Conference 7.286::pet_birds

    Hi Laura,
    
    Welcome to Pet_bird notes.  I havn't talked to you in a couple of
    years. Good luck with your cocktiels. I am one of the moderators of
    this conference.
    
    Pretty good average, 3 Pulsifer's in DEC and 2 of them in this
    conference.
        
    Doug Pulsifer.
    
    

    Hi Laura,
    
    I just gave away two beautiful tiels...male and female.  I did not have 
    the time for them..but for your question.
    
    I had Murphy one year before I introduced the female...at first I put
    the cages beside each other so they could check each other out.  That
    was interesting to watch...(oh I forgot...never put a new bird in
    without being checked..but you probably have seen that comment in
    notes).  Then came the day I put Morris (female) in with Murphy..
    no problem at all.  Once in awhile they would get snitty like two
    kids..but all in all it went really smooth.  I think you have do due 
    it when you are at home so you are available to keep an eye on things.
    
    I heard from the Doctor last night who took the "kids"  she is
    preparing her nest for the eggs and all is well..
    
    Good luck on your tiel and hope it works out for you.
    
    Caralyn
    

    I had a mated pair (Bonnie was a cinnomin pied & Clyde was a silver) 
    for about six months when Bonnie got loose.  Clyde was devastated. 
    After three months, we bought another bird (Sunshine, a lutino).  She
    had been hand-raised and thought she was a person, whereas B&C had been
    raised by a breeder with 30 other birds and knew they were birds.
    
    Needless to say, Sunshine and Clyde didn't get along for several
    months.  The first time I put them in the cage together after 1 month
    of separate cages, he attacked her and continued to pick on her every
    time I put them together or let me out together.
    
    It took another three months, but despite their different 'upbringings'
    they are getting along fine now.  Clyde is very jealous of any
    attention Sunshine receives, so you have to make an effort to dish the
    affection out evenly, but other than that, it works.  Cockatiels are
    very social and we aren't home enough to keep one entertained.
    
    Anyway, the point of all this rambling is that despite some initial
    bickering, it's been my experience that they appreciate having each
    other's company and they still are excited to see me when I get home,
    so they haven't turned their noses up at me because there's another
    bird available.
    
    Besides, trying to give bath to two 'tiels is an experience!

    
    Lin and I have just joined the "2 'tiel" bunch. We picked up Murphy, a
    16 month old Lutino last night. Sharra, our 1 yr old pied, isn't quite
    sure what to make of him yet. We got Murphy from a lady that had to
    sell him. He is settling in very quickly, as we got his cage as well. 
    Leaving the cage open yesterday evening it wasn't long before he was
    out and starting to explore. At this time he will come to us once he is
    out, and wants to perch on an arm or shoulder. However he shies
    away if you make a move towards him. He is reported to talk, though we
    haven't heard any words from him yet. I hope to get in touch with the 
    previous owner in the next couple of days to find out what his
    vocabulary is.
    We put the two cages side by side so the tiels can see each other, and
    they are very aware of each other. At one point I ended up with Sharra
    on my left shoulder and Murphy on the right. Sharra quickly moved over
    to check out this intruder. Their first meeting wasn't too friendly,
    open beaks and a couple of screeches, but they were seperated before
    they got too fiesty. Sharra is similar to the 'tiels in the previous
    note, raised in a cage with other birds, not hand tamed. She tolerates 
    being taken out of her cage, and will perch on a shoulder with
    virtually no fuss, but doesn't like to be handled.
    
    We'll keep you informed on how they get along.

    Thanks for all the information on your expierences with two 'tiels.  I
    just have a few more questions - our 'teil (3 years old) tends to
    screech quite a bit - and to say the least it is very annoying.  If I
    were to get a second cockatiel - will his screeching persist and get
    worse?  Will the second 'teil screech and be just as bad?  We live in a
    condo - so there are other people around that can hear our 'tiel now
    and as of yet there han't been any complaints - but it could happen and
    our biggest concern is if our bird now - if he will get worse with a
    second bird around.
    
    And I also wanted to know if because of the age difference in the birds
    - again ours is 3 and the one we are considering getting will be 10-11
    weeks old - should we keep them in seperate cages?  Especially when we
    are not home?
    
    Any information would be appreciated.
    
    Thanks,
    Laura

I think screeching is dependent on the individual bird.  I have 2 'tiels,
male and female.  The female screeches all the time.  The male hardly
ever screeches.  It seems that the male gets annoyed with the female's
screeching too, and occasionally will give a short screech and peck the
female to get her to shut up.

Sometimes the male will join in with the female, but not very frequently.  At
least in my case, screeching is not contagious.  Unfortunately, neither is
silence.

marty

    
    I agree with screeching is individual - however - I think (and that is
    a maybe) that the screeching would at least tone down as he won't be
    as bored with a compannion. Keep them in different cages to start with
    - but next to each other so they can get used to each other. Once they
    start to get along - you may want to place the older one in the new
    cage so that he is not being territorial. But once they get along -
    they shouldn't have to be seperated. A lot of it is just watch and see.
    
    I have 5 'tiels - 2 - 2 and 1. But they all get let out of their cages
    together. Only the two males seem to pick on one another  occaionaly.
    They are all different ages - types - cultures - but they all really
    get along well.
    
    		Good luck and Have fun!
    
    				Dora