Interesting Cockatiel Facts For Dummies

If you own a cockatiel, you probably think you know all there is to know about these cute little creatures, but here are some more interesting cockatiel facts that you may not have known about.

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24 Cockatiel Facts For Dummies

1. Did you know that the fumes emitted from Teflon coated cookware can kill your cockatiel?
2. Even though the cockatiel was first discovered in Australia in 1770, it didn’t become a popular pet choice until the Australian Gold Rush in the nineteen hundreds.
3. In the wild, you’ll see immense flocks of cockatiels circling the sky in search of large bodies of water where they can rest and escape from the Australian heat.
4. In the wild, it’s common to see immense flocks of cockatiels circling the sky in search of large bodies of water where they can rest and escape from the Australian heat.
5. If you want to check if your cockatiel seeds are still good, try sprouting them.  If less than 70% sprout, then they have died and have very little nutritional value.  To sprout them you can put them on a saucer covered with a paper towel.  Soak the seeds with water and keep them moist for about 4 to 5 days by spraying them.  Give them to your tiel once they have sprouted, he will love them.
6. There is a bird called a Galatiel that is from mixing a cockatiel and a galah together.
7. Cockatiels are very sociable and don’t like to be left alone for long periods of time.  Rather get him a friend if you are out a lot, or he may pluck his feathers, get angry, or refuse to eat.
8. Male cockatiels are better talkers and whistlers than females.  They use their vocal cords to attract female cockatiels in the wild.
9. Hand fed cockatiels are more likely to talk than parent fed ones.
10. It is easier for a cockatiel to whistle than to talk.
11. A cockatiel can live up to 22 years, but the average lifespan is 15 years.
12. Drafts are very bad for cockatiels so keep your cockatiel out of winds or draughts.
13. Cockatiels are the most widely kept parrot other than parakeet or budgie.
14. Cockatiels need about 14 hours of sleep a day.
15. Male Cockatiels make excellent fathers! While the hens or mother birds are responsible for hatching the eggs and caring for the newborn chicks, the male cockatiel won’t fly off and abandon them. He stays to protect his family and in the wild will face large birds of prey just to keep them safe. They are also affectionate with their young.
16. Cockatiels clearly recognize their carers and respond to their voices.
17. A cockatiel who grinds his beak is normally relaxed and happy. Similar to a cat purring.
18. Cockatiels show affection to their owners by singing, chirping and even banging bird toys against the bars of the cage.
19. Cockatiels love music.
20. Cockatiels do not see well in the dark.
21. Cockatiels tend to mate for life.
22. Cockatiels can poop up to 30 times a day.
23. Cockatiel eggs take between 17 and 24 days to hatch.
24. Cockatiels make great first pets, as they are easy to care for and do not have the kind of bite that will take a little finger off.

If you have any other interesting cockatiel facts to add to this list, please comment below.