All birds should have the chance to fly. For a cockatiel to be able to fly in its cage, this should be at least 3 ft long by 2 ft deep and 2 ft high. Cages supplied with so called "starter packs" for pets soldin pet shops are never large enough. Always buy the biggest you can afford.
Plastic perches, which sometimes come with cages, are difficult for cockatiels to grip and can create pressure points on the birdıs feet. Use natural wood as perches sycamore, elder, willow. Wash the branches first so that your bird doesnıt catch an infection from wild bird droppings. You can leave any small twigs on the branches as your bird will enjoy chewing them. Never position the cage in direct sunlight. Cockatiels can get heat stroke.
CAN I PUT COCKATIELS THAT HAVE BEEN LIVING IN SEPARATE CAGES INTO ONE CAGE TOGETHER?
There shouldn't be any problems, but transfer them all at the same time, so that the cage is new territory for all three. Cockatiels are very gentle and social birds by nature, and can even be housed in aviary surroundings with much smaller companions such as zebra finches. To get a big enough cage, it may help to choose a flight cage on wheels, so that you can move it around for easier cleaning. Most pet shop cages are far too small. You could buy a custom-made indoor aviary.
Copyright WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition 2007