This is most important as the baby cockatiel must be fed and the crop must be warm and also functioning. The orange cheek patches were genetically eliminated through selective breeding. How Do I Know When My Cockatiel is Sick? This post will outline some basic clues you can look for to determine is a bird is truly as young as a seller claim. Also, the beak will be straightand the nares will have a sweet scent. Older birds can make good pets too, but there is nothing like a relationship where the cockatiel … Cockatiels are part of the cockatoo family and are known for their warm and outgoing personalities -- and their whistling -- especially the male cockatiels. To tell the age of a cockatiel or any parrot first look at the feet. Age and Lifespan In the wild, cockatiels live for 10 to 14 years, but those in captivity can easily live for 20 years or longer. How to Understand Cockatiel Gestures. If a Pied cockatiel has dark tail feathers, it may be possible to tell a female if there are bars on the tail feathers. If possible, get a cockatiel that is still very young and able to learn. So pass that age it can be hard.. With proper nutrition and exercise, your bird will be around for a long time. ... Those are the main symptoms I would watch for to know if a bird is ill and at risk for dying. In the wild, cockatiels live for 10 to 14 years, but those in captivity can easily live for 20 years or longer. Once a bird has reached maturity you can't really tell how old they are. How to Tell If Your Cockatiel Is Going to Lay Eggs By Ben Team. Determining the age of a bird can be very difficult and varies widely between different species. - Answered by a verified Bird Specialist. If you pay attention, you'll be able to learn when your bird is mad at you or when he's happy. It's difficult to tell whether your cockatiel is male or female until his first molt, around 6 months of age, unless an avian veterinarian performs a DNA test or examines the bird's pelvic bones. There's no way to visually tell the age of a Cockatiel once it reaches adulthood. I have raised cockatiels for decades, but right now my breeding pair are both about 20 years old now and have not produced fertile eggs in about three years. Guinness World Records lists Pretty Boy as the oldest confirmed cockatiel, who died in 2004 at the age of 29 years. Thanks! Here’s what need to know about these beautiful birds to give your cockatiel the best life possible. Cockatiel Age. After the first molt, there are several indicators of your bird's sex. DNA testing is for sexing an animal, not for age. There's no way to visually tell the age of a Cockatiel once it reaches adulthood. My oldest Cockatiel is 21 and my youngest is 2 and if you didn't know their actual age, you could easily assume they were the same age. They are cloudy till 6 months.. I have one other female, but haven't found the right male for her yet. How can i tell if my cockatiel is dying? It used to be thought that feet and beaks were pink at young ages, and got darker with age, but this isn't true. Common indicators of a cockatiel's age include appearance of the eyes, appearance of the feathers and behavior. Re: Can you visually tell your cockatiel's age? A lutino whiteface is a pure yellow or pure white bird with a white face. The cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus), also known as weiro bird, or quarrion, is a bird that is a member of its own branch of the cockatoo family endemic to Australia. You can only tell by the eyes up till 6 months of age that goes for all birds.. Just like any animal, cockatiels tell you much about what is going on with their body movement. We just got this cockatiel today. You can seriously injure your bird. Cockatiel Age. How Do I Know When My Cockatiel is Sick? My oldest Cockatiel is 21 and my youngest is 2 and if you didn't know their actual age, you could easily assume they were the same age. The feathers on top of the bird's head are a sure-fire indicator of its mood. With proper nutrition and exercise, your bird will be around for a long time. I have read a few post here, It is very hard to tell a age of a bird. Cockatiel sexing is relatively easy, with the normal grey variety, but not so easy with the white cockatiels. If possible, get a cockatiel that is still very young and able to learn. The worse the symptoms are, the more likely it is that the bird will die without medical help. How to Tell the Age of a Cockatoo By Jodi Thornton-O'Connell. All these attributes make these birds a favorite American pet. Breeders frequently use visual clues which suggest whether a cockatiel is male or female. I do know someone who has a breeding pair so I can let you know when he has babies if you'd like. Share on Facebook Cockatoos can live as long as 100 years, and it's impossible to tell how old an adult is with accuracy unless the bird has a leg band with his year of birth. The differences between an adult male grey cockatiel and an adult female grey cockatiel are so obvious that it is impossible not to tell whether the cockatiel is male or female. How to Tell if a Cockatiel Is Male or Female.