Interesting Facts About Cockatiels

The Cockatiel was first discovered in Australia in 1770. It did not become popular until the Australian gold rush in the nineteen hundreds.

The fumes emitted from cookware coated with Teflon can kill your Cockatiel.

Cockatiel seeds, how do you know if they are good and nutritious? Sprout them! If less than 70% of the seeds sprout, they have died and also its nutritional value. Place some cockatiel seeds on a container covered with a paper towel. Soak the seeds with water. Make sure you keep the seed moist for the next few days by just spraying them, they should sprout in about 4 to 5 days. You can wash them and can give them to your tiel, they are very good and nutritious.

Do you know what a Galatiel is? Is when a cockatiel and an Australian bird named Gallah have chicks together.

In the wild, you'll see immense flocks of cockatiels circling the sky in search of large bodies of water where they can rest, breed, and escape from the Australian heat.

Cockatiels are very sociable birds and will get depressed if they are left alone for long periods of time. They may hit their heads against cages, pull their feathers, refuse to eat, or become angry. It's best to get a pair of cockatiels if you know you'll be out of your house for long periods of time.

Male cockatiels are better are talking and whistling than female cockatiels. In the wild the male cockatiel use sounds to attract females.

Cockatiels can be considered as the most widely kept parrot other than parakeet or budgie.

Hand fed cockatiels are more likely to talk than the parent fed ones.

If having a talking bird is your prime goal you might consider a larger parrot before getting a cockatiel. It's easier for a cockatiel to whistle than to talk.

Drafty areas in your house can be very bad for your cockatiel, it can even kill yout bird by making your it very sick. Don't place the cage where there might be a direct or indirect draft like air conditioning vents. If you want to find out if there is a draft you are not aware of, place a candle in the area you are thinking of placing the cage. It if flickers, there's a draft there, so find another area for your cage.

The cockatiel was first classified in 1793 as Psittacus hollandicus, then moved to its own genus Nymphicus, 1832. Nymphicus is a reference to mythical nymphs and hollandicus refers to New Holland, which was the name first applied to Australia in 1644 by the Dutch, who named it after Holland.

Lutino mutation cockatiels can develop a bald spot on the back of their head. Some aviculturists consider this to be a genetic fault, although it doesn't appear to affect their health.

It's best to have your cockatiel check annually by an avian vet. Make sure you allocate one before getting a cockatiel. Would you get a car if you did not know who could fix it for you? Not all vets are created equal. Birds are very different in anatomy and physiology to dogs and cats, so avian vets must seek out coursework and residencies that are beyond the scope of a standard veterinary school. For an Avian vet in your area you can Google your location or do a search from the Association of Avian Veterinarians.

As always the information offered here is to provide guidance and is not intended to be a substitute for the good advice provided by your own avian vet. When in doubt always consult your own veterinarian.