Tips for Keeping Cockatiels as Pets
Keeping cockatiels as pets is fun, but it is important to know how to care for these birds in order to keep them as healthy and happy as possible. If your pet is happy, you’ll also be happy.
Cockatiels are one of the most intelligent of those birds that are kept for pets; these birds are so popular that they are second only to the parakeet. The Cockatiel are very exotic, featuring bright colored feathers these birds measure about 10 – 14 inches long. Although these are one of the most beautiful birds you can get, there are other reasons why so many prefer keeping cockatiels as pets.
The cockatiel is a friendly bird that will greet you with enthusiasm if you make sure that they are adequately taken care of with all their emotional and physical needs. Just like any other type of pet, these birds will be happier if they are properly cared for, and of course the person that takes care of them will hold a special place for the cockatiel.
The cockatiel is really a miniature parrot; it is one of over 300 species of parrots. This bird originates from Australia, though they are no longer exported from this country as it was banned years ago. Today’s pet cockatiels are bred in other regions of the world.
Just like in the wild, when you keep cockatiels as pets you will have to ensure that they are fed a variety of foods. When not in captivity the cockatiel will eat berries, insects, and seeds, so when feeding your pet keep the bird’s natural diet in mind. When a pet cockatiel is properly cared for, they will live somewhere between 15 and 20 years.
To properly feed your pet you will need to get fortified bird pellets, which will have everything your pet cockatiel needs to be healthy, plus you can feed this bird some table food. Be sure to remember that any type of food that your doctor would say isn’t good for you, is probably not good for your pet cockatiel either.
The reason that proper care is so important for this bird is that often if the cockatiel isn’t cared for correctly their lifespan can be cut dramatically, down to 1 to 5 years. You will see this happen if the bird’s cage isn’t kept clean and with things like allowing the female to lay too many eggs or not getting the bird proper vet care.
Because the cockatiel is a social bird if you keep cockatiels as pets you will find that you do have to pay them some attention. These birds like their owners to attend to them, they like to eat when the rest of the family eats, and they don’t mind being touched if you are gentle and non threatening.
Paying attention to your pet cockatiel is very important due to the fact that these birds are so intelligent they need all the mental stimulation they can get from you and others that they are around. If you leave this bird to their own devices the majority of the time, they may become a little destructive because the cockatiel will get bored.
If you are keeping cockatiels as pets, as well as for breeding you should realize that this probably won’t be all that easy, but breeding these birds is possible even for armatures. The female should not breed until she is at least 18 months old, but it isn’t easy to tell the gender of this species. To be sure of the gender, visit your vet.
Keeping cockatiels as pets will provide you with hours of fun and companionship, but remember this bird is like any other pet and needs attention and care.