiels usually chose the seeds with the highest fat content, and selectively pick those from the mix.
• “Vitamin enriched” seeds have a coating on the hulls, which is usually discarded by the bird.
• Formulated diets, on the other hand, are complete.  Each pellet contains balanced nutrition, preventing a bird from feeding selectively.
• Cockatiels should be fed a diet consisting of 70-80% formulated pellets
• Dark green vegetables or fruits can be 10-30% of diet
• Treats (including seeds) should be limited to only 5% of the diet
• Clean, fresh water should be provided daily

Environment

• Enclosures should be as large as possible, with the bird able to fully extend it’s wings and flap without touching the sides of the enclosure
• Cage should be clean, secure, safe and constructed of durable, non-toxic materials, with perches of various sizes
• Avoid placing perches directly over food or water to prevent contamination
• Access to natural light is preferred, drafty areas should be avoided.
• Some birds will require a night light in order to prevent episodes of “night fright” – frantic flapping and vocalization that can occur without provocation
• Birds outside of cages need constant supervision to avoid access to other pets, small children, and hazards in the home.

Preventive Care

• Physical examination every 6-12 months
  • Consult a veterinarian with experience in avian medicine if you have any questions or concerns about your bird’s health.
• Annual fecal examination for parasites, yeast, and bacteria
• Vaccination for Polyomavirus, as directed by your veterinarian
• Blood work annually, as directed by your veterinarian
• Wing or nail trimming as needed

Common Medical Disorders

• Obstetrical problems (excessive egg-laying, egg-binding, egg-related peritonitis, yolk emboli)
• Liver disease
• Kidney disease
• Internal parasites
• Bacterial and yeast infections
• Obesity
• Feather picking
• Broken blood feathers