The Basics of C**katiel Behavior
C**katiel's each have their entirely own personalities. Some are more outgoing than others. But in their own way each and every one is lovable. But, for the most part, cockatiel's share a few of these habits in common:
Socializing: C**katiels are very social creatures and like to meet and greet almost anything they see. The love humans and will become attached ve
ry easily. But they also love fellow birds and will happily spend hours just sitting next to a fellow feathered friend. Perching: Most birds will spend 90% of the time sitting on perches, and cockatiel's are no different. They will sleep, play, sing, and eat all while sitting on a perch. They enjoy perching and typically prefer it instead of sitting on flat ground. Supply your bird with an array of perches so they can pick and choose which one they feel most comfortable one. Pruning: C**katiel's clean themselves by pruning. How do cockatiel's prune themselves? Well, they prune themselves by taking their beak and slowly cleaning each and every feather with it. By rubbing their beak down every feather they help move essential oils and dust from their skin to their feather. This helps keep their feathers healthy and shiny. Eating: As with all birds- cockatiel's eat. And cockatiel's actually have a pretty good appetite. They'll happily munch on seeds, fruits, vegetables, and nuts. They should eat regularly throughout the day- usually visiting the food dish 4 to 5 times throughout their day. They also love to forage- so if you can add bits of food around their cage (greens tied to the side, millet spray on a perch, etc.) they'll happily explore and eat. Bathing: C**katiel's need to bathe about once every six months. But will enjoy a bath once or twice a month if they have the opportunity. And there are so many ways to bathe a cockatiel! Some will enjoy splashing around in a cake pan on the bottom of their cage. Other's will delight in frolicking under a kitchen sink. And some will outstretch their wings when you mist them with a spray bottle. Experiment and learn what your cockatiel prefers. Then give them the opportunity to bathe once or twice a month. Chewing: See those pointy sharp beaks? C**katiel's use those to crack open seeds. But in the wild they'd also use them to build nest and get nesting materials. Because domestic cockatiels don't need to tear down tree branches for nests- they need to find a different way to keep their beak filed down. By chewing on chew toys, perches, ladders, swings, and sometimes furniture (not a good idea- keep them away from wooden chairs if you can.) they keep their beaks at the proper length. Chewing is healthy, natural, and actually needed for a cockatiel to stay happy and in tip top shape. Climbing: C**katiel's are surprisingly talented little climbers. They'll climb cage bars, play gyms, perches, ladders, and even couch cushions. And they really enjoy climbing. It's a way they get around in the wild and it's a way they get around domestically. They climb all sorts of places and should have lots of opportunities to exercise their non-wing transportation methods. Flying: Everyone has their own opinion on whether or not a cockatiel's wings should be clipped. Personally we're not a fan of it. We want our birds to be able to stretch out those wings and flies. It promotes a good circulatory system and flying also helps their respiratory system. Not to mention the fact it helps them burn calories and stay active and healthy. Of course, all cockatiels should be avidly supervised when out of the cage. And if they can fly should be kept in a 100% bird safe room. Singing & Squawking: Some cockatiels chirp. Some whistle. Some sing. Some even talk. But almost all cockatiels squawk. C**katiels are very vocal creatures. And even though they're small, they can and will make a very big noise. They love being loud! And it's not something you can train them not to do. You can discourage them from being too vocal by keeping them entertained with all sorts of toys. But you can't make them stop completely. So if you love constant chatter a cockatiel is the perfect pet for you. Playing: C**katiels may be small, but they have a big spirit. And they are very playful. They love exploring, chewing, making noise, climbing, flying, and inspecting new things! They're fun to watch and easily entertained by even the littlest thing.
