Looking to introduce a feathery friend to our family

[chapala]

Sounds like you are well on your way to owning a Cockatiel! You definitely want just one, especially to start with, so that the bird will bond to you and hopefully the rest of the family. If you get two at the same time, it will be much more difficult to have them relate well to you. Down the road you could add another, cage them separately while you bond with the second, then allow them play time together. Companionship while still being pets!

[Jwhear]

You have been very good advise and I have nothing to add except to welcome you to the Board and to keep us posted. Pics when you choose your companion.

Good luck and congrats!

[hotrodhc]

Thanks so much to everyone. I looked all over town in second hand stores yesterday and couldn't find a cage, only parakeet ones. So I went down the list of pet stores and asked what their cages run, and I found the greatest store!! It is a local couple who breeds all kinds of birds. They had some hand raised, hand fed baby cockatiels. I sat in the store and visited with them for about 2 hours. I got to hold the bird I was looking at, he hopped right onto my finger and made his way to my shoulder, where he sat for most of the 2 hours!

I got a big cage twice as big as the ones at other pet stores, for $30 less! The bird I'm looking at is probably around 15 weeks or so?? They sell them when they are about 12 weeks. This one was sold to a lady with a slight mental disibility, her sponsors had said she was capable of caring for the bird. But when it came back in for grooming the store owners were a little worried about how well it was cared for. It wasn't in poor health, just not very clean. They bought the bird back and he's the one I'm looking at.

I can go pick him up anytime!! I might run in and get him later this week. We are all so excited. We have his cage all set up, just one more toy that I'm gonna let my daughter pick out.

Thanks so much everyone!!

[Astrid660]

Originally Posted by hotrodhc

We don't have an entire room to dedicate to the birds, but we have a large, open living room/dining room/kitchen area where we hang out the most.

Hopefully you will not be using any teflon pans in the kitchen I switched to cast iron and never looked back after getting birds.
My first cockatiel was sweet and handtame, they are such happy and lovely birds. Now I have four cockatiels but the tame one still hangs out with me, not the other 'tiels.

[hotrodhc]

Yeah, that's gonna be tough to switch, but we'll do it. I'm sure my brother would like some cookware :)

[hotrodhc]

Meet Echo. We brought him home today, we're super excited, and he's really friendly. Still adjusting to his cage, he'd rather be out with us.

[becca623]

Awwwwww, Congrats!

[Shutterbugmom]

Congratulations! I'm sure you're really going to enjoy him!