Fledgling – From $99

A fledgling that has been raised by its parents is still a baby; nonetheless, it has left the nest and is now flying in an aviary. Despite this, these birds can be taught to talk. However, it’s essential to note that they are difficult to train unless one is highly experienced.

Handled Baby – From $199

A baby that has been fed by its parents undergoes a gradual transition. When it is a couple of weeks away from leaving the nest, we begin spending time handling it. This process typically involves 15-minute sessions, conducted 3-4 times per day, right up until it fledges. Once the baby has fledged, it is brought inside the house and receives even more human attention, helping it become friendly. For this particular type of cockatiel, constant handling is usually necessary to maintain the bird’s tameness.

Hand Reared Baby – This is the best way to invest in a baby companion pet for many kisses and cuddles. $299

Hand Rearing a Cockatiel Takes Weeks of Work

A baby Cockatiel is a delicate little creature and to hand rear one takes a lot of care and nurturing time. Therefore, hand reared birds sell for a higher price than one that is reared by its parents.

The hand rearing process begins at about 3 weeks where we hand feed the baby a specialized formula five times throughout the day, including early morning and late night. Their feathers are cleaned after each feed and their bedding is cleaned at least twice a day to ensure a healthy environment for their growth and wellbeing. And this is only the beginning. As they grow, they need handling and human interaction throughout the day which accustoms them to being part of the family.

Above is a brief description of the time and effort it takes to hand rear and tame a baby cockatiel.  It is a very dedicated six-week period for our hand rearers who love what they do.

Availability

Another variable is the season and availability of babies. Eg off breeding season means that there is a scarcity and the price maybe much higher.