Are you a person who is interested in getting a parrot as a pet? Going to be a first-time owner? Thinking of adding diversity to your current flock? If you have stumbled onto this page, you are likely curious to learn whether a cockatiel parrot will be compatible with your lifestyle and likings! I’d like to clarify that although cockatiels are often known to be fantastic “beginner” birds, I believe that all breeds of parrots require incredible high demands when it comes to attention, environment, diet, and training. It is essential to understand that parrots are technically still not “domesticated” compared to dogs and cats, which adds extra difficulties if one is not prepared for such complex yet fragile and long-living creatures! This article will cover traits that make cockatiels a fabulous choice of pet! If you’re familiar with my Cairo… you already know where this is all coming from.
1. Cockatiels can be so cuddly and affectionate!
All cockatiels have different personalities, and nothing is ever guaranteed. My Cairo is incredibly cuddly. He is always seeking my attention, nudging my fingers for head scratches, fluffing up and napping on my shoulder while I work on my devices, and resting his little face on the tip of my nose for face massages. I am often asked how I managed to bond with Cairo this way. This all comes down to how much time one is willing to spend and methods they are eager to explore when it comes to socializing their cockatiel. However, it is crucial to be aware that one must still be gentle when handling cockatiels. While their cousin, the Cockatoos, are a lot more huggable! All birds have boundaries. For instance, when Cairo does not wish to be touched, he will establish that very clearly by opening his beak to be snippy and bite hard!
2. Intelligent and Entertaining!
Cockatiels are full of personality! I often wonder how they fit all that character in a tiny peanut-sized brain. Cockatiels can learn tricks, and commands, mimic sounds, whistle tunes, and copy phrases and words (although the clarity isn’t the highest, you can still distinguish them). Additionally, cockatiels can be so intelligent and aware that they stir up mischief in the house! A great example of this would be my Cairo. Cairo is aware of what he isn’t supposed to do. He may chew on an item he has been taught not to chew on. Whenever I heard him chewing on something forbidden, I would turn around in my seat to stare at him. This is when he will cease all action and stay very still to try to camouflage amongst objects around him. If I do choose to walk over to escort him elsewhere, he will fly away to a very high position where he knows I will not be able to reach him. It is fair to say that Cairo is spoiled because he will not fly back down with whistles or treat bribing. He knows I will not let him near the item he was chewing on again if he does fly back down. I realized that if I pretended to trip over and yell in agony, Cairo would instantly stop whatever he was doing and fly/come towards me to check on me. Cairo is indeed brilliant, conscious, and mischievous!
3. Not as Noisy as Other Breeds
Do not get me wrong. Cockatiels are LOUD. But, loudness in volume is different from them being NOISY. A parrot could make constant chirps and chatters and be NOISY. From my experience, they are not particularly NOISY. They do not produce constant, non-stop noise. But they can be very loud with their screeches and whistles. That being said, you will not find a completely quiet parrot.
4. Finance
Obviously, you still need to spend a lot of money on their caging, vet trips, diets, etc. The bigger your parrot, the more you need to spend on its needs. Cockatiels are considered small-medium-sized birds, typically 12-13 inches in length, which can reduce the cost of what you would pay for a larger breed parrot. Same with mess level, the smaller the parrot, the lesser the mess. Smaller poops (although more frequent).
5. Appearance
If the way your animal looks is vital to you, then you’d be happy to know that cockatiels nowadays come in a wide range of mutations! They are iconic for their adorable orange cheeks! For instance, my Cairo is a Pied Cockatiel. Some other common mutations they come in are but are not limited to Albino, Lutino, Pearl, Laced, Opaline, Cinnamon, Fawn, Isabelle, and Silver
6. Longevity
Different breeds of parrots have different life spans. If you do not think you can commit to keeping a Cockatoo parrot who can live up to 40-60 years, then perhaps their cousin, the Cockatiel, would be a better fit! Cockatiels typically have a life expectancy of approximately 14 years in the wild. In captivity, they can live up to 25 years! With quality care provided to Cockatiels, they can live even longer! According to the Guinness World Records, the oldest reported Cockatiel lived 32 years! Cairo’s avian vet has spoken about how he once treated a cockatiel that was 38 years old! These guys are a huge commitment, regardless!
7. Compact in Size
I briefly touched on their size earlier. It is primarily a plus if you enjoy traveling. They can quickly get on a plane or a car for a road trip since they take up less space.
These are seven primary reasons why I believe cockatiels make exceptional pets! As always, please conduct a plethora of research before getting any living organism!