The Life Span of a Cockatiel

Some domesticated pets have comparatively short life spans, such as golden hamsters, who often live for no longer than 2 years. Others, however, usually have much longer life expectancies, such as the cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus), a jovial Australian parrot.

  1. About Cockatiels

    • Cockatiels, Australian parrots, are extremely popular in the pet world. Not only are cockatiels often affectionate and loving birds, they tend to be talented performers, whether singing, whistling or repeating sentences members of your household say a lot. Girl cockatiels tend to be a little less vocal than the boys, although there are exceptions. Cockatiels generally take to commands and tricks easily and quickly, whether they entail stepping, waving or anything else.

    Life Span of Captive Cockatiels

    • Cockatiels in captivity as pets usually have longer life spans than those in the wild, possibly due to factors such as veterinary attention and proper diet. Pet cockatiels generally live for somewhere between 15 and 25 years. However, the oldest confirmed pet cockatiel on record lived to be 36 years old, according to University of Michigan's Animal Diversity Web.

    Life Span of Freely Roaming Cockatiels

    • In nature, cockatiels aren't usually as long-lived as those who live in human residences, with risk factors such as raptor predators and lack of veterinary care. The wild individuals of the species usually live for 10 to 14 years, according to the Animal Diversity Web feature of the University of Michigan.

    Diet and Veterinary Care

    • Cockatiel diets call for commercial pellets specifically appropriate for cockatiels. An avian veterinarian is an excellent resource for any dietary questions you may have, so always speak to one when putting together meal plans. Cockatiels also frequently eat fresh fruits and vegetables and small amounts of seeds. Take your cockatiel to an avian vet at least once a year. Cockatiels are susceptible to ailments like egg binding, conjunctivitis, diarrhea and chlamydiosis. Pay attention to potential symptoms in your cockatiel, including dirty plumage, loose stools, eye or nose discharge, reduced appetite, eye redness and abnormally fluffy feathers.