Skip to the content
Peabody PetsHappy pets, kind kids, no ads

Cockatiel care: what a family needs to know

Ask your vet about your own pet. This page is general information from the sources below.

Cockatiel care, from VCA Animal Hospitals and others on this page. VCA says cockatiels love to chew, and that the males are usually the better talkers, though their talking sounds like whistling. VCA calls cockatiels gentle, generally quiet birds that are well suited to a home with children and an excellent first bird for a family. Merck's table says up to 20 years.

Checked October 29, 2026.

By Peabody editors. How we write and check.

How long they live

VCA says cockatiels live 10 to 14 years, with a longest on record of 24 years. Merck's table says up to 20 years.

Home

VCA says the smallest cage for one cockatiel is 2 ft x 2 ft x 3 ft (60 cm x 60 cm x 90 cm). Merck lists 20 x 20 x 30 inches with bars 0.5 inch apart as a minimum for this size of bird and says to buy the largest cage you can. The RSPCA says birds this size should have at least six hours a day outside the cage to fly, with ceiling fans off, windows and doors shut, and mirrors and big windows covered or screened.

Food

VCA says bird pellets should be about 75 to 80 percent of the diet, with fruits, vegetables and greens no more than 20 to 25 percent, and seeds only a very small part. Fresh water must always be there, and dishes are washed daily. VCA says to never offer avocado or onion, and to skip chocolate, alcohol, caffeine, salty snacks, and grit.

Company

VCA says a cockatiel can live happily without other birds if it gets enough attention, and that a single bird often bonds more with the family. The RSPCA says cockatiels can also live in groups, since they are a colony species.

Handling

VCA says to take the bird out of its cage every day. Young birds are usually easiest to tame, and hand-raised babies are fully used to people. Getting a cockatiel used to different people, car trips and vet visits helps it stay calm.

Is it a good pet for children?

VCA calls cockatiels gentle, generally quiet birds that are well suited to a home with children and an excellent first bird for a family. The sources do not say what age is right, so a grown-up should do the real caring: the daily out-of-cage time, safe rooms, food, cleaning and vet visits.

The vet

VCA says a new bird should see a vet who knows birds soon after coming home, then have a check-up once a year.

Good to know

VCA says cockatiels love to chew, and that the males are usually the better talkers, though their talking sounds like whistling.

A job for the children

With a grown-up, wash the food and water dishes each day and offer a safe chew toy.

"A grown-up is the real carer for cockatiels. Our job is the small, steady part."

Every pet is different, and this is general information from the sources below, not veterinary advice. For a sick or hurt pet, call a vet who knows this kind of animal.

Sources