Buy Cockatiel-But Where?

Buy Cockatiel but Where?

What every person should know about buying cockatiels.  Buying a cockatiel is a long term investment.  Healthy cockatiels can live for decades.  You shouldn’t skimp on the initial cost of buying your bird.  Buying a cockatiel from a reputable breeder will save you lots of heartache in the future.  Huge chain stores like petco sell cockatiels that have no experience being with humans.  This is very unfortunate because often they were originally hand fed and after being sold to petco, all that work was for nothing.  People then buy them (not cheaply either) and can’t even handle them!  Then the new owners have to spend lots of time re-taming them. 

Where should you buy Cockatiel Baby- Reputable breeders are the best place to buy your cockatiel.  You should really consider spending the extra money and purchasing a hand fed baby.  Hand fed babies are pulled from the nest at a young age and fed by humans. This creates a great bond between humans and cockatiels.  Some cockatiels can still be tamed and become very friendly, but it’s time consuming and can get frustrating.  There is a reason why most large parrots are sold “hand fed”.  This reason is simple-they make better pets.  Reputable cockatiels can be found on the internet.  Ideally you should find a bird that is local enough for you to visit before making a purchase.  You want to ensure that you are getting  a quality bird and that you are getting exactly what you wanted.  Shipping is extremely costly and pretty ridiculous.  What happens if you want to return the bird?  You spend another 80 plus dollars to send it back- that’s what.  You should be very weary of a breeder who will not let you see the aviary.  This is usually trouble.  Sometimes it’s not in the best interest of the other birds that are trying to mate, so breeders might not let you see the entire space.  You should however, be allowed to see  where your cockatiel was kept, the parents, and the other siblings.  A hand fed baby should not be too skittish and should let you hold them.  If you are concerned that a cockatiel baby does not seem very tame, the breeder has probably not put the necessary time in to taming. 

Other places you might buy cockatiel baby or adult bird-There are rescue groups out there that specialize in cockatiels.  Often you can get a great bird that really needs a home.  Sometimes they have been neglected and not handled very much. T his can be fine, depending on your lifestyle.  If you really want a cockatiel that will snuggle with you, then adopting an older bird may not be right for you.   If you are just looking for a bird that prefers to hang out with other cockatiels, this might be a great choice.  Often people buy cockatiels and don’t realize how messy they are and how much attention they really need.  This is unfortunate, but luckily rescue groups take them in and try to re-home them.  Lots of times rescues will simply ask for an adoption fee.  They do have strict requirements because they don’t want an irresponsible person adopting a cockatiel and then sending them back to the rescue.  Cockatiel rescues may be a great place for you to find a great pet.

Places not to buy cockatiel-There are some places you want to avoid when shopping around for a cockatiel.  Craigslist for example.  There are lots of phonies on craigslist and rip-off artists.  They might claim to be an excellent breeder etc, but you won’t be able to find any testimonials from other buyers.  If you are considering craigslist, do your due diligence and meet the breeder.  Don’t get talked into buying without seeing the other birds and the condition of your cockatiel.  Definitely sign a contract when purchasing a bird stating what happens if the bird falls ill within a certain time frame. This can ensure that you don’t get stuck with a cockatiel with a nasty upper respiratory infection and a huge vet bill.