Nymphicus hollandicus Cockatiel Review

I have had my cockatiel for over 17 years now.  I got him when he was 8 weeks old and had no idea how long they live.  A cockatiel can live upwards of 25 years.  A good rule of thumb, the larger the bird, the longer they live.  A parrot can live for 50-60 years. 

Mine has been a good pet over the years, and has gotten along with the many other animals in my house, including my cats and dogs.  Mine was hand fed as a baby and pretty much doesn't really know he is a bird.

He is friendly and usually picks one person he connects with the best - has been a few people over the year and usually not me.  Even though I have never been his favorite, he has always been great to me. 

I would recommend keeping your bird in an area where they can see you or your family.  they don't like being alone and normally that is when mine is the loudest.  I would also use a cover on the cage at night as it makes them feel more secure and safe. 

Mine talks quite a bit - he knows about 25 words.  Quick tip: don't teach them to whistle if you want them to learn to talk. Once they whistle, they almost never speak. 

Good pet, but remember that you may have them for a really long time.