Cockatiels
Cockatiels are sweet, personable, easy
to care for, intelligent, fun, and all around great family pets. They are great
whistlers and the males can actually learn how to talk. They are easy to train
and are quiet enough for apartment living. They can be very cuddly and are also
independent and undemanding.
These birds come in a variety of colors
and mutations, so there are a lot to choose from. Many become well bonded with
their owners--I've known some that would follow you around like a puppy. What a
loyal companion!
You really can't go wrong with a
wonderful bird like this. They are great for first-time bird owners and even
families with small children. They can be a little nippy, but with some good
training and a little TLC, you can have yourself a wonderful little feathery
friend.
Fast Facts
|
|||
Name
|
Cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) or "tiels"
|
||
Origin
|
Australia
|
||
Size
|
12" (30 cm), 75-125 grams
|
||
Color Differences
|
In the wild, they
are gray with yellow heads and orange cheek patches. However, there are many
color mutations that breeders have created including lutino, albino, pied,
and cinnamon. Some mutations now available combine these mutations as well.
|
||
Owner
|
Good for first-time bird owners.
|
||
Average Cost
|
$50-150
|
||
Lifespan
|
Approximately 35 years
|
||
Noise
|
They are not very
noisy, so they are a good choice if you live in an apartment.
|
||
Qualities
|
Friendly, quiet, adaptable, easily trained, undemanding, playful,
inquisitive, outgoing, delightful personalities, great family pets, may pick
a favorite person, but are not one-person birds, intelligent, entertaining,
most love head scratches, males are more vocal than females, can be nippy,
cuddly, can learn tricks, good at whistling, clean, gentle.
|
||
Abilities
|
Good - They are good
at imitating sounds (especially whistles) and some have learned how to
whistle entire songs. Males are more vocal than females and some males do
learn to talk well.
|
||
Interaction/Time
Requirements
|
They do like a lot of attention and most love getting their head
scratched. However, they are also very independent and do well on their own
when necessary.
|
||
Diet
|
They need a diet for
small birds.
|
||
Supplies Needed
|
They need supplies for small birds.
|
||
