Cockatiel lifespan: Cockatiels are unique and adorable parrots, they often make lifelong companions and make great house pets. But how long do cockatiels live, and what can you expect from bringing home a new cockatiel as a pet?
How old is the cocktail? One of the things that can confuse the owners of this bird is how to know the age of the animal. The exact age of a cockatiel can only be determined if it is done from the time of birth. But we can estimate age based on some characteristics.
cockatiels, like other parrots, undergo a series of changes as they age. Some of these changes are similar to what happens to people as they get older. We know this way and in this article, we want to teach you how to tell the difference between a cockatiel chick and an adult (or old) cockatiel.
How long do cockatiel live
Cockatiels live an average of 10 to 15 years, depending on whether they are kept in the wild or in captivity. Many wild cockatiels will not reach this age – many do not live to adulthood, due to the risk of predators and environmental factors.
However, a domesticated cockatiel can live a long and rich life. Some pet cockatiels have lived into their twenties. The oldest recorded cockatiel was named Sunshine, and he lived to be 32!
Many factors affect a cockatiel’s lifespan, including its diet, socialization, air quality in your home, and more. Cockatiels are incredibly social birds, but that doesn’t mean they get along with everyone. Young children, for example, are not often approved.
Your pet cockatiel can be kept in a large cage with another companion, and this is one of the best options for it. These birds love to have a friend, it helps them fight depression and prevents them from getting bored.
There are many other things you can do to keep your Cockatiel happy, but let’s take a look at the life cycle of a Cockatiel. This way, you will know the best way to care for your parrot no matter how old he is!
Average cockatiel life cycle
Cockatiel lifespan
Are you a new cockatiel owner? Or maybe you are just interested in the life cycle of these talkative birds. This is what their life journey looks like, from birth to old age.
Cockatiel Hatching
Newly hatched cockatiels are without feathers or senses, making them completely dependent on their parents for everything. The female cockatiel lays between three and eight eggs, and takes turns keeping the eggs and young warm with the father male.
By the end of the first week from the time of hatching, most cockatiel chicks have fully fledged plumage. In addition, the ear openings may start to appear as well. By the end of the first month of their life,
They will have integrated senses, as well as the appearance of some extra feathers.
Young Cockatiels
Cockatiel babies are very curious and affectionate. The first three months of their lives involve the growth of their feathers and weaning, during which time they grow all the feathers that a young cockatiel needs to fly.
Once they have grown their feathers and learned how to forage on their own, most cockatiel chicks show more independence by learning how to fly. Until they are six months old, young Cockatiels are still learning this very important process.
Adult Cockatiel
Cockatiels are considered adults once they have fully grown and reached sexual maturity. This may vary from bird to bird, but most cockatiels reach this stage at 8-12 months of age.
At this point, your pet cockatiel will be fully independent, will show its full plumage, and will be able to fly with powerful wings.
However, an adult cockatiel still enjoys being kept company despite his newfound independence. It is important that you bond with your Cockatiel frequently for the rest of their lives.
This can include placing him with other birds as well as people. A positive reaction is usually seen on the part of the cockatiel!
Feeding an adult Cockatiel a varied and structured diet, as well as giving him plenty of safe toys to play with, is key to extending his life.
You should also look for a veterinarian who specializes in caring for your cockatiel as it grows older.
How to tell the age of a cockatiel
Cockatiel lifespan
Determine the age of the cocktail from the party:
The tip of a small cockatiel looks bigger. The reason is that the feathers near the tip are still short.
The old cockatiel’s beak is small because the feathers around it cover most of its parts.
Cockatiel size:
Cockatiel lifespan
The adult bird is usually larger than the young bird with a body length of between 30.5 and 33 cm, of course, if its feeding is well taken care of.
Similarly, colored moles on the cheek grow with age, to the point where they may cover almost the entire face.
It is probably best not to buy a bird with very large facial moles because it is very old.
Cockatiel feather:
Cockatiel lifespan
A cockatiel’s tail feathers are usually the same length as the body until one year of age but become longer than the body after one year of age.
Determine the age of the cockatiel from the amount of sleep:
One way to determine the age of a cockatiel, which is not very useful when buying an animal, is how much it sleeps.
Old birds sleep more than young birds and may sleep 17-18 hours a day in addition to their daily naps, while young birds usually sleep no more than 10-14 hours a day.
Determining the age of the female cockatiel from the pelvic bones:
The pelvic bones of the female bird diverge with age. Cockatiel egg-laying occurs when the distance between the bones is sufficient.
Cockatiel singing:
This method is good for determining the age of a male cockatiel.
Female birds and chicks usually do not make a sound (except when they ask for water or food from their owner or when someone touches their feathers), but the adult male bird usually sings.
We suggest reading our Cockatiel Training article to find out what you need to do to get your Cockatiel to sing to you.
Of course, female cockatiels are more likely to make noises during the breeding season and when they want to mate.
If you don’t know the sex of a cockatiel, it’s best to read the article on how to determine the sex of a cockatiel and learn the methods.
SOURCE: African Grey Parrot Pet
Identify the age of the cockatiel from its appearance and face:
Cockatiel lifespan
If you have some practice and experience, you can estimate the age of an animal even by looking at its face.
Like a baby whose appearance differs from that of an adult, the face of a young and immature cockatiel does not resemble that of an adult bird and has a childish expression.
Determine the age of a cockatiel from their eyes:
Another way to tell a cockatiel’s age is by the size of the eyes. Normally, when a bird is young, its eyes are noticeably larger in size and get smaller with age.
Cockatiel molt:
Cockatiel parrot maturity is approximately 6 to 12 months. These birds reach maturity when they first molt.
At this stage, the water and color of the female’s feathers decrease, and the cheek feathers and the lower part of the male bird’s king feathers change color.
So we can understand that the lifespan of the animal is between 6 and 12 months.
Cockatiel behavior:
Cockatiel behavior can also help determine its age. Male birds begin to show special mating behaviors such as yelling and jumping back and forth from the age of 6 months.
The female cockatiel exhibits this type of behavior later and is ready to lay eggs at the age of 10 to 18 months, in which case she may start digging a nest to lay eggs.
Finally, the appropriate age for cockatiel mating begins from this time.
