Should I buy an unweaned cockatiel to bond with it?

Cockatiels come in mutations including grey, lutino, pied, pearl, cinnamon and whiteface. Hand-raised, fully weaned birds settle fastest; never accept an unweaned baby.

Temperament

Gentle, whistling and sociable; males typically more vocal.

Grooming

Regular bathing and dust management; cockatiels produce feather dust.

Health considerations

Ask for a wean date, PBFD and psittacosis screening, and a current weight chart.

Is a Cockatiel right for you?

Suits households wanting daily interaction and can tolerate morning calls.

Cockatiel breeders

Programmes currently raising this breed.

Tidewater Aviary

Hand-raised cockatiels and budgerigars, fully weaned

Wilmington, North Carolina · Breeding since 2018 · 4.7★ (14)

Cockatiel breeders in North Carolina

Cockatiel FAQs

Should I buy an unweaned cockatiel to bond with it?: No. Hand-feeding is a skill that goes wrong quickly, and bonding does not depend on it. Buy a fully weaned, self-feeding bird.

Related care guides

All guides

choosing a breeder

How to evaluate a breeder before you pay anything

The questions to ask, the documents to request and the answers that should end a conversation, whether you are buying a puppy, kitten, reptile or rabbit.

10 min read · Updated 2026-08-14

Related breeds

Budgerigar