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Cockatiel: lifespan, size, diet and care

Lives10–20 years
Lives bestout of the cage every day
Spacea cage of at least 60 × 60 × 90 cm (24 × 24 × 35 in) per bird
Foodpellets and seeds, with fresh vegetables and fruit every day
Adult weight50 to 100 g, 1.8–3.5 oz (the RSPCA weight class)
What few people know

It needs about 12 hours of darkness at night, in a quiet room.

Take the quiz: is it right for you?

How big it is

An adult is up to 35 cm (14 in) long.

Zoomed ×2: here you see the man up to 95 cm (37 in) off the ground

Manup to 95 cm (37 in) off the ground
Maltese25 cm (10 in) tallBearded dragonlong 61 cm (24 in)Cockatiellong 35 cm (14 in)Ferretlong (head and body) 50 cm (20 in)Guinea piglong 25.4 cm (10 in)
  1. Maltese25 cm (10 in) tall
  2. Bearded dragonlong 61 cm (24 in)
  3. Cockatiellong 35 cm (14 in)
  4. Ferretlong (head and body) 50 cm (20 in)
  5. Guinea piglong 25.4 cm (10 in)

All the pets next to a person

Before it arrives

  • A companion of the same species: cockatiels live in flocks
  • A cage at least 1.5 times its wingspan in height, width and depth (2 times if it stays inside most of the time); an aviary is better
  • At least 6 hours a day out of the cage, in a safe room where it can fly: windows closed, fans off, never the kitchen
  • Natural branch perches of different thicknesses; no sandpaper perches
  • A bird UV lamp above the cage: window glass blocks UVB
  • Cockatiel pellets, a few seeds, fresh vegetables; drinking water and a shallow dish for bathing
  • Paper on the cage floor (not wood chips, corncob or cat litter) and a digital gram scale
  • A home without cigarette smoke, air fresheners or overheated non-stick pans: the fumes can kill it

Its home: temperature and light

The room
12–26 °C (54–79 °F)
Light
12–14 hours a day
UVB lamp
needed

What it eats and how often

pellets and seeds, with fresh vegetables and fruit every day

  • Adults: every day

Cockatiel pellets for 60–80% of what it eats, plus a few seeds every day (on pellets alone they can get kidney problems). The rest fresh vegetables (peas, broccoli, kale, carrot): fruit and veg no more than a quarter of the diet. Never avocado, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol or salty food.

Vaccines and checkups

Usually none: there are a few bird vaccines, but most pet birds don't get vaccinated. Ask your vet.

A checkup at the vet every year. Once a year, with an avian vet.

The care calendar

What to do, from the most frequent to the least.

  • every dayFresh food and waterWash the bowls and water bottle every day with hot, soapy water (rinsing isn't enough) and change the water.
  • every dayCage paperChange the cage paper every day: that way you can see how many droppings there are and their color.
  • every weekWeigh-inUse a digital gram scale and note the weight: if it changes by more than 10%, see the vet.
  • every weekFull clean of the cageAt least once a week, with a bird-safe disinfectant.
  • every weekBath timeOnce or twice a week, even in winter: a shallow dish of water or a mister.
  • every 6 monthsUVB lampThe bulb keeps giving light even after its UVB is gone: replace it after 6 to 12 months, as the brand says.
  • every yearCheck-upOnce a year, with an avian vet.

Call the vet right away if…

If you see one of these signs, call your vet now: don’t wait for it to pass.

  • Sits fluffed up and sleeps more than usual with its eyes closed
  • Its tail bobs with each breath, or you hear wheezing
  • Sits low on the perch or on the cage floor
  • Has lost more than 10% of its weight
  • Eats or drinks much more or less than usual, or its droppings change

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Frequently asked questions

How long does a cockatiel live?

Usually 10–20 years.

How big is a cockatiel?

An adult is up to 35 cm (14 in) long.

How much does a cockatiel weigh?

An adult weighs 50 to 100 g, 1.8–3.5 oz (the RSPCA weight class).

What does a cockatiel eat, and how often?

Pellets and seeds, with fresh vegetables and fruit every day. Cockatiel pellets for 60–80% of what it eats, plus a few seeds every day (on pellets alone they can get kidney problems). The rest fresh vegetables (peas, broccoli, kale, carrot): fruit and veg no more than a quarter of the diet. Never avocado, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol or salty food. Adults: every day.

Does a cockatiel need vaccines?

Usually none: there are a few bird vaccines, but most pet birds don't get vaccinated. Ask your vet.

When should a cockatiel see a vet right away?

Right away if you see one of these signs: sits fluffed up and sleeps more than usual with its eyes closed; its tail bobs with each breath, or you hear wheezing; sits low on the perch or on the cage floor. The others are above, in “Call the vet right away if…”.

How old is a cockatiel in human years?

There’s no serious human-years chart for a cockatiel: the ones online don’t cite sources. What counts is where it is in its life: its senior years start at about 7.5 to 15 years old.

Tools for your cockatiel

Age and life stageWhat and how much it eatsWhat it can eatHealthy weightVaccines and checkupsWhen to call the vetHow big it is, next to a person

Always ask your vet: this site helps you understand, it doesn’t replace a checkup.

Sources