Let me introduce my fids.

[nancy jean]

I have three cockatiels and and DYH Amamzon.

My first cockatiel was a 2003 Christmas gift from my middle daughter and 3 granddaughters. A grey and white, white face, male named Tucker who is 1 1/2 years old now. To me he looks like he was wearing a business suit, that's why I named him Tucker. He knows the "step up" command, and loves to give kisses. Tucker will also let anyone hold him on their finger, and even give them a kiss if they ask.

Then in June 2004, Dagwood who is 3 years old, and Blondie who is 2, joined our household from a breeder near Chicsgo Il. They are the more commonly recognized cockatiels, with a grey and white body and yellow head. They also know the "step up" command.

Dagwood is the most vocal of all my fids (and I love it!), he likes to "present" himself by lowering his head so I will scratch him, if I don't scratch him just right or long enough he will nip me. Dagwood and Tucker live together in one cage. Both my boys get along very nicely. Once in a while if I'm giving one boy some attention the other will attack, so I have to make sure I'm giving both attention at the same time.

Blondie is my only girl, and because I don't want to breed her, I keep her in her own cage, but her cage is right next to the boys' cage so they can keep each other company. Blondie also knows the "step up" command, but I finally had to clip her wings, because she would act like she was going to "step up" by raising her foot, or even step on to my finger, then using my finger as a spring board would FLY off, and of course I'd try again and again, and this (a game to her, frustration for me) would last for about a half hour or until she got tired (I usually called this her arguing with me). So far clipping her wings seems to be working, but Blondie has only had her wings clipped for about a week. If she doesn't argue with me when her wings grow back, I won't clip them again.

Next is my DYH Amazon Petey who is 13 years old. His cage is right next to the other two cages so all my fids can keep each other company. He's my biter (who definately has his wings clipped!), also knows the "step up" command, and the "back off" command. Petey will "steps up" onto a dowel right now. I'm his third owner, the first owner was a lady who raised him for 9 years till she died of cancer. Then Petey went to my oldest daughter, she had him for 2 years, but couldn't keep him because she had to much going on in her life, and Petey just wasn't getting any attention. So I was given Petey.

I love the noise my fids make, and I encourage/praise them for it because my house no longer feels empty.

[Tiki]

Welcome Nancy Jean! Your tiels sound very sweet and I also love the noise tiels make. They have a pleasant chirp and nice to wake up to.