Cockatiel is a popular choice for a pet bird. It is a small parrot with a variety of colors and a comb. It is attractive as well as friendly. Because of their smaller size, parrot care and taming are easier than other parrot species. They are capable of imitating voices, although they may be difficult to understand. These birds are great at whistling and you can teach them to sing along to the tune.
Species overview
- COMMON NAME: Cockatiel
- SCIENTIFIC NAME: Nymphicus hollandicus
- ADULT SIZE: 28 or 33 cm, weight from 60 to 115 grams
- LIFESPAN: 15 to 20 years with proper care, and sometimes as long as 30 years although this is rare
Origin and history
In their native Australia, cockatoos are also known as cockatiels. They mainly live in the outback, a northern region of the continent. Discovered in 1770, they are the smallest member of the cockatoo family. It exhibits many of the same characteristics and habits as larger birds.
In the wild, they live in large herds. Fascinating facts and clever names Cockatiels became popular pets in the 1900s. They are easy to breed in captivity and their docile, friendly personalities make them a suitable pet for free. natural for family life. These birds can no longer be trapped and exported from Australia.
Character
These little birds are very gentle and affectionate and often like to be petted and held. It doesn't necessarily like cuddling. It simply wants to be near you and will be happy to see you. Cockatiels are generally friendly; however, an untamed bird may bite. You can prevent bad habits at an early age by ignoring bad behavior because these birds want to please.
Never scold the bird; This can cause it to become timid around people. Reward good behavior and despise bad behavior. Cockatiels are intelligent birds and can learn many tricks over time. From waving and whistling to ringing bells, they are smart little birds that will love a new challenge. Many parakeets will even stay busy for hours talking to “the other bird” in the mirror.
Voice and song
Talks and whistles but not as loud as some other parrots. By reputation, males have the upper hand in imitating voices and whistles. However, the female bird is no slouch; they are also good at imitating. can echo sounds from your home, including alarm clocks, phones, and even wild birds outside.
Cockatiel colors and names
Wild cockatiels have a gray body with a yellow face and crest and orange cheeks. Facial colors are brighter and more vivid in males. Females have stripes on the underside of their tail feathers. Raised in captivity for the pet trade, a number of color mutations that have developed over the years have been bred.
The most common variations include:
Albino: The whole body has white fur and red eyes, but also has some black eyes
Lutino: White fur, yellow face, orange cheeks and red eyes
Lutino Pied: The typical parrot feather color is replaced by yellow or pale white with yellow veins, orange cheeks, yellow face and yellow crest
Whiteface: White face, white crest, points on the back are black and white or coffee milk feathers
Pearl, laced, or opaline: Different colored spots create small “pearls” along its feathers
Cinnamon, fawn, or Isabelle: Gray fur with warm tan or brown undertones
Silver: Recessive silver and dominant silver cockatiel mutant; recessive trait of cool gray fur and red eyes; Dominants have warmer gray tones and dark eyes
Other mutations include emerald, creamface, pastelface and yellow cheek cockatiels. The difference between males and females is not based on color. Can be difficult to distinguish, especially in young birds. To determine gender, consider a DNA test.
Cockatiel Care
A pair of birds will make good friends for each other. However, they may not bond well with you or imitate voices and sounds. Keeping a single bird is fine, but you need to spend a significant amount of time interacting with the cockatiel on a daily basis. If your lifestyle makes this impossible, buy a pair of birds to prevent loneliness and self-harm. These birds are naturally messy and they create powdery dust on their feathers. It is used for grooming and can leave a powdery coating on the cage and accessories.
Bathe or spray your bird once a week. Regular cage cleaning is necessary. Many cockatiel cages come with removable bottom trays to make the task easier. Males are active and playful animals, so they have a large cage. Provide a cage with minimum dimensions of 60x50x50cm. The distance on the cage bars must not be wider than 1.5cm. You don't want the bird to get its head stuck in the cage. Horizontal cage bars provide the bird with the best opportunity for climbing and necessary exercise.
The coop should have enough space to place a few birds on different levels. The bird will be able to move easily. Trim your parrot's wings and nails twice a year. You can do it yourself but you must learn the right method, otherwise you will easily bleed to death. If you are uncomfortable with this, your veterinarian or poultry breeder can do it for you. Cockatiels present some dangers in the home. Avoid placing the bird cage in drafty places or near the kitchen. Smoke from heated cooking equipment can kill these birds.
General health problems
The most common health problem affecting birds is malnutrition. Usually, they only eat seeds. The vitamins and minerals found in fruit, vegetable and pellet diets are essential for preventing malnutrition. Cockatiels are susceptible to fatty liver disease, due to a high-calorie diet rich in carbohydrates and fats, as well as limited or no exercise.
To reduce the risk of your cockatiel getting this disease, make sure your bird is fed a varied diet and stays away from insecticides, pesticide residue on fruits and vegetables, and fumes from household appliances. clean.
Most birds are susceptible to respiratory diseases and psittacosis, a harmful bacterial infection that can cause respiratory symptoms such as wheezing, sneezing, coughing and runny nose. At the first sign of illness, take your bird to an avian veterinarian. Acting quickly can save your bird's life.
Diet and Nutrition Variety is key to a healthy diet for any parrot, including Cockatiels. Nuts can be a nutritious part of the diet, but they are high in fat. Seed should not be more than 30% of the bird's diet. Pellet diets are often the right choice for birds because they are nutritionally balanced and birds cannot choose their favorite seeds and leave the rest.
To ensure that your bird gets all the nutrients it needs, feed a variety of fresh vegetables and fruits. In general, a parakeet eats about 1 tablespoon of food per day. Here's why what goes into that tablespoon matters. Provide granule/pellet mixture every morning. Feed as many birds as they will eat.
The birds do not tend to overeat. You can put food in a bowl. These birds are natural foragers in the wild, where they eat grass seeds, fruits, and plants. Offer fresh fruits and vegetables in a bowl. Eliminate what they don't eat after an hour; Do not feed birds spoiled food.
If your bird prefers an all-seed diet, you will need to be consistent with feeding them a more diverse menu. Feed proteins such as hard-boiled eggs, beans, and cooked meat in moderation. Sprouting seeds is also a great way to add variety to your bird's diet. Never feed your bird butter, chocolate, coffee and salt; These are toxic to birds
Exercise
As with any parrot, activities will keep a parrot happy and help maintain its physical and mental health. If your bird spends most of its time in a cage, make sure the cage is large enough for the bird to fly.
Providing a variety of toys can stimulate your bird's tendency to play. Ties, ladders and toys should be plentiful but not so much that they impede the bird's movement around the cage. If possible, give your Cockatiel at least one hour outside of the cage. While this is not as important to other parrot species, getting out of the cage helps with socialization and allows the bird to stretch its wings.
