Depending on your location, springtime might bring warmer weather or cooler temperatures. But do you know what is the temperature for cockatiels? And how can you tell if they’re too cold or hot?
When the weather outside is cooler than they like or if there are big temperature changes, both parakeets and cockatiels are hardy birds but can get chilly. To keep your pet bird comfortable, maintain a room temperature of around 70 degrees Fahrenheit, between 65 and 75 degrees (about 18 to 24 degrees Celsius).
Quick answer: keep your cockatiel’s room between 65 and 75°F (18 to 24°C), day and night, and never below 60°F (15°C). Keep pet cockatiels indoors in cold weather, away from drafts and heaters. A bird that stays fluffed up during the day may be sick rather than cold, so if warming the room doesn’t help quickly, see an avian vet the same day.
Key Takeaways
- Diet & Nutrition: Always verify that any new food is non-toxic and safe for cockatiels before feeding.
- Behavior & Care: Sudden changes in behavior or droppings require immediate attention.
- Environment: A clean, stimulating environment is essential for a cockatiel’s physical and mental well-being.
What Is the Ideal Room Temperature for Cockatiels?
The Puffball
When your bird fluffs up his feathers, he may appear chilly. He might look like a tiny downy ball. Next to the skin of a cockatiel or parakeet, his feathers are puffed out in order to trap pockets of warm air. When resting at night, cockatiels and parakeets puff their feathers to keep them from sticking together - so it’s difficult to determine whether they’re cold or sleeping. If your bird stays puffy during the day, check that he’s not in a draft and that the room isn’t too chilly, but remember that fluffing up is also one of the commonest signs of illness. If he stays fluffed up once the room is warm, or seems sleepy or off his food, take him to an avian vet.
Other Signs
If you notice your bird tucking his head down and into his chest or shivering, he may be cold. Additionally, parakeets and cockatiels usually sleep on one foot with the other curled up underneath them. If your bird is sleeping on both feet with his feathers puffed up, he may be cold or unwell: warm the room, and if he is still fluffed up, sleepy or off his food, see an avian vet the same day. On the contrary, a cockatiel or parakeet who is comfortable will tuck his head into a wing to sleep. However, if he’s huddling on the cage floor, don’t assume he’s just chilly: a cockatiel sitting on the cage floor is often sick and needs a vet the same day.
A Bird’s Metabolism
Parakeets and cockatiels have greater body temperatures than humans. Their usual body temperatures are between 102 and 112 degrees Fahrenheit, which they drop when the room temperature drops or the weather becomes chilly. To keep his internal temperature steady, a pet bird must work. You’ll notice that your bird eats more as the weather gets colder.
Birdie, It’s Cold Outside
Although you might not feel the cold weather in your home, your pet bird can. If you keep its cage near a window, make sure to move it on cold or windy days. A fall chill can lead to illness for birds, so pay attention to outdoor temperature changes and ensure their quarters are cozy.
Temperature for Cockatiels: Do Cockatiels Get Cold?
Cockatiels are built for warm weather. Pet cockatiels start to struggle once their room drops below about 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15 degrees Celsius), and in real cold they can die as hypothermia sets in.
Birds with brightly colored feathers, such as parrots, usually come from hot or tropical climates. Cockatiels originated in Australia and are often found in the country’s wetlands, scrublands, and bushland. These birds are very popular petsin America and Europe.
If you have a cockatiel, or are thinking about getting one, you may be wondering how they do in colder weather. The honest answer is not well- so as the owner, it’s your job to make sure cockatiel warm all winter long.
Cockatiels generally don’t do well in extremely cold or hot climates; moderate temperatures are best for them. Keep your cockatiel’s room between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, day and night, and don’t let it drop below 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cold temperatures can be fatal to a cockatiel if it is exposed to them for an extended period of time. A bird that is cold enough to be in danger may be fluffed up, shivering, sleepy and unsteady, and a bird with those signs needs warmth and a vet straight away, because the same signs also point to illness.
Don’t try to toughen your bird up by putting it outside in cool weather. It won’t build resistance to the cold, and outdoors it faces drafts, sudden temperature drops, predators and diseases carried by wild birds.
If you do take your bird outside on a mild, sunny day, keep it in a secure carrier or cage, partly in the shade and out of the wind, stay with it the whole time, and bring it in well before the air cools down.
Never leave your cockatiel outdoors in cold, wet or windy weather, or overnight, and in the colder months keep him indoors in a warm room.
Signs To Watch Out For
Sneezing
If your cockatiel is sneezing excessively, this should be an immediate warning sign to you that your bird may be sick or otherwise in poor health.
Weight Loss
It’s a pity that most bird owners don’t bother to check their pet’s weight, especially for creatures like cockatiels who have smaller fat reserves than larger birds (learn more about monitoring your bird’s weight).
Feather Fluffing
Birds of all kinds, including cockatiels and parakeets, will sometimes fluff up their feathers to show that they’re either content or seeking warmth. Because it can mean different things depending on the context, it can be difficult to tell what your bird is trying to communicate (read more about cockatiel behavior). However, if they keep their feathers fluffed up throughout the day, treat it as a possible sign of illness, not just cold: warm the room, and if your bird is still fluffed up, sleepy or off its food, take it to an avian vet the same day.
Closed Eyes
A healthy cockatiel will have widely open eyes. If their eyes are only half-open when awake, it means they might be cold or ill. They will close their eyes when petted, which means they are relaxed (find out more about signs of illness in cockatiels). Otherwise, not closing their eyes is a bad sign.
Excessive Sleep
Just like with people, when animals sleep too much it is often a sign of poor health or that they are not well-adjusted to their surroundings.
Discharge
If your wild cockatiel is suddenly cold, check for any discharge or wetness around its nose. Follow this by looking to see if the bird is regurgitating its food more often than usual (discover more about cockatiel care). While this behavior can also be a sign of courtship, it’s always better to be safe and consult a vet.
Temperature for Cockatiels: Can Cockatiels Live In The Cold?
Not well. A pet cockatiel should live indoors in a room kept between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and never below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Cold spells, drafts and chilly nights are a real risk, especially for young, old or sick birds.
If you reside in an area with harsh winters, ensure your cockatiel is kept indoors where it’s warm at all times. They’ll require more calories during winter to maintain their energy levels; however, beware of overfeeding them (check out tips for keeping cockatiels warm). If the room gets cold, warm the whole room, or add a ceramic heat emitter mounted outside the cage, and always leave your bird a cooler spot to move to.
Temperature for Cockatiels: What Temperature Is Too Hot For Cockatiels?
The ideal room temperature for a cockatiel is between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit (18 to 24 degrees Celsius). If the temperature rises above 85 degrees, your cockatiel will become uncomfortable, and it is at risk of overheating. Although cockatiels can survive temperatures up to 104 degrees Fahrenheit or slightly above, this is harmful. It may raise the danger of heat stroke, which can be deadly.
Please use caution, as domestic cockatiels may get heatstroke in weather as low as 85-95 degrees Fahrenheit. Signs to look for include wings held away from the body, feathers held flat, panting, open-beak breathing and lethargy. If your cockatiel’s behaviour changes or they become aggressive, this is likely a response to the hot weather or it’s not ideal temperature for cockatiels. The best way to keep your pet safe is to provide them with a birdbath; ample water, shade and cooler temperatures will make all the difference. If your bird is panting, holding its wings away from its body, or seems weak or wobbly, move it somewhere cooler, offer water, lightly mist it with cool (not cold) water, and call an avian vet straight away: heatstroke is an emergency.
Temperature for Cockatiels: What Temperature Can Cockatiels Withstand?
Cockatiels can’t safely handle scorching temperatures, and their health will greatly suffer. If exposed to such conditions for an extended period of time, death is almost certain - especially for younger cockatiels.
Pet cockatiels should never be kept in a room below 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
If your cockatiel has been through a heatwave before, it may start to react as soon as the temperature starts to rise. This may include flapping its wings, panting and seeking water. This can help the cockatiel stay alive longer than birds that wait and see although it is uncomfortable and even dehydrated.
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