Information on Owning the Cockatiel Bird

One of the less expensive and smaller parrots to own, cockatiels are a popular pet bird. With quality care, these birds can live into their 20s. However, it takes more than seed and just any bird cage to provide good care to a cockatiel.

  1. Housing

    • Cockatiel expert Greg Glendell in "The Birdkeepers' Guides: Cockatiels" states that a "suitable minimum cage size would be 21 inches high, 21 inches deep and 42 inches long." Anything smaller is not appropriate for a cockatiel despite what the pet stores tend to sell.

    What to Feed

    • Cockatiels on a seed-based diet often suffer from metabolic bone disease and other health conditions. To keep your cockatiel healthy, feed it pellets, fresh fruits and vegetables, and some seed.

    Toys and Playtime

    • Cockatiels like to keep active with toys and playtime out of the cage. They should have a cockatiel-sized parrot play gym outside the cage. Plenty of toys should also be available inside the cage.

    Veterinary Care

    • Take your cockatiel to a veterinarian that specializes in birds when you get your bird and then at least once a year. Common health problems for cockatiels are nutritional deficiencies, psittacosis caused by a bacteria and respiratory diseases.

    Training

    • To have a good relationship with your cockatiel you will need to train him. Greg Glendell recommends that all cockatiels know the commands for "step up," "go," "off there," "on here," "stay," and "go down." If you are not experienced with cockatiel training, then you may want to hire a professional parrot trainer.