To care for your cockatiel’s basic needs you will need to make sure you have a suitable sized cage that is cleaned regularly and in a safe and happy spot. You will also need to know what to feed your cockatiel, how to keep your cockatiel happy and loved and know what to look out for if you need to take your bird to a vet.
We’ve put a quick Cockatiel Care guide together for you so your cockatiel is happy, safe and healthy.
What size bird cage should you get?
Even if you get your cockatiel out of the cage regularly, which you should, your new family member will spend most of his time in the cage. The cage should be roomy but cosy. A good rule of thumb is that your bird should be able to more around freely without his or her feathers touching the sides of the cage.
Our cage for our little friend ‘Nebbel’ has a great wide opening so she can come in and out easily and also opens up the top.
The cage needs to be made of non-toxic materials. Most pet shops these days will sell suitable cages. You can also get a bargain 2nd hand too.
If your cockatiel is not tame and you don’t plan on getting them out of the cage, you will really need either an aviary with some friends for your birds or at the very least a much bigger cage then if your are planning on getting your pet cockatiel out once or twice a day.
Your cockatiel’s cage will become a safe space for your pet. Even though our little buddy is tame and loves a scratch and sitting on our shoulders, when she has had enough, she loves to go back in her cage. Think of it like your bedroom. You don’t want to spend all day there, but it’s a great place to go when you need sometime to yourself or a quick rest.
Where to place the bird cage?
The location of the cage is important when thinking about cockatiel care. Our cage is on a stand with wheels and so we move our cockatiel around the house with us. She has the same spot that she sleeps each night with a light cover over her cage but during the day we have a few regular spots where we put her with the occasional new spot. Cockatiels are very social and need to be with people or other birds and see some action from time to time. They are very smart and do get bored, so being somewhere where they can see and hear different things going on is great for them. We have gotten used to some of the sounds she makes that lets us know she wants something or is bored. At times, a quick room change is all she is after.
Make sure your cockatiel’s cage is not in the sun in the warmer months or directly in front of the air conditioner or heater. At night, apart from being the same spot each time, try to make it a spot where not a lot of human activity is going on after dark. Cockatiels are happiest when their sleep pattern roughly matches the natural cycles of the sun.
How to clean the bird cage?
Cleaning the bird cage is very important when caring for your cockatiel. You should clean the cage thoroughly at least once a month and there are a few daily or at least regular chores that you should do to keep their cage clean.
The cage paper lining is an easy and quick thing to change and you should do that every 2nd day or so. This will take care of most of the droppings and seed that has fallen to the bottom of the cage. Make sure to take out any old food like fruits that you may have given your bird.
It’s a good idea to keep in mind where your cockatiel likes to sit and to not place other perches or there water or food tray below that spot. Your little friend doesn’t want bird poo in his water.
Keeping the cage clean is not only good for your cockatiel but for your health too. They can smell too if you don’t keep it clean!
What toys does your cockatiel need?
Cockatiels are intelligent birds that require stimulation. Toys are one great way to keep them entertained. Use only a couple of toys in the cockatiel bird cage at a time and rotate them weekly. Our birds have loved mirrors and little balls that make a sound. You don’t have to just buy toys! Cockatiels don’t know that you bought that new swing just for them. The peg from the washing basket can sometime be just as good. We had a budgie years ago that loved the simple clothes peg that we put in his cage. We affectionately called it Peggy.
Cockatiel food
No cockatiel care guide is complete without talking about what food cockatiels need.
Cockatiels are mainly seed eaters, so start with a good quality cockatiel seed mix. You can get these from your local supermarket, your local pet store or online.
Just like us, they need a varied and nutrient rich diet, so add in some fresh fruit and veggies each day too.
Cockatiels are very social and we have noticed that our little friend, ‘Nebbel’ likes to eat with us. If I grab a piece of toast she often lets me know she would like a bit too with a little chirp. She then usually proceeds to head down to the feeding area.
Here’s a post to see what foods cockatiels can and can’t have.
Bathing a cockatiel
Bathing a cockatiel is fun and easy. Place a small bird bath filled with warm water into their cage and watch them flap about with joy.
Sometimes we just use a bowl from the kitchen and put it on the table for our little buddy to jump in. The kids will love getting splashed by your bird.
Cockatiel behaviour
Getting to know your birds behaviour is crucial in caring for your cockatiel. As you observe, you will learn what is normal and what is not. You will begin to recognise when your cockatiel needs attention, or food, or when something is wrong.
You will learn when your cockatiel is scared or bored or wants a scratch and so much more from just taking note of its behaviour.
You really just need to care about what your cockatiel cares about. As long as you care, you will work it out.
Cockatiel health and diseases
Caring for your cockatiel means educating yourself on your cockatiels health and diseases. You know the symptoms of a common cold in humans, similarly, you should familiarise yourself with common health issues for your bird.
At Cockatiel.com you can learn about a whole bunch of common cockatiel health issues and diseases.
Here you can find an Avian Vet near you.
Conclusion on caring for your cockatiel
With a little bit of preparation, knowledge and commitment it is easy to care for your cockatiel. With the right cage, diet, a few toys and a lot of love your cockatiel will be well cared for and be a happy and healthy member of your family for many years to come.
If you have a cockatiel already, I would love to hear what their favourite toy and/or food is. Feel free to comment below.
Chat soon,
Glenn.
