The probability of cockatiels dying of loneliness is extremely low but, it is still possible if the circumstances line up, such as the bird being sick, potentially mourning the loss of a partner without much support or other less common circumstances. However, even if a cockatiel has to deal with some loneliness, it should not be enough to cause death.

Can Cockatiels Be Lonely?

Cockatiels, like most other parrots, are social birds by nature. Therefore, it only makes sense that they’re more happy when in the presence of someone they like being around, whether a companion in the cage or their owners.

Without anyone to hang with, especially if it’s a single owner who has to work for 8 -10 hours day, it can cause a cockatiel stress and in feel lonely throughout the day.

When lonely these little parrots can start acting up. This may be by the making more noise, showcasing more erratic behaviour or act in the complete opposite manner to which they normally would whether it be producing less noise, eating less, or not being as chirpy as they were previously.

If you notice these behavioural changes, there are a few things that can be done to accommodate to your feathered companion so they don’t feel as lonely when you’re not around.

What Can You Do To Make Cockatiels Less Lonely?

Below I’ll be going over the different methods you can follow so your doesn’t feel as lonely.

1. Give Them Treats

This isn’t a guaranteed way to solve the issue of loneliness but, providing more treats that your cockatiel genuinely likes can help to better its mood and decrease the stresses of being alone when you’re off to work or when they aren’t eating as a result of losing a companion, through natural causes or other means.

2. Introduce New Toys

New toys will help these little parrots enjoy themselves a little more which in turn may take their mind off of the feeling of loneliness.

Playing with the same toy does get stale so providing new ones here and there can help to improve a cockatiel’s mood, even if it’s only temporary.

3. Provide Them With More Of Your Time

It goes without saying, if you have a great bond with your cockatiel but are unable to provide a sufficient amount of your time and affection to them due to time constraints, giving them an extra hour of your time could drastically improve their mood.

Cockatiels are very social birds where commonly they can require anywhere from 3 – 5 hours of attention from an owner or a companion to be happily stimulated. Of course the timings will differ depending on each birds personality but, giving them more of your time should almost always help in minimising stress from loneliness.

How Long Can A Cockatiel Be Left Alone?

It’s fine to leave your cockatiel for around a day without too many repercussions as long as their food is topped up and if you provide them with enough stimuli’s to keep them busy, such as a toy, noise from a radio, tv or the views of the outside.

A lot of owners will head to work on a daily basis therefore, being away from your cockatiel for 8+ hours isn’t completely abnormal. Unless your bird has any underlying medical conditions, at worst these few hours without you interacting with them will at most cause a little bit of stress.

If say you were to leave your cockatiel alone for multiple days, the chances of death among other things are heightened. In such a case it’s best to hire a pet sitter to change their food everyday to make sure everything is in tact and edible.

Will Cockatiels Die If Separated?

The chances of a cockatiel dying if separated from their partner, whether through death or just a normal separation isn’t very high but it is possible, especially if your bird is unwilling to eat or drink through this period of stress or mourning.

This coupled with any underlying health conditions can potentially be fatal but, the likelihood of death as a result of separation is extremely low.

As long as you’re openly paying attention to the little parrot and doing what you can to make it happier (the 3 methods mentioned above for example), although it won’t garner immediate results, it will certainly help your cockatiel get through these tougher times a lot easier.

Summary

In short, a cockatiel will not die from loneliness but they can become stressed by the lack of attention from a companion or owner. These birds can get attached so, once that happens and you’re unable to provide the attention they desire, they make become lonely from the lack of it.

However, that does not mean they will die from the lack of affection, it simply means they may b e little less chirpy.