Cockatiel means "little cockatoo."
Stunning colors and a chatty personality makes the parrot a popular companion bird. Some are suited for apartment living, but not the largest and loudest species. The small cockatiel is a good choice. The cockatiel isn't as loud as some of his cousins, and his size makes him appropriate for even a compact apartment dwelling.
Ask Your Super
Before committing your time and energy to a new bird, confer with your apartment complex manager or landlord. Make sure birds are allowed. You may be required to pay a pet deposit that may be only partially refundable, if it's refundable at all. Some apartments add to your monthly rent for a pet.
Little Cockatoo
Cockatiels are parrots, but they're smaller than macaws or cockatoos. They grow to about 12 inches. They learn to mimic the sounds around them, so they're all the fun of some of their larger relatives. Cockatiels do not screech or squawk. Instead, they whistle or chirp and can have vocabularies of up to 25 words. Cockatiels can learn to whistle tunes they hear in their surroundings. They come in a variety of colors and have beautiful crests of feathers on top of their heads. When handled from youth, cockatiels are extremely fond of their human companions, enjoying snuggling and preening.
Cage Considerations
The cockatiel is small, but he needs a cage with ample space for them to spread their wings. A cockatiel cage should be at least 2 feet wide and 2 feet tall, with bars that are no larger than 1 inch apart. The cage should be kept in a quiet space away from windows, doors or drafts. Keeping the cage away from the kitchen is a good idea since some fumes can be toxic to your bird. If you have other pets, such as cats, make sure they can't reach the cage and torment your cockatiel. Getting a cover for the cage can help keep your bird from getting spooked at night.
Social Bird
The cockatiel is a social bird who needs attention and time out of the cage every day to stay healthy, happy and tame. His first week home, take him out of his cage for no more than 10 or 15 minutes at a time. Talk to him frequently and let him get used to your routine from the comfort of his cage. Once he's used to his new home, he can come out for longer play sessions. You may be tempted to keep him with another bird, but a cockatiel actually makes a better companion bird when kept alone. Not to mention, a cage large enough to house more than one would be impractical in an apartment. Since a cockatiel is extremely social, he isn't the ideal pet if you're home just long enough to sleep. If you have time to hang out with an avian pal every day, a single cockatiel will be an ideal companion in a compact space.
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