Tiel Obsession |

Personality

I find cockatiels very calm, loving and easy birds to handle. The males can be taught to whistle and sometimes even talk although it is not a sure thing. I have a female and she is the sweetest little thing and very quiet in my opinion. They are not flighty like the budgie or hyper like the conures; they are a balance between the two which I love. They just love to hang out on your shoulder while you go about your chores and to demand scritches when they want them. They are very affectionate if they are raised in a loving way. Even adopted cockatiels can be tamed with patience and time. They are good with children provided that they are supervised while with them. They aren't toy crazy birds or swingers and acrobats; they are rather slow in moving around. But there is nothing cuter than a snuggly cockatiel on your shoulder grinding his beak which is a sign of contentment.

A Whiteface pearl, Aira, owned by Sasha

I myself have a female normal grey split to pied cockatiel and I just love her to bits. I purchased her from a reputable and caring breeder, Genesis Aviaries who I recommend to anyone near Acme, Alberta. She was handfed and is very, very affectionate. She is not very loud and loves to be on my shoulder or her playgym. She LOVES cooked foods such as Beak Appetit and avicakes! She is such a great pet as there is nothing better than coming home and being needed to cuddle with.

Description

Cockatiels are a part of the parrot family and are the only ones, besides cockatoos, that have crests. They originated from Australia where they are only found in the Normal Grey mutation in the wild. They are 12 inches and can weigh in the range of 80-110 grams. The lifespan of a cockatiel is around 15-20 years of age, although there have been records of them living up to 30 years. With a varied and healthy diet, clean environment, daily social interaction and vet checkups, there should be no reason a cockatiel does not have a long life.

Price

Cockatiels are usually more expensive in petstores than breeders. The prices differ, depending on the mutations, so they can range from 80-200 CND. The rarer mutations can be much more. Besides the initial cost of a cockatiel, you have to think about the long term costs present such as those for checkups and emergencies, toys, food, travel expenses etc. These will add up so you really have to make sure you are financially secure before your purchase a cockatiel. Also if you cannot drive, do you have anyone that will take you to the avian vet should an emergency arise, no matter the time? Please think about everything that can and will happen before committing to a bird.

Be sure to check out Tailfeathers for more information and help to all your questions.

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