Cockatiel Health Information

The Cockatiel requires much less specific care than many of its larger cousins. With a good balanced diet and regular veterinary care your cockatiel should do very well. As is true with most parrots, a Cockatiel's lifespan is directly affected by the quality of its diet. A seed only diet is insufficient. A good diet is a combination of pellets; there are several good commercial brands, as well as fresh dark leafy greens, fresh orange, green and yellow veggies, and a small amount of a high-quality seed mix. The average lifespan is between 10 and 16 years, but when fed a healthy, varied diet and given a safe, nontoxic environment, a Cockatiel can live 20 to 25 years - some will even live into their 30s!

It is important to keep your Cockatiel's wings clipped. A loud noise or sudden movement can spook even a tame Cockatiel, causing it to frantically fly into windows or walls at speeds sufficient to break its wings or neck. Cockatiels do very well in large cages, with many toys to keep them from becoming bored. These birds require social interaction in order to maintain their emotional well being; place the cage in the area of the house where family members spend most of their time, such as a family room or den.

If you have bird allergies, you may not want to get a Cockatiel. Like the African Grey Parrot and Cockatoos, Cockatiels produce a fine powder down. This powder dust may cause those with allergies to suffer.

Breeding
The Cockatiel in the wild typically breeds between August and December. The hen typically lays between two and five eggs, which take an average 21 to 28 days to incubate. Incubation time can vary a lot. The young take 33 days to fledge but will often be fed for another three weeks.