. cockatiel
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- An Australian Parrot
- Scientific Name: Leptolophus
hollandicus
- Common Name/s:
COCKATIEL, QUARRION, WEIRO.
- Sub Species:
None
- Origin / Distribution: Most of
Australia except the coastal areas.
- Habitat In Wild: Most common in
the dry arid interiors of Australia
generally in lightly timbered areas, but has adapted to farming and
grain growing areas.
- Status In Wild: Secure.
Has adapted to farming and grain growing areas.
- Status In (Australian) Captivity:
Common, but the pure normal colour are very hard to find.
- Age To Sexual Maturity: about
9 - 12 months
- Adult plumage: attained at about
6
months
- Best breeding years (estimate):
12 months of age onwards. May breed for 10 or more years.
- Lifespan (estimate): 15 - 20
years. Can live
up to 30 years in captivity.
- Sexing: Monomorphic
/ Dimorphic Some
colour mutations are monomorphic and require surgical sexing or DNA
testing.
- Colour mutations: Many, and
increasing every year. Genetically pure "normal" colour birds
are becoming almost impossible to obtain. Birds that look like
the "normal" colour bird may be "split" for up to 8 recessive colour
mutations plus the sex-linked colour mutations.
- Availability: Pet shops and bird
dealers.
- Temperament: Excellent beginners
bird and they also make good companion birds (pets). Popular world
wide. Easily bred and generally good parents. May breed throughout
the year.
- Cost (Victoria) Per Pair: -
Normal colour (Approx.) $40
- Description Of Adults: They are
actually a small cockatoo.
- Length: Approx. 320 mm (or approx. 13 inches)
- Colour ( "normal" colour ): Refer
photo/s above if available.
- Weight: Approx. 80 - 100 gms (or approx 2.5 - 3 ozs)
Aviary Notes:Level Of Knowledge
Required: Beginner
/ Intermediate / Advanced /
Specialist Breeders Only.
Government Regulations & By-Laws:
Refer to " Government Laws " web page.
Housing Requirements:
Refer to " Housing Birds "
web page for general details on the housing of Australian Parrots or
read on for specific details for this parrot.
Suitable bird for those with smaller
aviaries and are generally not destructive to the timber of aviary
frames. They will chew on plants within a planted aviary. The
Cockatiel is generally non-aggressive and can be housed with other
non-aggressive parrot species, finches and some of the dove species.
They can be housed in a large aviary as a
colony, but it is also housed and bred successfully in small aviaries as single
pairs.
The Cockatiel is an easy bird to house and will accept and breed in a cage of about
1200mm long , 600mm high and 600mm wide (4 x 2 x 2 feet through to a
standard parrot aviary.
An aviary of at least 2 metres (7 feet) long is preferred.
An aviary of about 3 metres long (10 feet)
is ideal. Aviary should be about 900 mm wide (3 feet) and 2100 mm
high (7 feet).
Birds housed in a cage or suspended cage during the
breeding season should be allowed access to an aviary during the
non-breeding season for adequate exercise and to regain a good level of
fitness.
Birds bred to produce
specific colour mutations need to be housed as one pair per aviary.
Cockatiels are usually very tolerant birds and
can usually be housed with smaller birds in a mixed species aviary.
Non-toxic leafy branches can be placed in the aviary for the birds to chew up.
This will entertain the birds, help minimize boredom and give the birds
some beak exercise. Natural branches of various diameters, and placed at
various angles, can be used for perches. These
natural perches may be chewed by the birds and may need to be replaced
regularly. The birds may chew any flowers and fruiting
bodies on the branches.
Diet / Feeding: Refer to " Feeding Birds "
web page for general details on the feeding of Australian Parrots or
read on for specific details for this parrot.
In the aviary these birds need a quality
"small parrot mix" or "budgie seed mix" supplemented with plain canary
seed and small amount of sunflower seed. Seeding grasses along
with some leafy green vegetables such as silverbeet, spinach or endive.
A variety of fruits e.g. apple, pear, orange and a variety of seasonally
available vegetables should be offered as part of their daily food
intake. Sprouted or soaked seed can be offered.
Some birds
will consume insects such as mealworms, especially if they have young in
the nest. The mealworm larvae, pupa and beetle can be offered.
The insects provide a good source of easily digested protein.
Commercial parrot pellets may form part
of a balanced food intake.
Nesting:
A basic overview only. Dimensions are typical / average and
can vary widely, influenced by the owner's preferences and the birds
preferences. Parent bird's preferences can also be influenced by
the size and type of nest-box / log in which the bird was hatched and reared.
If space allows, offering a choice of sizes and types of logs or nest-boxes, and placed in various locations within the aviary, can allow the parent birds to make their
own choice. Once a pair has chosen a specific nest-box/log and
been successful in it, offer that one to them each breeding season.
Try and keep that one for their exclusive use. Once a pair has
chosen its log or nest-box, the other ones can generally be removed.
If the "spare" boxes are to be removed and moved to another flight,
ensure the log / nest box is cleaned to ensure the receptacle has the
minimal contamination of mites, parasites and pathogens.
All Australian parrots will breed in hollow logs.
This cockatoo breeds well in either a log or nest box.
- Nesting months: May
breed year round if conditions are suitable. Spring to autumn
is preferable. Winter breeding should be discouraged.
- Log / Nest-box:
- Length
/ depth 400 - 500 mm (or approx 16 - 20 inches)
- Log internal
diameter approx. 180 - 225mm. (or approx. 8 -
9 inches)
- Nest-box internal dimensions approx 180 - 225mm (or approx.
8 -
9 inches)
- Diameter of
entrance
hole approx. 70 - 75 mm (or approx 3 inches)
- Inspection hole (square or round)
100mm
(or approx 4 inches)
- A removable top / lid can be a
useful access point for inspections and for cleaning.
- Location & height of log / nest-box = in a sheltered part
of the aviary and at about 1.5 - 1.8 metres height, but not too
close to the roof to cause heat problems in the hotter months.
- Angle of log or nest box = 45 degrees through to
vertical.
- Nesting log / nest-box material: Decomposed non-toxic saw
dust, wood shavings or other suitable material/s.
- Who incubates the egg/s:
Hen / cock / both share.
The Cockatiels often have a messy nest
(soiled with droppings) so it may be necessary to replace the nesting material during the
raising of each clutch. Take care if doing this to birds that do
not adapt to regular nest inspections. Do not allow them to
re-nest in a "dirty" nest.
Timber nest-boxes generally
require a climbing structure attached inside the box below the entrance
hole. Both logs and nests need an entrance hole/opening about 100 mm (about 4 inches) from the top. Many
species of parrots like the entrance hole to be just big enough to
squeeze through.
More details on
parrot nestboxes/logs and a selection of
parrot nestbox/log photos
can be found on the "nests", "parrot nests"
and "parrot nestbox photos"
web pages. Click on "Up" then "Nests" then "parrot nests"
and "parrot nestbox photos" in
the navigation bars.
Breeding:
Egg Colour White. Clutch/s
per year 3. Eggs per nest 4 - 6. Incubation approx.
21 - 23 days. Fledge approx. 4 - 5 weeks. Independent approx.
another 3 - 4 weeks.
Nest inspection is best done when the
adult birds are out of the nest.
The young Cockatiels should be removed from the
aviary as soon as they are fully independent so as to allow the parent
birds to commence another clutch without interference from the young
birds.
A closed metal leg ring will be required
on each young bird to record the genetic back ground of each bird.
This applies equally to the colour mutations as well as the pure normal
colour birds. The genetic history should be made available with
the purchase of each bird.
Artificial incubation and hand rearing or fostering will not
be covered on this web site. It is too complex and diverse in nature to
be attempted here.
Health Issues:
Refer to "Avian Health Issues"
web page for information and references.
- Worming and parasite control and Quarantine
requirements of new bird/s or sick bird/s are considered to
require veterinary advice and therefore not covered on this web
site. Refer "Avian Health Issues"
web page option.
- Avian medicine is advancing at a rapid pace. Keep
updating your knowledge and skills.
General References: Refer to references listed on "Book References"
web
page.
Specific References:
- Australian Aviculture
- A/A Vol 56 No. 5 May 2002 Page 96-98
- A/A Vol 54 No. 6 Jun 2000 Page 121-122
- A/A Vol 53 No. 3 Mar 1999 Page 61-65 (Inc photo)
- A/A Vol 52 No. 4 Apr 1998 Page 79-82
- A/A Vol 49 No. 9 Sept 1995 Page
209-212 (Inc photo)
- A/A Vol 48 No. 7 July 1994 Page 159-164
- A/A Vol 46 No. 9 Sept 1992 Page 207-208
- A/A Vol 44 No. 9 Sept 1990 Page 222-224
- A/A Vol 39 No. 8 Aug 1985 Page 171-172
(Inc photo)
- A/A Vol 34 No. 12 Dec 1980 Page
227-228 (Inc photo)
- A/A Vol 33 No. 6 Jun 1979 Page 108-110
- A/A Vol 29 No. 6 Jun 1975 Page
91-93
- A/A Vol 29 No. 5 May 1975 Page
74-76
- A/A Vol 28 No. 6 Jun 1974 Page
90-99 (Inc photo)
- A/A Vol 17 No 9 Sept 1963 Page 117-119 (Inc colour plate).
- A/A Vol 14 No 1 Jan 1960 Page 1-3, 12 (Inc colour plate).
- A/A Vol 9 No 10 Oct 1955 Page 117.
- A/A Vol 4 No 2 Feb 1950 Page 19.
- The Bulletin No 14, Nov 1943 Page 6 - 7.
- Australian Birdkeeper
- ABK Vol 18 Issue 9. Jun-Jul 2005 Page 571.
- ABK Vol 14 Issue 9. Jun-Jul 2001 Page 487-491
- ABK Vol 11 Issue 6. Dec-Jan 1999 Page 274-276
- ABK Vol 10 Issue 12. Dec-Jan 1998 Page 586-587
- ABK Vol 9 Issue 2. Apr-May 1996 Page 66-67
- ABK Vol 9 Issue 1. Feb-Mar 1996 Page 11-13
- ABK Vol 8 Issue 12. Dec-Jan 1996 Page 604-607
- ABK Vol 8 Issue 10. Aug-Sept 1995 Page 502
- ABK Vol 7 Issue 3. Jun-July 1994 Page 124-129
- ABK Vol 7 Issue 1. Feb-Mar 1994 Page 15-19
- ABK Vol 6 Issue 11. Oct-Nov 1993 Page 560-561
- ABK Vol 5 Issue 2. Apr-May 1992 Page 86-87
- ABK Vol 3 Issue 1. 1990 Page 18-21
- ABK Vol 2 Issue 9. 1989 Page 319-322
- ABK Vol 2 Issue 8. 1989 Page 280-284
- ABK Vol 1 Issue 1. 1987 Page 11-12
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