Lifespan of cockatiels
Corellas are one of the longest-living birds. But, even under favorable living conditions in captivity, they can die much earlier than in the wild. Why does this happen and how to prevent it?
Pet cockatiels
How long do parrots live in their habitat?
There is documented information that cockatiels in the wild can live up to 100 years. Such cases are extremely rare. Today, more often such centenarians turn 60 years old.
The average age of birds is up to 25 years. Of course, if the conditions are favorable and do not involve constant stress. If birds suffer from a lack of food and are forced to constantly defend themselves from enemies, the average lifespan is reduced to 10 years.
How long do cockatiels live at home?
The average lifespan of domestic cockatiels is 12 years. However, some individuals can live up to 25 years. In order for a parrot to live to see “such gray hairs,” it is necessary to provide him with not only a comfortable place to live. A balanced diet and activity for your pet are of great importance.
What can cause the early loss of a pet?
As mentioned above, how long Corella nymph parrots live depends on the conditions that people create for them. If a parrot did not live even 10 years and died, there needs to be a reason for this.
Let's look at the reasons why a cockatiel cannot live long at home:
- Frequent colds negatively affect the condition of the bird. Review the living conditions of your pet. Perhaps the parrot often gets sick because it is located next to an open window from which a cool wind blows.
- Analyze how safe the place where the bird’s cage is located is. Perhaps you have installed a cage near a window and the parrot suffers from excess sunlight and hot rays, which overheat it.
- Stress is a common cause of pet loss. If your parrot is constantly worried, this will have a detrimental effect on its health. A change in environment can cause stress in a bird; attacks from other pets, such as dogs or cats; change of owner.
- Food poisoning can cause death. A parrot may eat something “wrong” when flying around the apartment. Therefore, before releasing your pet into the wild, you should carefully look around, check if there is anything left on the table that the parrot can grab and sit on.
- Prolonged depression can cause the death of a parrot. Pay attention to how your pet behaves. If he becomes lethargic, sad and inactive, you need to look for the reasons for his depressed state. Perhaps your pet is sick.
- The pet flew out of an open door or window while flying around the apartment. Remember, the sooner you start searching for your pet, the greater your chances of being successful. Suddenly finding itself on the street, the parrot will experience extreme stress, so the pet must be found urgently before trouble happens to it.
Take care of your parrot, give it due attention and care, then your cockatiel will live a long and happy life, delighting you and those around you.
Who has a longer lifespan: a male or a female?
The male cockatiel differs from the female in having a longer life. This is due to the physiology of birds. Female cockatiels spend a large amount of energy when incubating and feeding their chicks.
Cockatiel chicks
After about 6 weeks, the chicks become stronger and are ready for independent life. The female is again ready to mate and raise offspring. This greatly affects her health. Females in captivity live no longer than 8 years.
Males are resistant to stress. It is easier for them to endure unfavorable conditions. Again, there are no additional stressors associated with offspring. The average lifespan of male cockatiels is not 12 years.
How long do cockatiels live?
How many years cockatiels can live in an apartment depends on their care and other features that do not depend on humans.
For example, females live less than males. This is due to the fact that the female spends a lot of energy and effort on incubating eggs and caring for chicks. In addition, females constantly undergo changes in hormones, which also affects life expectancy. They live approximately 17 – 19 years.
Male cockatiels are more stress-resistant and their immunity is slightly better, so some individuals live comfortably up to 30 years, which is considered impossible for females. The average lifespan of males is about 21 – 26 years.
The heredity of cockatiels also affects how long they will live with proper human care. Scientists have proven that chicks from long-lived parents live an equally long life.
Age signs of cockatiels
Before purchasing, you should know the age of your cockatiels. Since the adaptation of the pet, its activity, ability to reproduce and conversational skills will depend on it.
Scales on paws:
• in young people - light, small in size, almost transparent;
• in adults - dark, large and coarse.
The beak, cere and claws of young individuals are smooth and light-colored. When, with age, they darken. Young birds can be distinguished by their black eyes. At an older age, their cornea is framed by a brown circle.
Factors that influence longevity
When keeping a Corella at home, you should take into account a number of factors that directly or indirectly affect the lifespan of the bird. In order to start counting years, it is necessary to correctly determine the age of the bird (not from a photo, but in reality).
This can be done by the wax, beak, paws and eyes. You can also determine the age of a Corella by its gait (young individuals are considered more clumsy), singing, and first molt. This way, you will prevent deception from unscrupulous sellers who, under the guise of young birds, can sell elderly parrots (especially if they show the birds in photos and not in real life). A specialist will also help you find out how old your new pet is.
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Nutrition
Proper feeding of any pet, regardless of its age, is the key to its long and healthy life. Although cockatiels are very unpretentious creatures in nutrition, they still require careful treatment and attention from the owner. What is the best way to feed a Corella? You can give your bird dry and wet food, vitamin supplements, and biscuits. You should not feed your parrot fried, too sweet or salty foods. The water needs to be changed daily.
The diet of an adult bird throughout its life should contain sufficient quantities of fruits and greens. The quality of grains before feeding to birds can be checked by sprouting them.
Air
It is known that Corellas are heat-loving birds that live in the tropics. The optimal temperature for them is considered to be between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius. Air humidity should be in the range from 50 to 60 percent (such indicators are also useful for humans).
The living conditions of these parrots in nature do not allow drafts and low temperatures. Therefore, at home, it is extremely important to place a cage or enclosure where the wind does not blow. Also, you should not place the bird near an open window or vent if it is not hot outside. A draft can seriously undermine a pet's health and cause illness.
Stress
If you are interested in how long Cockatiels live in captivity, you should know that stress can also cause your pet to become ill. These parrots, by their nature, are considered very active and sociable birds, and are distinguished by their loyal attitude towards people. But even despite this, they are susceptible to a state of nervousness in the presence of stimulating extraneous factors.
Cockatiels do not like loud conversations and other noise such as a stereo or TV. In the dark, these parrots prefer peace and sleep. It is better to teach Corella to talk and, in principle, to communicate with her in a calm tone. This also needs to be explained to children who may frighten birds. If there are cats and dogs in the house, you will have to keep an eye on them and not leave them alone with their cage.
Gender of the bird
Determining the sex of a parrot is quite difficult at any age (it is almost impossible to do this from a photo). It is believed that males live longer due to the stability of their hormonal levels. A female's body is worn out by childbirth and can function differently depending on the amount of hormones during puberty or egg laying.
To determine the sex of a Corella when purchasing, pay attention to the bird's plumage. Males have brighter colors and lack yellow spots and stripes at the tips of their tail wings. Females have duller plumage, but until the first moult the color of the feathers is bright yellow (photos of different sexes can be found on the Internet). Males begin to sing at 3-4 months, and in general have more active habits and a restless character, in contrast to the balanced females.
Before the age of 12 months, it is very difficult to determine the sex of a Cockatiel without a certain amount of knowledge and experience.
Reproduction
An important factor influencing life expectancy is the reproduction of Corellas, or rather its intensity. For normal development at home, the female needs to lay eggs at intervals of up to one and a half years. Initially, a young female Cockatiel may lay empty eggs, which is considered normal. Increasing or decreasing the frequency of breeding can negatively affect the health of the bird.
If you are purchasing a Corella exclusively for yourself and do not plan to breed birds, then it is better to buy a male. With further plans to breed parrots at home, you can purchase a couple of birds that will bring you offspring. It is worth remembering that each individual needs care and attention, otherwise the birds can quickly die.
What determines the lifespan of cockatiels?
Like all birds, cockatiels are sensitive to their environment. Comfortable conditions favor longevity. Let's consider the main factors that are the most important in the life of birds.
Cell
Crowded conditions have a depressing effect on any parrot. Therefore, you need to choose a house for your feathered pet based on its size. Considering the fact that cockatiels grow up to 33 cm, the approximate size of the cage should be at least 40 * 50 * 100 cm. It can be replaced with a spacious enclosure. It is equally important to provide the cell with everything it needs:
• Feeders for different feeds.
• Automatic drinking bowls.
• Mirror.
• Toys.
• Perches made from natural branches of fruit trees. It is important that they are not processed.
Cage as part of the interior
Cockatiels need water treatments. Therefore, it is worth providing the cage with a bath. It can be replaced by periodic bathing in the bathtub under the canopy or by spraying with a spray bottle.
If the cage is equipped with a retractable tray, this will greatly facilitate the process of cleaning after the parrot.
Microclimate
Cockatiels are sensitive to the habitat in which they live permanently. It is important to maintain a constant room temperature at 18 - 25 degrees, with a humidity of at least 70%.
Air humidity is especially important during the heating season, when heating devices dry out the air. This problem can be solved by installing a humidifier.
Important. Cockatiels cannot tolerate heat and stuffiness. As well as drafts. Therefore, you should be careful when ventilating the room.
Strong chemical odors, perfume, tobacco, chlorine, air fresheners and other fumes can not only poison a parrot, but also significantly shorten its lifespan.
Lighting is one of the most important factors. In nature, daylight hours are approximately 10 - 12 hours. That’s why it’s so important to create similar conditions at home. In winter, it is worth turning on an ultraviolet lamp near the cage. This not only extends the birds' daylight hours, but also provides them with vital ultraviolet light for their health.
You can buy a special breathable cover for the cage
After sunset, when cockatiels are getting ready for bed, you should not make noise near his cage. It is worth maintaining silence, and it is best to cover it with a thick curtain that does not allow light to pass through. When you go to bed, open the curtain so your pet can breathe freely.
Nutrition
When forming a diet, it is worth remembering that the cockatiel should not be given human food under any circumstances. It should be as natural and as close to natural as possible for their species.
Vitamin dish for cockatiels
Nymphs are granivorous birds. Therefore, the majority of the diet should be grain crops. Give a variety of mixtures, each cereal has its own vitamins. Fresh fruits and vegetables (especially celery) are important for cockatiels and should be included in their diet daily.
Birds that do not reproduce can be given cottage cheese and boiled eggs. But in strictly limited quantities and no more than once a week.
Stress
Like all parrots, cockatiels are sociable birds. They should never be left alone for a long time. The birds simply waste away alone. Because of this, they pull out their feathers and get sick. Therefore, it is best if the cockatiel lives in a room where all family members spend a lot of time.
To play and communicate fully with your cockatiel, give him time to get used to his new environment.
Communicate with your pet as often as possible. It is best to buy a cockatiel in pairs. This way they will suffer less from loneliness. It is also worth protecting the bird from stressful situations. They can be caused by loud noise, excessive play, strong odors, new toys and a crate. It is better to limit the interaction of children trying to tug at the cage or pet the bird.
When buying a parrot, you need to give it time to adapt. Don't put too much pressure on him when trying to teach him sounds or any game. You should start doing this when the bird gets used to it and begins to trust you more.
Take care of your feathered pet. When created for favorable conditions, you can win three years for the mischievous crested cockatiel.
Factors affecting the lifespan of a bird
Necessary conditions of detention
As residents of hot and humid Australia, captive cockatiels can die without such a microclimate. The humidity in the room where they live should be sixty to seventy percent. The temperature should be at least twenty degrees, but not more than twenty-five.
The duration of sleep also affects the lifespan of feathered pets. Parrots need to get enough sleep, because lack of sleep can have a bad effect on their health. Cockatiels sleep about ten to fourteen hours a day, depending on the time of year.
In addition to a certain climate, the lifespan of a pet is affected by the cage and its location. A cage that is too small will not allow the bird to develop properly, and inside an uncomfortable cage the parrot may get hurt.
Inadequate cage equipment often causes irreparable harm to your pet. He can get tangled in ropes or choke on a part of a toy, get stuck in a closed feeder, or drown in a bath that is too deep.
If the cage hangs in a draft, near radiators or in direct sunlight, the cockatiel may die due to a cold, overheating, or problems with the skin and plumage.
Parrots are very sensitive to toxic odors. Therefore, tobacco smoke, odors of heated Teflon coatings, air fresheners and other household chemicals can kill the bird ahead of schedule.
Feeding Basics
Poor, monotonous diet has a bad effect on the health of the cockatiel parrot. Only the correct balance of vitamins and minerals in a bird’s diet can prolong a pet’s life.
Food from the owner's table should be prohibited. Much of what is suitable for human food has a detrimental effect on the condition of the bird.
