Intro
   The cockatiel, Nymphicus hollandicus, is a small parrot originating from Australia. They have a small crest of feathers atop their heads. There are many color mutations, I breed only normal greys, with the occasional pearl. They are called "normal greys" because they are the same coloring as wild cockatiels in Australia. The longest living cockatiel is 35 years old. Generally, with a healthy lifestyle and a diet of pellets, cockatiels can be expected to live 20 years. Cockatiels fed on seeds live about 8-10. Although pellets are far more healthier than seeds, it is better to offer your bird a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, grains, pellets, and the occasional seed treat. Seeds are very fatty, and can cause your bird to become obese and contribute to a fatty liver.

Note
   We're not trying to convince anyone to get a cockatiel - quite the contrary, we want everyone who leaves with one of our birds to fully understand and accept the responsibility of owning a cockatiel. They are small parrots. That means they will imitate sounds, they will sing, they will make noise. While they aren't chirping 24/7, they can be quite loud at times. Birds are rather messy critters. When they bite into a pellet, some of it zings onto the floor, some zings into the cage, and some zings into their mouth. A cage guard helps a lot with keeping the mess down, but the best thing you can do is to buy deep food dishes (like those that come with the Prevue Playpen Cage, available at PetsMart). I have little mess with said cage. Cockatiels need to be played with regularly, or else they will become less tame and more apt to bite. I know it's exciting to have a new pet, but don't play with the bird for four hours in one day, and after a week become bored with it, and hardly let it out. Birds like to live on a schedule, so it helps if you play with them about the same amount each day. Cockatiels produce a fine white dander, which is perfectly normal and healthy. It is the sheaths that enclose new feathers, which slowly dissolve and become this powder. A light misting or regular bathtimes will help control the dust. I myself am allergic to about everything found outside, in addition to asthma, and I have no problem with the dust. Birds need fresh water everyday, and it needs to be changed whenever it becomes contaminated (ie, bird poops in bowl).
  If you can't afford a bird, then don't own one! This can't be said enough. How many birds are in shelters, or are suffering terribly because someone "didn't have the money" to take it to the avian vet? Emergency vet care can cost $1000 or more. Are you in a financial spot to be able to pay for it? Sometimes things happen, where you become unemployed, or for some reason, have a lot less money. Then you need to think about what's best for the bird. Failure to take an obviously sick or hurt animal to the vet is a crime called neglect.

That said, please use the links below to gain information about cockatiels:

Your First Cockatiel What you should know before purchasing a cockatiel Your First Baby Males vs Females Cages and Cage Accessories Names for Your Bird	Health Cockatiel Nutrition: Vitamins Feeding, nutrition, and cleaning Bird Health Maintenance Dangerous and Toxic Plants Dangerous and Toxic Fumes
Behavior Egg Laying in Singly Kept Hens Potty Training Your Bird The Screaming Parrot Vocalizations and Screaming	Misc. Cockatiel Genetics Made Easy Sexing a Cockatiel Myths vs Facts Other Pets and Your Cockatiel Breeding Costs Wing Clipping: How-to
Recipes Takoda Aviary's Better Feather Birdie Bread Biscuits Etcetera Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies Seed Treats	Products We Use and Recommend Cages Food

Coming soon.... The Biting Parrot

You can also obtain information from the North American Cockatiel Society, the National Cockatiel Society, and the American Cockatiel Society.