# Cockatiel Care in the UK: Complete Guide — Quick answer

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/cockatiel-care-uk): Cockatiel Care in the UK: Complete Guide — Quick answer. Cockatiels are gentle, sociable small parrots that often live 15–25 years. They need a roomy cage, daily out-of-cage flight, a pellet-based diet with vegetables and limited seed, and several hours of company. Expect some powder dust and occasional night frights. Register with a UK avian vet.

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/cockatiel-care-uk): Cockatiel Care in the UK: Complete Guide — About cockatiels. According to the RSPCA, the cockatiel is the smallest member of the cockatoo family and a great mimic — most learn whistles and household sounds rather than clear speech. In the wild they are nomadic Australian flock birds, which explains their two biggest needs in the home: company and flight.

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/cockatiel-care-uk): Cockatiel Care in the UK: Complete Guide — Housing. According to the RSPCA's pet bird housing guidance: | Bird's day | Minimum cage size | |------------|-------------------| | Mostly out of the cage | Height, width and depth at least 1.5× the wingspan | | Mostly inside the cage | Height, width and depth at least 2× the wingspan | | Extra birds (cockatiels weigh 50–100g) | Add 10% per bird beyond the first two | - Choose a wide cage over a tall one — birds fly horizontally - Position against a solid wall, away from radiators, draughts and the kitchen - Provide natural wood perches of varied thickness plus one concrete or mineral perch to help wear nails - If the bird is caged most of the day, allow at least six hours of supervised free flight indoors, per RSPCA guidance

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/cockatiel-care-uk): Cockatiel Care in the UK: Complete Guide — Company and taming. Cockatiels are among the easiest parrots to tame. Keep sessions short and calm, offer millet from your hand, and teach "step up" onto a finger or perch. They thrive on routine — feeding, play and quiet time at consistent hours. A lone cockatiel left alone all day can become depressed or noisy. If you work long hours, consider a pair.

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/cockatiel-care-uk): Cockatiel Care in the UK: Complete Guide — Diet. According to the RSPCA, small parrots such as cockatiels need some seed each day — but no more than about a tenth of the diet — alongside free access to pellets and fresh vegetables: - Base diet — nutritionally complete pellets - Daily vegetables — broccoli, carrot, peas, leafy greens; small amounts of fruit - Seed and millet — measured treats, useful for training - Never feed avocado, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol or salty human food — see Pet bird diet UK

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/cockatiel-care-uk): Cockatiel Care in the UK: Complete Guide — Dust and bathing. Cockatiels produce powder-down dust that keeps feathers waterproof but coats nearby surfaces. Offer a shallow bath or gentle mist spray several times a week. Good ventilation matters — and remember that people with asthma or allergies may react to the dust.

Source: https://pethealth.org.uk/health/cockatiel-care-uk