Fun and Interesting Cockatiel Facts

Origin

The outback regions of inland Australia were originally home to the colorful cockatiels that favored the bush lands, scrublands and wetlands of this outback country. Their gorgeous feathers are a reminder of the beauty of the wild Australian countryside.

Species

Generally considered part of the parrot family, recent molecular studies have settled the ambiguity about their specific species. They are now classified as part of the Cockatoo family and are the smallest of the Cacatuidae. However, most people still refer to them as 'parrots' although not totally accurate. They are the only Cockatoo species to be able to possibly reproduce at the end of their first year of life.

Lifespan

'Tiels generally live between 15-20 years, although there have been birds who have lived as long as 30 years. One documented case lived to be 36 years of age! Exercise and diet are large factors in determining the lifespan of cockatiels just as they are in humans.

Temperament

These pleasant birds are know for their sweet, affectionate demeanor. They are also very gregarious and fascinating as they display their ability to socialize and become part of the family. In fact, they are one of the easiest birds to tame and train. However, they can also be quite unruly, obstinate, obnoxious and territorial if untrained and left alone for long periods of time.

Never underestimate the necessity to spend time with your 'Tiel or to train him appropriately. They need to be talked to, handled, and played with everyday in order to be happy and healthy.

Colors

Cockatiels can be found in a large variety of colors which include Lutino (yellow), Grey, Pearl, Cinnamon, Whitefact, Albino (white), and Fallow. There are always further attempts to create a new color in cockatiels which means that a 'Tiel with a unique color emerges quite often. This piques the interest of many bird lovers.

Really Fun Cockatiel Facts

'Tiels can exhibit almost human socialization traits if trained correctly. Cockatiels can mimic noises such as doorbells or telephone rings. They can also whistle, talk or sing, but much prefer sounding out noises that they hear within their environment. 'Tiels can also be trained to perform fascinating tricks to the delight of their owners.

They can become quite attached to one particular person if that person is the only one to handle and feed him. To some, this is a great comfort, to others it is a nuisance because 'Tiels may display territorial aggression when others enter the room. It's up to you as to what type of attachments you prefer for your companion...you can easily train your bird to be friendly to everyone or to just be your personal buddy!

Surprising Cockatiel Behaviors That You Didn't Know About

One of the behaviors of the cockatiel that you will need to know is that they are very affectionate and they can be very charming as pets. They can be very good-natured and enjoy intellectual motivation. They correspond by using their voice and their manners. Therefore, understanding their behavior or manner and being able to interact with them will be very important to do when caring for your pets. Do these things and you will make the life of your bird very enjoyable. And you will have the happiness of having a very content pet who will give you a lot of fun and joy.

Some normal behaviors of a Cockatiel are when they bob their heads, scratch and grind their beaks, when they hang upside down and wag its tail. You should not be scared should you ever see these types of behaviors. This can only mean that they are happy and that they are having the time of their life. Cockatiels that usually grind their beaks do the grinding before they go to bed or before sleeping. That would mean that they are sleepy. When cockatiels wag their tail on the other hand, would mean that someone they like got their attention. There would also be times when cockatiels would hang themselves up and down like a bat. This would mean that they are exercising their wings or are just playing. There will be times that your bird will do this to protect their nest.

Aside from these behaviors, also be on the look out for alarming behaviors of a cockatiel. One of the common body language that you will see is when a cockatiel moves its crest on top of their heads. It could mean that he is scared or that he is afraid, just like what humans do when we raise our eyebrows when we see something that is scaring us. It can be scared of something in your house, either a pet or an object inside or outside your house.

One other thing that is common among the behaviors of a cockatiel is when the bird gets mad or is frustrated. Their action would be to flatten their crest against its head, avoid being close to your bird when this happens because it might bite you. Try to talk softly to it to let it know that you do not want to harm it at all.

Also one of the behaviors of a cockatiel is when it screams. A lot of reasons trigger this behavior. It can be the environment where he is at or maybe the place is too loud for your bird. It can also be because your bird knows that you are about to leave the house, leaving him all alone. Another reason can also be because your bird has not gotten enough sleep and is in a bad mood.

When your pet makes grinding noises by using its beak, this is because your bird is really happy or tired - so you need not worry.

Finally, if your bird's feet are warm, your bird is happy

Cockatiel Sounds and What They Mean

Screeching squawks and melodic sounds are the usual cockatiel sounds. It is a known fact that male cockatiels are more talkative than the female cockatiels. The males use their skills in sounds during the mating process. If there are a lot of males trying to win a hen, the better singer gets to move up closer to the hen until the best singer is found to be the winner of the female cockatiel.

When getting cockatiels at a young age, they will tend to mimic human sounds better than their own cockatiel sounds. If you do a sing song pattern with your cockatiel pet, you can be a cockatiel whisperer.

One way of a female cockatiel to carry a conversation with a human or a bird is mimicking what you will say to them through their sounds. On the other hand, a male cockatiel would change his tune and space depending on what he wants to converse with you to show off some points.

The male cockatiels and the female cockatiels would usually battle as to who gets to make the sweetest cockatiel sounds to be the winner.

Female cockatiels are considered to be more social than the males while the males have the better capability of mimicking and following sounds. As early as 6 months old, a male cockatiel can already start mimicking sounds. One of the cockatiel sounds that your pet would already know before you even take it home would be the "wolf ñ whistle". When males make sounds, it would usually pair it with an action by pulling back its wings to produce a heart shape. It can also make sounds by tapping on things such as its dishes, cage bar, toys and other things to get the attention of a potential mate.

Supple chirping cockatiel sounds are what the female will produce and complement it with an action by slowly lifting her tail up and slanting her head when it is ready to mate.

When cockatiels make noises and sounds that are not systematically produced, this means that they are "voicing themselves". Although cockatiels have louder voices than other birds, their voice compared to the larger parrot specie is recognized as charming since their vocal range is smaller.

Cockatiel Training Secret Techniques For Best Results

A cockatiel training that you might want to learn first is training your pet to speak. It is undeniable that cockatiels, as compared to the bigger parrot species, have a lower voice and have a speech that is not as clear as the mynahs or the parrots, but can be comprehensible. When training your bird in speech, always start with short words. Taking baby steps will take you somewhere bigger. Try words like "baba", "hello" or 'hi" or any similar word. Just be sure that you do not train your pet to say a new word if he has not mastered the first word yet. Patience and perseverance is what you'll need in training your pet to speak.

Shoulder riding is another cockatiel training that you can train your pet on. The benefits that you will get from this training are going to be very rewarding for you and your pet. Although there are some cockatiels that would immediately climb on your arms and go to your arms at the beginning, there will be those who will not. What you'll need to do is have them sit on your shoulder for a short time once in a while just until they get used to being there and be familiar with your movements. When training is attained, things will be much easier for you and your pet. You will be able to do things with your hands and your pet can enjoy being out of its cage and spend time with its owner- you.

When you do this, just be careful of your accessories and jewelry as it can be harmful to your birds as well. There can be some chemical stuff in your accessories that may hurt your bird. To avoid this, remove all accessories and jewelry when shoulder riding your bird just to be safe.

Also, remember that cockatiels are light and may be forgotten about when on your shoulder. Always check your shoulder to see if your bird is there or not. Cockatiels also have a tendency of being very quiet which makes them more forgettable when on your shoulder which can be harmful for them especially when you are in your kitchen.

How to Choose Your New Cockatiel What is better...?

What is better, a hand-fed or a parent raised cockatiel?

No matter where you buy your cockatiel, it is always best to find a hand-fed bird if you want a cockatiel as a pet. Hand-fed cockatiels normally cost more than parent-raised ones, as the hand-fed ones have been raised by people and have been labour intensive to raise. This process ensures that the cockatiel will bond with people. Nevertheless you must be prepared to handle and play with your cockatiel every day to keep him tame and lovable.

If you purchase a parent-raised cockatiel, it is going to take extra time and care for the cockatiel to become tame. These types of birds are better for use in breeding programs, as they will make good parents as they were raised by their own parents. Hand-fed cockatiels on the other hand pay more attention to human companions than to other birds, so they may not always make ideal breeding birds.

If you want a pet, it may be worth it to spend the extra money on a hand-fed parrot.

Once you have found a selection of hand-fed cockatiels it is time to select your pet. The best way is to start by observing the birds that are on sale. Take your time and watch for a while. Notice which of the birds are bolder than the others and consider those first, as you want a curious, robust and active pet, not a shy animal that hides in a corner.

A good idea is to let your cockatiel choose you. If one bird waddles up to you and wants to play, or seems to like you, that may be just the bird for you.

Make sure that the birds look healthy. They should look alert, have bright eyes and not be all puffed up and sleeping. Take note of the droppings on the floor of the cage. They should be firm and hold their shape, not runny or watery. They should have a full-chested appearance and be actively moving around the cage. The wings should be firmly held in and not droopy and his feathers should be smooth. The nostrils should be clear of discharge, and their should be no regurgitated food visible around the beak area or on the surrounding feathers.

Also make sure that the outlet that you buy your cockatiel from is reputable and clean. Take note of the other animals in the shop. Do they look healthy and happy. Are the cages clean, and does the shop smell pleasant.

Information on Cockatiel Birds For New Owners

One of the many types of parrots, well liked and famous as pets, are the cockatiel birds. These are native Australian birds with varied multi-colored plumage and a sleek long tail. They usually measure between 10-14 inches from beak to the tip of the tail; they can weigh between 80-120 grams. The show birds can actually weigh more.

Cockatiel birds are actually small parrots (a term usually used to refer to all types of parrots); one of approximately 340 different parrots in the world which was proven by DNA research to be a member of the cockatoo family. Although native to Australia, most of these great birds are now captive bred after Australia banned exportation of all native birds.

Cockatiel birds are naturally friendly, charming and captivating in their beauty. They are one of the types of parrots that are very social and constantly need companionship. In fact, in the wild, no cockatiel is known to travel alone; they usually do it either by pairs or in small flocks.

A bird's actual lifespan depends on whether or not it is receiving proper nutrition and veterinary care as well as getting all his emotional and physical requirements. The average lifespan of cockatiel birds is between 12 to 15 years but with proper care and training, it won't be unusual for a cockatiel to live up to 20 or even 30 years.

According to research, more cockatiel birds are living lives well into their 20s because of better nutrition and advancement in avian medicine. There are three things owners must keep in mind: feed your bird a nutritional diet, keep the cage and feeding dishes clean and seek veterinary care when a bird becomes very ill. This is the best guarantee that your pet bird will be having a long lifespan.

As proper steps for cockatiel care to insure your bird's long and happy life, make sure to provide them with a clean, roomy cage, daily exercise with regular training sessions, a healthy balanced diet of both pelleted food and fresh fruits, vegetables, seeds and other natural food cockatiels usually eat in the wild.

Providing your pets with plenty of stimulating activities and attention is definitely a vital part of your duties towards them. Because of their intelligence, cockatiel birds require constant stimulation from you and their environment. It is important to keep your pets busy and motivated or else they will be bored and become depressed, bored and unhappy. Sulky and discontented birds usually display rowdy, destructive behaviors like plucking their feathers and refusing to eat.

If well taken care of and the bond with owner is deep, cockatiel birds can provide delightful entertainment and companionship the whole day.

Cockatiel - Why They Make The Best First Parrot

5 reasons why coctail....?

This article focuses on the new bird enthusiast and choosing their first bird to own. In this article I will explain why I think the cockatiel is my overall pick for the new bird owner and why. I will also give important comparisons between the cockatiel and other parrot breeds such as the African Grey, Eclectus, Conure, and others.

There are lots and lots of different breeds of parrots out there. Some are very good for petting; some are not. However, for many people who haven't own any pet parrot or any pet birds, many will feel that the cockatiel is an excellent starter bird in the parrot family. Cockatiels are usually associated with having a good personality, very friendly, good talkers, a bird you can cuddle with some what. They also make very good companions.

Cockatiels have been kept and breed successfully in many countries all around the world. Cockatiels can be considered as the most widely kept parrot other than parakeet or budgie (budgerigar). There are lots of research material available and many experts on cockatiels. The learning curve for the care and up-keep of cockatiels is minor and many keepers of them become experts of the cockatiel bird and their care rather quickly.

Of all of the breeds of parrots the cockatiel is the most likely bird to satisfy the new bird owner almost immediately. Other breeds of parrots can be very nippy, biting parrots. Most tend to bond with a single individual and sometimes are even rude to people other than the owner or person they bond with. The cockatiel generally doesn't portray any of these traits, although some might, it is rare.

Okay, given the above information about cockatiels I don't want to say that all bird owners should start with a cockatiel or even imply that all bird owners should own one. What I do want to say is that if you are new to birds as pets you really should consider the cockatiel as a first bird because they are so easy to afford, take care of, and enjoy.

Price

Often price is the deciding factor for the potential new bird owner. Every new bird enthusiast dreams of owning their dream parrot but that new pet can be very costly; sometimes in the thousands of dollars to own.

In the US, and most other countries around the world, the price of a cockatiel is very small compared to say a conure or one of the larger parrots such as the African grey. Prices for cockatiels range anywhere from as low as $30 to start with, or slightly higher for hand fed babies that are meticulously cared for by their breeders.

Of course one should realize that with birds, as is other pets, the more popular color mutation or rarity of the color can raise the price of a cockatiel. Also a cockatiel that has been hand fed will bring a higher selling price because the breeder has spent much of their time caring for the infant bird. Compared to "parent fed" cockatiels hand fed birds are usually about 30 to 50 percent higher in selling price. I will note though if you have the choice between parent fed and hand fed, can afford the hand fed bird, get the hand fed bird. The reason being is that the breeder has given you an excellent head start in getting the most enjoyment out of owning a bird because they have had so much interaction with them.

Noise level

All birds make noise. Some very little and then some make a lot of noise. One of the first things a new bird owner realizes right away is that all birds are "vocal" to some point. By this I mean that all birds make noise. Generally a good rule of thumb is the larger the bird the more noise that is possible from the bird.

Now, granted that the cockatiel will be possibly noisier than say a finche, parakeet, or even a pair of love birds, they will in no way compare to the noise level of a Macaw or Amazon parrot. This fact should be taken into consideration especially if the new owner lives in a apartment housing unit or any area where noise level among neighbors could be a problem.

Every new bird owner would like to have a bird that can talk, but even that can be an annoyance with some of the larger birds. The African Grey, which is by far the nest talker of the parrot species, is known to be able mimic or say just about anything it hears often enough. I remember a friend of mine had an African Grey that could mimic the sound of his old analog dial phone ringing. While it was cute at first it quickly became annoying if you spent very much time with the bird.

For the most part cockatiels can live in complete harmony in just about any community environment. There are exceptions but generally cockatiels are low volume and usually only "speak" or mimic when they are first awakened or seeking attention for food or affection from their owners.

Talking abilities

No parrot really talks, rather they mimic what they have heard enough and are able to mimic. A bird can not carry on a conversation with a human. Although some of the best talkers of the parrot species can do a real impressive job of making it appear as they can. I once knew a friend that had an Eclectus that could sing "I want to be a cowboy" by Kid Rock and did it so well if he had a band playing the musical part you would swear it was Kid Rock singing the song himself.

The bigger the parrot the better it will be able to mimic. The African Grey, Eclectus, and Amazon parrots are the best at talking. They have the best clarity to their voices, if you will, than any other breed of parrots. A cockatiel can do an excellent job of mimicking too. Although, their voice tends to be a lot more rough or scratchy than the bigger parrots, they are easily understood at what they do master in mimicking.

Now one should also keep in mind that not all cockatiels will mimic. Most will to some extent, but not all will. It is common for the bird to say "Hello" or other small phrases, but it is also common for them to never utter a discernable word. If having a talking bird is your prime goal you might consider a larger parrot before getting a cockatiel.

One thing to note is that it seems that hand fed cockatiels are more likely to talk than the parent fed ones. I guess this would all stem back to the early human intervention in their young lives and their willingness to adapt to pleasing the human they are most in contact with.

Good personality

As a rule cockatiels are very well behaved when handled or when left alone for long periods of time. While any bird will bite or nip at you if they feel threatened, it is rare for a cockatiel to display such aggressions. As mentioned earlier in this article cockatiels are most often willing to cuddle with their human partners and actually crave this kind of attention in some cases.

They are also very good with children. The only problem with cockatiels and children is that often children do not realize how fragile the bird is and can often hurt them very badly or even kill them if handled too roughly.

Cockatiels are rarely moody or quick tempered. They will bite as any bird will when they feel threatened or defensive, but they bite for the most part is harmless. I suppose to a small child it may hurt a little more but to most all adults the fear of being bitten will be worse than the bite should you ever be bitten by one.

Compact in size

One of the biggest advantages of owning a cockatiel first is the low cost of housing them and their up-keep. Since they usually no bigger than the average man's fist even a small to medium size cage is enough room for them to live in. This in turn translates into a smaller foot print of the cage size being needed for placement in the home. For many new owners this part of ownership doesn't dawn on them until they get the bird home and find out you have to put the cage somewhere.

Of course being a smaller bird means they eat less and drink less water. This in turn means they make less mess with their food and water. Yet another plus to the neophyte bird owner. The big parrots have large appetites and often meticulous ones and they will definitely make a bigger mess with their food and water.

Summary

I would have to say that out of all of the parrots I believe the cockatiel to be the most widely accepted as a new bird owners first parrot. Add to that they even make a good "upgrade" so to speak for the budgie and parakeet owners. There are pros and cons to any species of bird but for the most part the pros far out weigh the cons when it comes to cockatiel ownership.

Parrots have been kept in captivity for a long time but only the parakeet and cockatiel have adapted to it so well. The bigger parrots many of them are caught out in the wild and can be very troublesome to deal with for a long time and possibly the whole time you have them. Cockatiels even the parent fed ones are the absolute easiest to get along with of the parrot species. I highly recommend a cockatiel to any bird owner or especially to the first time parrot owner.