The advantages of a hand-tamed cockatiel pet bird. Hand-tamed cockatiels, whether rescues or breeder-raised, make the best pets. They will come to you already knowing basic commands such as "step up" (to step up onto your finger, a perch or your hand) and they are already socialized to people. Be SURE to ask the breeder or rescue group if Incubation Period. It takes anywhere from 18-23 days for cockatiel eggs to incubate. One breeder pair I owned hatched babies like clockwork, laying every 18 days after the first egg. Another pair of mine hatched babies every 21 days. My current breeding pair is not quite as regular, though they do fall within the 18-23 day range. These creatures are related to parrots and hail from the wilderness of Australia. In captivity, when allowed to interact with people early and often, cockatiels are affectionate and gentle. Thanks to their relatively compact size, cockatiels can be handled with ease. You won't need a big house to keep these birds happy. Cockatiel Cage Size. The American Cockatiel Society recommends a minimum cage size of 24- by 24- by 24- inches or 18- by 18- by 36- inches. However, you should supply the largest size cage you have room for. The bar spacing should be about 1/2 inch, or small enough that your cockatiel can't push their head between the bars. Hand raised babies are the easiest to start on a pelleted diet. Mature cockatiels are challenging to convert to a pelleted diet. Pellets are the ideal diet, therefore you are encouraged to slowly wean seed-eatin g birds onto a pelleted diet. Pellets should ideally represent approximately 75-80% of the bird's diet. Cockatiels are natural mess-makers and will need to get weekly sprays or baths to get rid of the powdery dust that they produce to coat their feathers. Clean their cages at least once a week as well. These birds enjoy being active and are playful. Unless they have a flying cage, they should be allowed to spend time outside of their cage each day. No poop or constipation. It is very rare for a cockatiel to suffer from constipation, but it does occur. A healthy bird will have between 18 to 26 droppings per day. However, if your pet birdie does not get enough movement, is generally not active and overeats, obesity can cause constipation. Cockatoos are very active, and need some time outside of the cage. As they need a great deal of exercise to stay healthy and fit, allow your Cockatoo to spend at least 3-4 hours a day outside of the cage and to put them in an area with plenty of space so they can climb, stretch, play and spread their wings. This out of cage time is essential Cage liners - Keep your cockatiel's home spick and span with cage liners that can be easily removed. Cleaning pad - Choosing a good cleaning pad will help you keep your cockatiel's cage in good shape. You'll use it to scrub the sides and bottom of the cage so make sure its texture will be able to cut through any dried mess. Each pellet contains balanced nutrition, preventing a bird from feeding selectively. Cockatiels should be fed a diet consisting of 70-80% formulated pellets Dark green vegetables or fruits can be 10-30% of diet Treats (including seeds) should be limited to only 5% of the diet Clean, fresh water should be provided daily Environment Cockatoos are highly social and in the wild will forage in flocks as large as 100 birds. The most widespread and numerous cockatoo species found in the wild is the 14-inch galah, which shows off its