Cockatiel
A small cockatoo relative that hides illness until breathing or egg-laying becomes obvious. The weight, exercise, and yearly cost figures below are ranges for a typical healthy adult. A licensed veterinarian who has examined your animal still has to confirm the plan.
Researched & Compiled by the PetAuthority Editorial Team
Clinical Data Sources: ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center & Merck Veterinary Manual
These pages describe clinical possibilities and a Green, Yellow, or Red triage path. They do not diagnose an individual animal or replace an examination by a licensed veterinarian. Read the editorial standards.
Quick facts
| Weight | 0.17–0.28 lb (0.08–0.12 kg) |
|---|---|
| Lifespan | 15–25 years |
| Grooming | 2 of 5 |
| Energy | 3 of 5 |
| Apartment | Suitable for many apartments |
What standard guides this profile?
There is no kennel-club standard that predicts this bird's health. Care on this page follows clinical avian practice used in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. A quiet change in droppings, appetite, or breathing still needs an avian veterinarian rather than a show-standard comparison.
Daily calorie and portion estimation
A typical adult Cockatiel starts near 40 kcal/day, with about 60 minutes of steady daily activity. Enter the current weight in pounds (kilograms) in the calculator, because a lean animal and an overweight animal do not share the same portion.
Pellets, vegetables, and a measured seed portion beat an all-seed cup. Never use non-stick cookware fumes, scented candles, or aerosol sprays near the cage. Measure meals in ounces (grams), and keep treats near ten percent of the daily calorie target.
Calculate Cockatiel's Custom Food Portions →Common health predispositions
Egg binding
UrgentWatch for: Straining, a wide stance, or sitting fluffed on the cage floorCheck this sign in symptom triageRespiratory distress from fumes
UrgentWatch for: Open-mouth breathing or a tail bob after cooking fumes or aerosolsCheck this sign in symptom triageFatty liver from a seed-only diet
CommonWatch for: A overgrown beak, obesity, or sudden weaknessCheck this sign in symptom triage
What should Cockatiel owners ask first?
Owners most often ask about housing, grooming, and which signs cannot wait. The answers below are educational ranges for a typical Cockatiel, including weight in pounds (kilograms) and yearly costs in dollars and pounds. They do not diagnose the animal you live with.
Are cockatiels good apartment birds?
Yes, if they get out-of-cage time and the air stays free of fumes. Whistling is normal; open-mouth breathing is not; these points are educational ranges, and a veterinarian who has examined your animal still has to confirm them. Confirm this before you bring the animal home.
How long do cockatiels live?
Well-kept birds often live 15–25 years. That is a long commitment compared with many small mammals; these points are educational ranges, and a veterinarian who has examined your animal still has to confirm them. Confirm this before you bring the animal home.