Cockatiel - Why They Make The Best First Pet Bird

Cockatiel - Why They Make The Best First Pet Bird

There are lots and plenty of special breeds of parrots out there. Some are very superior for petting; some are not. still, for several people who have not own any pet parrot or any pet birds, many will feel that the cockatiel is an brilliant starter bird in the parrot family. Cockatiels are usually associated with having a good personality, very friendly, good talkers, a bird you can embrace with some what. They also make very good quality companions.

Cockatiels have been kept and breed lucratively in many country all around the planet. Cockatiels can be measured as the most broadly kept parrot other than parakeet or budgie, bajri (budgerigar). There are masses of study material available and many experts on cockatiels. The education curve for the care and preservation of cockatiels is small and a lot of keeper of them become experts of the cockatiel bird and their care somewhat rapidly.

Lutino Cockatiel bird

Of every of the breeds of parrots the cockatiel is the most likely bird to gratify the new bird owner nearly instantly. further breeds of parrots can be extremely nippy, biting parrots. mainly tend to bond with a single character and occasionally are even rude to people other than the owner or person they bond with. The cockatiel generally doesn’t represent any of these behavior, while some might, it is rare.

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.

Cost :

Often price is the deciding aspect for the prospective 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 USA, and most other countries around the globe, 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 to some extent higher for hand fed babies that are particularly cared for by their breeders.

Of course one should comprehend that with birds, as is other pets, the more popular color alteration or shortage 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 child 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.

Sound level :

All birds make sound. Some very little and then some make a lot of blare. One of the first things a new bird owner realizes right away is that all birds are “singing” to some point. By this I mean that all birds make noise. Generally a good rule of thumb is the larger the bird the extra noise that is probable 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 bother with some of the bigger 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. 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 ability :

No parrot really talks, rather they mimic what they have heard adequate and are able to imitator. A bird can not carry on a discussion 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.

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 coarse or abrasive than the bigger parrots, they are easily understand 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.

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 qualities :

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 exposed, it is rare for a cockatiel to display such aggressions. As mentioned earlier in this editorial 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.

Size of Cockatiel :

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 beginner bird owner. The big parrots have large appetites and often fussy ones and they will definitely make a bigger mess with their food and water.

Review :

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.

Cockatiel Varieties List, Information:

• Lutino Cockatiel
• Albino Cockatiel
• Pearl Cockatiel
• Cinnamon Cockatiel
• Whitefaced Cockatiel

3 Things to Consider When Buying a Cockatiel Bird Cage

3 Things to Consider When Buying a Cockatiel Bird Cage

Albino Cockatiel Pair

Cockatiels are attractive, colorful birds, very friendly and easy to train. One of the most popular birds kept as pets, they are renowned for their whistling ability. A bird with this talent and reputation deserves a very special cage and below I'll outline what you need to know about buying a cockatiel bird cage.

Tip 1: How Big is Big Enough?

Cockatiels are not the smallest of domesticated birds. They are, in fact, larger than a parakeet. Any bird cages should be big enough to accommodate their occasional need to spread their wings. So you'll need a MEDIUM SIZE, STAND UP CAGE with bars no farther than 1/2 inch to 5/8 inches apart.and the cockatiel birds breeding easily in this cages.

Tip : What Space Will You Need ?

Before you start your shopping for a cage, know how much space you have available. Remember that this is a stand up cage and will need clear floor space to accommodate it. Make sure you have easy access to the cage in order to clean it and change food and water on a regular basis.

Tip 3: Look before you Leap.

Before purchasing, go to your local pet store and see if they have any cockatiel bird cages in stock. Check the dimensions, and judge how much space you're going to need to fit one into your home. These cages can be a lot bigger than you realize so measure up. The store may have the specifications for you, or you can just bring along a tape measure. such information is necessary before buying.

BONUS TIP: Check online for suppliers. Chances are, you'll find your ideal cage for a better price when you shop around. Check out delivery times, delivery charges and returns policy. You don't want to be stuck with a bird cage that doesn't suit your cockatiel. you can also have information regarding its comfort cage setup, and breeding cage setup.