Care guide
Cockatoo and Cockatiel Care Guide: Diet and Housing
Avilumen editorial team ·
Cockatoos are parrots with an erectile crest, very affectionate and extremely dependent on their people. The cockatiel belongs to the same family and is the smallest member and the best choice for beginners. Large cockatoos, on the other hand, are among the hardest birds to keep well at home.
At a glance
- Size
- 30–35 cm (cockatiel) to 60 cm (large cockatoos)
- Lifespan
- 15–25 years (cockatiel); 40–70 (large cockatoos)
- Noise level
- Moderate (cockatiel) to extreme (cockatoos)
- Experience
- Beginner (cockatiel); advanced (cockatoos)
- Space
- Roomy cage and lots of out-of-cage time
Approximate values: they vary by species and individual bird.
Diet
Pellets suited to the bird's size, fresh vegetables daily and seeds as a supplement. Cockatiels tolerate somewhat more seed than large cockatoos, but an all-seed diet shortens their lives.
Galahs and crested cockatoos are prone to obesity and lipomas (fatty tumors): limit sunflower seeds and nuts.
- Never feed avocado, chocolate, coffee, alcohol, salt, onion or garlic.
- Offer a cuttlebone or another calcium source, especially to females.
Housing
A cockatiel needs a cage of at least 60 × 45 × 60 cm, wider than it is tall. A large cockatoo needs heavy-gauge bars, a padlock (they learn to open latches) and a cage of at least about 90 × 90 × 120 cm.
Cockatiels suffer from "night frights": they panic in the dark and thrash around until they hurt themselves. A dim night light prevents it.
Feather dust and health
Cockatoos and cockatiels produce a fine powder from their feathers that keeps their plumage waterproof. This dust can trigger allergies and respiratory problems in sensitive people; an air purifier and frequent baths reduce it.
Psittacine beak and feather disease (circovirus) is especially serious in cockatoos. Warning signs in any bird: fluffed-up feathers, abnormal droppings, loss of appetite or sleeping during the day.
Behavior
Large cockatoos demand constant attention, and when they don't get it they scream at extreme volume, pluck their feathers or self-mutilate. They are one of the most common reasons birds are surrendered.
The cockatiel is calm, whistles tunes and adapts well to families. With a companion of its own species it stays better entertained when nobody is home.
Breeding
Cockatiels breed readily in captivity: they lay 4 to 6 eggs in a nest box and both parents incubate. Large cockatoos breed less easily, and males may attack the female; breeding them without experience is not recommended.
Legal status
The cockatiel is exempt from the CITES appendices because it is bred in captivity on a massive scale. Most cockatoos are listed in Appendix II, and several, such as Goffin's cockatoo, the Moluccan cockatoo and the Philippine cockatoo, are in Appendix I. Always ask for documentation and a captive-bred certificate.
This guide is for information only and does not replace advice from an avian vet. Before getting a bird, check the law in your country and ask for CITES paperwork. This site does not sell or broker live animals.
Frequently asked questions
- How long do cockatiels live?
- A well-cared-for cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) lives 15 to 25 years. Large cockatoos live 40 to 70 years.
- Is a cockatoo a good pet for beginners?
- Large cockatoos are not recommended for beginners: a cockatoo needs constant attention, is very loud and tends to develop behavior problems. The cockatiel, from the same family, is a good choice for first-time bird owners.
- Does cockatoo dust cause allergies?
- Yes. Cockatoos and cockatiels produce feather dust that can cause allergies and respiratory problems in sensitive people. An air purifier and bathing the cockatoo or cockatiel frequently reduce it.
- What do cockatiels eat?
- A cockatiel should eat cockatiel pellets as the base of its diet, a seed mix as a supplement and fresh vegetables every day. An all-seed diet shortens a cockatiel's life.
