Totally off topic

Does any one know about how to pick cockatiels?

DD wants a cockatiel! preferably two!!!

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Reply to
Cheryl Isaak
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Well, I don't know - but I did have an ops deputy (Army Major) who came with

2 cockatiels. They were awesome, he'd bring them to the field, they lived in his hotel room during the week, then home on the weekends. My mean SIL has a Cockatoo & a Sun Conure. We keep looking into a bird - my experience is these are long-term commitments. Around here there are 2 specialty bird stores, and I'd ask around your area, look for similar before buying. Maybe find a bird lovers group to ask some questions.

IIRC Frank had the 2 because they're pretty social and were much happier as a pair rather than just one being alone. Got to be something in the Boston area (I know - you hate to have to think of a drive).

ellice

Reply to
Ellice K.

Been to the two closest. I'm looking for other places as we speak. Yes, there will be two. I just worried about the long term. It's not like she can take them to college.

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Reply to
Cheryl Isaak

You are best off finding a breeder - can you advertise for one locally, or check online. Birds raised individually by breeders are far better - pet stores ? Yuck, pretty much like puppy farming.

Reply to
lucretiaborgia

Try to find a breeder if you can - their birds are much more likely to have been hand-reared and at least a bit tame already.

FWIW, show DD a pic of some African lovebirds and see what she thinks of those. We gave some to DS for his birthday and he's never laughed so much in his life - they sure are clowns! The only down-side is that one (1) of our four birds turned out to be a ring-in male and he's having his evil way with the yellow hen. They're nesting.

Sigh... that's how we got started with the mice.... sigh...

Reply to
Trish Brown

Cheryl, I have 2 cockatiels....just recently got the brother to my first! I would suggest you find a pair that have been hand-raised. It takes some time for cockatiels to trust someone and I would suggest that you have Ellice be the main one to take care of them so that they bond with her. We got our first 'tiel for my 11-year-old, Allison, but she wasn't the primary caregiver....I was....and he (Tiki) has bonded with me! Then we got a Gold-capped Conure,(Pepper) which also bonded with me because I'm the one who cleans the cages, feeds them, interacts with them, etc. We just got the second 'tiel about a month ago and he hasn't bonded with anyone, quite yet. It does take some time.

The one thing that is really great about 'tiels is that they are not as messy as other parrots. Yes, you need to vacuum the floor around their cage more often than the rest of the house, but you only need to clean their cage about once every 2 weeks....and can even get away with once a month, if necessary. They're great birds to interact with and each has its own distinct personality. My Tiki is fairly quiet most of the time, but his brother, Sprint, is very loud. Sometimes it's hard to watch a television program because he's so vocal.

They will bite if they feel threatened, but if you look for "hand- raised" babies, and you continue to interact with them, you should have great fun with them. They like to be in flocks....and your family will be part of that "flock". They will tend to eat when you eat, if they're positioned in an area where they can see you eating. Email me if you have other questions..... ringle @ roadrunner dot com I'll be happy to help in any way I can with questions.

Reply to
Robin Ingle

YES! Well, sort of. I'll check with DH for particulars when he gets back from town. I'm a bird person by marriage; when DH picked me up for our first (blind) date (Sept. of 1981), his baby macaw was sitting on the seat between us so we could drop her off at the mutual friend's house for the midday feeding. I should have known then that he'd be trouble! :-))))) He's out running errands right now so I'll email you later with his input but what I DO know, is that, if DD wants them to bond to HER, then she should only get one or they will be more inclined to bond with each other and not give a fig about her. While you're waiting for DH to get back to you, check out the website of the "girl" partially responsible for our 28th anniversary last Saturday. I worked with Julie's mom and DH worked with Julie's brother. DH helped Julie get her first (living) bird - long story - and then, because Julie was interested in training, introduced her to a friend of his who trained parrots and ran the Bird Bath Car Wash in Fremont. Julie was 14 at the time. She and her DH now make their living with a performing parrot show! The website is: . DH made the bicycles, high wire, swing, skates and scooter when we had our precision sheet metal shop. Liz from Humbug

Reply to
Liz from Humbug

Oh definitely or maybe a rescue bird, local SPCA chapter is very good about matching...

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Reply to
Cheryl Isaak

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