To get a companion, or not?

[Ali1982]

I have a lovely 10 month old male cockatiel who I handfed starting when he was 20 days old. He is a wonderful bird and both my boyfriend and I have a great bond with him.

He is out of his cage in the mornings when we get ready for work and the entire evening after work. Unfortunately he's all alone in his cage during the day. I think that I would like to get another bird but my concern is that our bond will diminish when he no longer needs my companionship.

It breaks my heart to leave him during the days, but in the same breath I don't want to lose my baby. I know I said it before, but he really is a wonderful bird and has tons of personality.

Any insight would be really helpful.

Also, if I do decide to get a second, is another male best? Or do they become territorial so a female would be a better option?

Thanks!

[vagrant]

My 02cents, I would get another male and make sure there are in seperate cages. You may lose some bonding but I believe that the bond loss would be to just one of you. Good Luck.

[PyscoFalcon]

If you get another handreared then they love you as well as each other. This is first time they met my dad. (3 birds are HR and 1 is not)

[Monica]

I have 5 cockatiels. One handraised/fed, the rest quite possibly parent raised. The handraised tiel, Casey, is 7 1/2 years old. She still flies to me daily to get scritches! She and the other cockatiels are cage-free in the birdroom. Another cockatiel, who I was told was "mean" because she bit (she was locked up in a cage, no place to take flight, thus cornered, and scared!) but she has, *ON HER OWN* decided to fly to me daily to get fed food (seeds or pellets) from my hand.

The point we are making, is that so long as you continue handling your first bird, he or she should remain tame. It is up to you on the sex you'd like to get, although with another male you won't have to worry about eggs and breeding. If you *DO* get another bird, be sure to quarantine!