How to Rear Cockatiels

Cockatiels hail from Australia and are one of the most popular pet birds in the U.S. They're playful, extremely social birds that enjoy human company and are quite trainable. Male cockatiels generally make better pets if you plan to own only one bird. Females are more aggressive and more likely to bite. Since cockatiels are so social, they require a lot of attention. If you are away from the home for long periods of time, it's best to have a pair of birds of the same sex so they can keep each other company. The pair, however, will be more likely to bond to each other and will therefore be less attached to you.

Things You'll Need

  • Cage
  • Seed
  • Fruits
  • Vegetables
  • Cockatiel toys
  • Newspaper
  • Bleach
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Buy a large, sturdy cage made of metal, acrylic or a combination of the two. Cage size for one bird should be about 18-by-14-by-20 inches; for two birds, get a cage approximately 20-by-20-by-29 inches. Be sure the cage bars are spaced no more than 5/8 inches apart. Birds can get their head stuck between bars spaced any further apart which can result in injury or death. Be sure grates at the bottom of the cage pull out for easy cleaning. Steer clear of cages with flimsy plastic bottoms or galvanized wire as they tend to retain odor and trap bird food and droppings.

    • 2

      Feed your cockatiel a variety of foods. Don't feed your bird just seed. Offer organic pellets and a variety of fresh organic fruits and vegetables. Offer fresh finely chopped vegetables such as kale, spinach, sprouts, mustard greens, tomatoes, carrots, collard greens, bok choy, corn on the cob and cooked pumpkin, sweet potatoes or yams. Fruits most cockatiels enjoy include mangoes, papayas, nectarines, peaches, apples, grapes, oranges and bananas. Remove all seeds from fruit before offering them to your birds. Some fruit seeds and pits can be deadly. Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly before offering to your pet. Offer your bird sources of protein. Some cockatiels will eat small amounts of chicken, beef or fish. Other sources of protein are hard boiled eggs, cottage cheese, yogurt and peanuts.

    • 3

      Keep a fresh, clean water supply readily available at all times. Bird watering containers should be cleaned at least once and day. Scrub water dishes with soapy hot water to kill fungus and bacteria. Rinse soap off thoroughly before filling with bottled or filtered water.

    • 4

      Supply your cockatiel with an out-of-cage play area. Don't keep your cockatiel constantly caged. Bird playpens are a good investment to provide a safe area for playtime for your bird when it is out of the cage. Never leave a bird unsupervised when it's out of the cage.

    • 5

      Purchase cockatiel toys for your bird. Cockatiels need to be occupied to be happy. Have a selection of toys available for your bird to play with in its cage.

    • 6

      Clean the bird cage daily. Use black and white newsprint (not colored paper) to line the bottom of the cage. Change paper and scrape off grate at least once a day.