Are Female Cockatiels Easier to Keep Than Male Cockatiels?

One of the most popular types of birds people keep as pets is the cockatiel. Cockatiels are smart, social birds that are approximately 10 to 14 inches in length. With proper care, cockatiels generally live approximately 15 to 20 years. Male and female cockatiels are both easy to keep as pets; however, they generally have very different personalities.

  1. Female Traits

    • Most female cockatiels are more nervous than males; however, a female cockatiel is more likely to be lovable and cuddly than a male. A female's body is slightly smaller than that of a male cockatiel. She also is usually more docile than a male. Female cockatiels do not sing or chirp as often as males do and generally do not require a lot of attention or petting.

    Male Traits

    • Male cockatiels are typically very fascinated with themselves and are generally much more aggressive than females. They enjoy posing in front of a mirror, and they express more ownership rights than females. Male cockatiels also love attention from people. They will seek out attention way more often than females do and will often strut around their cages, showing off.

    Mating

    • Most cockatiels will bond with another cockatiel that is in their cage. Two cockatiels living together will become mates very quickly and easily. If you own a female cockatiel, she may lay unfertilized eggs even if she has a mate. These eggs will never hatch and can cause her to become egg-bound, which is a life-threatening condition that requires medical attention. This is probably the only explanation of why a female cockatiel is harder to keep than a male. Males often exhibit signs of mating with items, such as toys. When a female is ready to mate, she is very calm. She tilts her head down and chirps quietly.

    Other Information

    • Cockatiels are friendly, enthusiastic pets that are great at interacting with people. Both male and female birds love to be played with and talked to. They love to do tricks and show off; although, because females are generally shyer than males, males often get noticed and played with more.