Cockatiels in the wild … Cockatiels are really sociable feathered fellas. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me. Horizontal bars help to make climbing easier. In the wild, cockatiels are natural foragers, so they are constantly looking for and picking up food from the ground. Protein rich foods that are nutritious for you, are also nutritious for your cockatiel. The larger the cage, the more comfortable it will be for the bird. Cockatiels are social little birds, and naturally live in flocks. There are reports of some having lived for as long as 36 years with factors such as exercise, diet and reduced predatory risk being noted as major determinants of their final age. The cockatiel's lifespan in captivity is generally given as 16 to 25 years,though it is sometimes given as short as 10 to 15 years, and there are reports of cockatiels living as long as 32 years, the oldest confirmed specimen reported being 36 years old. A good cage should have horizontal bars on at least two sides. I have had my oldest cockatiel for … Their main choices of food are grasses, crops … They love to hang around in flocks ranging from around 10 to sometimes 1000 or more. There’s no way to mimic the cockatiel’s wild habitat in the average household. In addition, wild cockatiels are a LOT more active than pet birds, so they need a lot more calories in the diet. In the wild, cockatiels’ lifespan ranges between 10 – 14 years. In captivity, the actual lifespan has not been officially established. – In the wild, cockatiels eat a varied diet of grass seeds, berries, vegetables, and fruit. In terms of their care, cockatiels have higher needs for space than some pet birds, and they require a balanced diet. Cockatiels will eat a wide variety of foods, but grass seeds seem to be their favorite. Cockatiels are playful birds that need a large cage to accommodate their head crest and long tail. Because of this, some avian vets advise against the inclusion of all milk products in a bird's diet. When the family has gathered in the living room for movie night, your cockatiel will be the first one making its way to the popcorn bowl. If your tiel only eats just a small amount of any other food besides its regular seeds or pellets diet, that is OK too, again the importance here is variety on your cockatiel's diet. The minimum size cage for a Cockatiel should be 24" long by 18" wide by 24" tall. Protein rich foods that are nutritious for you, are also nutritious for your cockatiel. How to Choose the Best Bird Food for Cockatiels. The wild cockatiel eats far more than a pet cockatiel, but it also exercises far more as well. To keep your cockatiel in good health, it’s essential that you feed her correctly. There are reports of some having lived for as long as 36 years with factors such as exercise, diet and reduced predatory risk being noted as major determinants of their final age. The cockatiel is a small member of the cockatoo family and originates from Australia. Also, the wild cockatiel’s diet consists of both young and mature seeds of all varieties, even seed crops, much to the chagrin of farmers. The high fat content in some seeds is good for wild birds but not so much for pets. Because of this, some avian vets advise against the inclusion of all milk products in a bird's diet. In fact, in their native land, cockatiels can be a nuisance for farmers because they raid crop fields in giant flocks. Within flocks, mated pairs socialize and groom one another, usually preening the heads and crests of their mates. Check out our article on the Feeding Ecology of Wild Cockatiels and the article on Pet Birds and the Wild Diet … Diet, exercise and companionship are major determining factors. Cockatiels in the Wild. Also, the wild cockatiel’s diet consists of both young and mature seeds of all varieties, even seed crops, much to the chagrin of farmers. It's important that you never force your cockatiel to eat something it does not want, again your cockatiel will select on its own what it likes. Bar spacing should be no more than 3¼4" apart to … Cockatiels will gather in larger flocks in areas where food is plentiful. Protein: Cockatiels will benefit from having protein added to their diet, especially when molting. Cockatiels always want to be a part of the action. We need to be even more careful about the Cockatiel diet since we have removed them from their natural habitat, from the lap of nature. It's important that you never force your cockatiel to eat something it does not want, again your cockatiel will select on its own what it likes.