It can be a matter of concern if your cockatiel is not chirping. But why is your cockatiel not tweeting? Is it ill? Or is it something you should not worry about? Let us learn more about it!
If you have a cockatiel that has suddenly stopped chirping, it could be due to an injury, stress, or sickness. Also, baby cockatiels don’t tend to make a lot of noise. If your cockatiel does not feel well, they will get quiet because they’re weaker and don’t want to vocalize.
If your cockatiel is not chirping and is quiet for a long time, it can be a significant health issue that needs an immediate vet visit.
This article discusses why your cockatiel is not chirping and when you should be worried about your little birds.
Do All Cockatiels Chirp?
It is pretty obvious for us to expect every bird to chirp.
Some birds even begin to chirp while it is still inside the egg. However, you should not expect your cockatiel to start to tweet as soon as it hatches.
Most cockatiels are known to be silent for the first few months of their life. This behavior of the hatchlings is due to their wild instincts.
Once your cockatiel turns 3-4 weeks old, you frequently hear it chirp. The volume of their chirps will also increase distinctively.
Within a few weeks, you will notice that your cockatiel’s tweets will become an inseparable part of your life, and you will immediately see if it falls silent.
Can A Cockatiel Lose Its Voice?
If your cockatiel is suffering from thyroid hyperplasia (avian goiter), then there are chances that your formerly vocal cockatiel has lost its voice and stopped chirping.
In thyroid hyperplasia, the thyroid gland in your cockatiel’s throat will visibly enlarge and swell.
In most cases, the first symptom of avian goiter is that your little cockatiel will lose its voice and struggle to chirp.
Other symptoms of goiter include:
- Lack of appetite (as your cockatiel will now not be able to swallow)
- Vomiting
- Abrupt weight loss
- Trouble in breathing
If you feed your cockatiel with an improper diet, then it might cause goiter.
Besides this, if you restrict your cockatiel diet to seeds, it will likely lack iodine.
Iodine is a chemical element that helps create thyroxine, a hormone distributed by the thyroid. As thyroxine is also responsible for a cockatiel’s high metabolic rate, it’s critical to all birds.
Why Has My Cockatiel Suddenly Stopped Chirping?
Unless your cockatiels sleep, they will not fall silent for no reason. Studies suggest that cockatiels even experience REM sleep. This indicates that cockatiels dream and may chirp in their sleep.
If your cockatiel isn’t making noise, observe its general behavior and demeanor.
Injury
Cockatiels are prone to injury.
These little birds have a limited number of bones in their body but are pretty brittle.
For example, if your cockatiel has cracked a bone in its wing, it’ll be significant discomfort and remain quiet.
Your cockatiel may also have an injury in its foot.
If your cockatiel experiences swelling in the feet, it may develop a painful concern known as bumblefoot. Bumblefoot allows bacteria to enter your little bird’s feet, leading to a loss of scales and thin, red skin.
Left untreated, these bacteria will lead to foot ulcers and spread around the body.
Stress
Stress is yet another factor that can lead to your cockatiels being quiet.
Cockatiels are prey animals. They do not enjoy the company of other animals such as cats, dogs, or even other birds.
You must ensure that your cockatiel has a secure and safe cage. Always reach out to them if your bird seems uncomfortable or unusual, as it can signal some unforeseen threat.
Some other factors that can frighten your cockatiels are loud sounds of music players, lightning, etc.
Sometimes stress can lead to life-threatening situations for our cockatiels. Thus, ensure you are around to comfort them when they need you the most.
However, a stressed and upset cockatiel won’t be completely silent.
They may still make some limited verbalizations, albeit closer to a dull whimper than a traditional chirp. This should be considered just as concerning as silence.
Other Health Complications
Cockatiels need proper care and attention to avoid any kind of health issues.
Cockatiels can hide their pain pretty well. Sometimes, you will not even know how much your little birds suffer.
If you suspect your cockatiel is suffering from a health condition, observe your pet regularly and look for any adverse symptoms.
If your little bird shows unusual or weird behavior, take them to a vet.
Incorrect Diet
Diet has a direct impact on how much energy our cockatiels have.
If our birds are not getting the proper nutrients, they will choose to stay quiet.
We highly recommend taking plenty of time to check your cockatiel’s diet to ensure they receive a balanced diet.
Another sign that your bird isn’t getting the nutrients they need is when you see them eating its poop.
How Do I Get My Cockatiel To Chirp?
Being a cockatiel owner can be concerning if your cockatiel is uncommunicative. Even if you have determined the likeliest explanation for the silence, your cockatiel may need some encouragement to start verbalizing again.
Check Environment
The optimal temperature for a cockatiel is 60°F to 80 °F. Anything above 90°F and below 40°F can be fatal and cause distress among cockatiels.
Light indicates that they need to be up and active. Keeping them in an area with low lighting or the cage cover will make them think it is evening, allowing them to feel calm and quiet and to sleep more.
Create Ambient Noise
It is essential not to subject your cockatiel to too much ambient noise. However, this does not mean that cockatiels need to live in silence.
Your cockatiel would surely welcome a little background noise and an appropriate volume under the right circumstances.
This reminds cockatiels of living in a flock, surrounded by chirping.
Studies suggest that birds in the wild also create unique calls and sounds to address each other, akin to humans handling each other by name.
The best example would be that of music. Most cockatiels love to listen to music, especially the ones with a repetitive and comforting beat and melody.
Provide Your Cockatiel With Adequate Stimulation
Both physical and mental stimulation it equally crucial for cockatiels to live a healthy and happy life.
You can provide your birds with enough stimulation in several ways. You can fill your bird’s cage with toys, swings, and mirrors.
If possible, provide your cockatiel with a friend. Your cockatiel will surely love company.
If your cockatiel is particularly noisy, then a long period of silence may worry you a little. If your cockatiel’s behavior changes suddenly, I would advise you to investigate the matter.
Related Queries:
Do Cockatiels Get Quiter?
Your cockatiel may seem quiet because it is getting older. Cockatiels age more quickly than humans.
A 10-year-old cockatiel is equivalent to a person that is 40 or 50 years of age. Getting older brings changes to the bird’s body.
Besides this, you must know that female cockatiel is, as a rule, quieter than males.
Why Does My Cockatiel Not Whistle?
Enough evidence suggests cockatiels do not whistle as often as they chirp or sing.
Furthermore, some cockatiels do not like to whistle at all. You can even teach your cockatiel to whistle to tunes or songs.
However, you should not worry if your cockatiel is not whistling.
A cockatiel not whistling is not a sign of illness, so long as your bird doesn’t show other symptoms.
