Cockatiel Questions - other bird suggestions welcome!

[Dusty73085]

Hello all! :)

I am just doing some research about what I might possibly want for my first bird! So, I thought I would ask some questions to you all, about cockatiels! (I found a local breeder, and I have a good friend with 2, and they seem like great birds!) Also, if you have any other suggestions for a good first bird based on what you read below, let me know!

Can they be left alone for 8-10 hours with no problems? I am at work from 7am to about 5:30 (every other week day until 7, when I go to the gym).

Do they normally have...I guess I would call it separation anxiety? Kinda like dogs when they constantly bark when their owner is away, do they squawk when you are not around...or say, when you are in another room, but they can hear you? (or do generally all birds do this?) If so, is there any way to train them not to do this?

Is there behavioral differences between males and females? (like in horses, it is said that mares are far moodier than geldings) If so, which do you prefer?

Is it best to have 2 together? Or will one do well on its own? Considering it will be alone for a good chunk of the day, I dont want it to become bored or depressed. If 2 are better, whats the best combo? 2 boys, 2 girls, a boy and a girl, or does it matter? Also, would it be ok if they were siblings?

Are they cuddly birds? I would like to have a bird that enjoys being with me. Being scratched, held, things of that nature...but not constantly. And can also spend extended time alone (as stated above) and not cause too many issues (I would venture to guess this would mostly have to do with how many toys are available, which will be many!)

Are they playful? I would prefer a bird that enjoys my company, and that of others and dosnt sit in its cage, not wanting any attention.

Just to give you an idea of my usual schedule (I want to make sure I get a bird that is suited enough to the time I can give to it)...

I leave for work on weekdays at 7am (my parents sleep in the room next to mine and I am the first to leave the house...I dont want to risk having to get rid of the bird because it squawks when I leave, and my parents get fed up with it). My mom is home usually all day. The bird will be kept in an upstairs bedroom, which is my room. I get home around 5:30 and every other day at 7 (gym is good!). I am home pretty much all day after that, in my room. So the bird would most likely be out of the cage until I go to bed around 11-12. Weekends, I am mostly home...if not, I would be gone about half the day to go hang with friends, go to Disneyland, whatever. Seeing as hockey season is starting soon, there will be instances that I wont be home until 11 on some weekdays, as I like to go to games occasionally after work.

And, as far as talking to the breeder/person who you are looking to buy the bird from, what types of questions should be asked?

Thank you so much in advance for the help! I really appreciate it! :D

-Bird Newbie aka Dusty

[Dusty73085]

Also, I forgot to ask the following (I tried to edit my post, but it wouldnt let me)

Is there a physical way to tell the difference between males and females? Or, is DNA testing the only way? I know that in some breeds, the males are more colorful, while the females are usually not "loud".

Thank you again! :D

[prettypenguin]

Well, each bird is different, so the loudness depends on the individual bird or pair. I have 2 girls, one is super loud, the other is very quiet. Unless you want babies, it's best to get same sex if you want 2 of them. The quiet one will still do some flock calling when we leave her alone. That's a call they make when they can't tell where you are. I leave them to sleep late, unlike most bird owners, so they stay up with us, but if you wake them early like you would have to, they would need to go to bed 12 hrs later, as they need 10-12 hours sleep a night. I don't know if with your schedule, you could spend time with a bird, and they need lots of time with their people, they are very social and loving and can develop issues if not handled enough when they've been hand raised. I think it would be hard on a bird who was kept up from before you leave til late. Would your parents help out at all? As for telling males & females apart, tiels are funny, with normals and some mutaions, you can tell them apart after the first molt, with others, you can't.

[Angelsmum]

Cockatiels are one of the most laid back and adaptable of birds. They are accepting of most things if you get them used to them early. My son's male divides his time here with my two hens or solo at my son's place. Here he keeps the hen's hours, roosts at sunset whilst with my son can be up with him till 3am, naps through the day and there are no problems at all. With work, they do become ok with it. You can always play a radio or have tv on for "company" To my mind it is the tiels that stick to rigid patterns imposed by their owners that have problems with change and adaptability. Other species though do need this in their lives.

[clawnz]

Hi welcome to Bird Board.
I will leave a lot of your questions to those who are better knowledge than myself.
I would like to say that a Cockatiel is a great bird for a first time bird owner.
They are very loving, and if hand reared generally like people contact. But this may not me the case if you get two. And I think it would be better to have two, if they are to be left alone for long hours. You will get told you they have to be of the same sex, or you may have breeding pair on your hands.
They should not be kept up late at night, unless they are going to be covered till well into morning. (Just my opinion). My own ex aviary Tiels settle down around 6pm and are up and around around 7am.
Before you commit, please remember Tiels can live to over twenty, so this is a commitment to your little buddy / buddies. Who cannot move out if you do not look after them. They do need to interact with you. And need your love and care.
Cockatiels need out of the cage time.

[Izzy]

Hello and welcome! I share my life with two cockatiels, both female.

1. Mine do ok left for long periods of time. I originally just had one, she was an only bird for 3 years. I decided to get her a friend a year ago because my schedule changed and I was going to be gone longer during the day. Some days I am gone from 7 am until 10pm. I think that's a really long time for a bird alone, but for my guys they have each other to watch and talk to. None of them particularly enjoy one another (they don't preen each other or anything), but I think it still helps to have other birds around. I noticed that my original tiel got much quieter and less needy when I added the second one.

2. They can have "seperation anxiety" as you call it. My original tiel went through a HORRIBLE bout of screaming - I was afraid we were going to be evicted from our apartment! The key is to never reward them for screaming - for us this meant that we would be totally silent and not even walk into the room if she was screaming. If we were in the room we'd get up and leave. After a few months, this really paid off. She's pretty quiet now, but still has her moments. They are birds, and they will make noise. It's natural.

3. Males tend to whistle and talk more, and females tend to be more cuddly. I personally prefer the females.

4. I prefer having two, I think it is good for them to have someone of their own species to talk to. Male/male or female/female is best. Siblings would be fine. I wish I had gotten two originally because I think they'd like each other a lot more - mine squabble alot. But when I take one out of the room they call back and forth to one another, so I know they like each other deep down!

5. Mine would be surgically attached to me if she could be, and have my undivided attention for head scratches. Very cuddly. But they are independent too, and will happily sit on your shoulder while you work or watch TV.

In addition, I would say that I don't ever advise people to house their birds in their bedroom. Cockatiels produce a fine dust which can really aggravate your lungs over time when you sleep in the same room, and can lead to serious health issues. Is there any other room in the house you could use?

[Angelsmum]

I also had my first hen for 3 years alone. She is a quiet accepting bird though. To my mind, if you want a companion bird is to get a hand raised socialised one. I got bub (hen again) for her for company even though I am home most days. Thought it might liven her up a bit, lol. She and Bub cohabit but are not in the least bonded. It is just a peaceful co existence. Both wer hand tamed so no work socialising them had to be done by me. Both have a great bond with me. Being together has not affected that in the slightest. Angel flock calls my Husband when she hears him up and around in the mornings. I thought that Bub flock called me, till my son was here and I realised she is calling the toilet flush. My son's male is often here a few weeks at a time as I mentioned. Even though his cage is here, he goes in with the girls and all 3 seem happy with the arrangement. When he goes home he screams in the car trying to see the farm then tends to adapt swiftly to being alone again with my son. If he didn't, my son would rehome him here for his own benefit he tells me. This has been going on for over a year and works well.

[Akara Crystal]

I have a hand tamed male, he would scream for me when I leave the house, when I came home from work he screamed for me even thought my parents where with him. He was to attached to me. I worked 8 hours a day, I felt sorry for him, now I have a hand tamed female as a friend for him. Now he is more quiet, only scream when I came home just to say hello. He talks a lot in the morning and afternoon. As for the female she is an angel, she like to get scratchs behind her crest and love to be kissed. They do have different personality, which is why I love them. To me they are my babies.

[tiel4me]

Well, I'm going to be honest... you seem to have a lot of requirements and also a lot of other interests that make demands of you. Yet you say that you want a bird that will WANT to be with you ... when you are there and it doesn't sound like you will be there very much.

If you want a bird to bond with you then you have to spend time with it - a lot of time. And yes, birds DO need twelve hours of sleep so getting the bird up at 7AM and then expecting it to be up and entertain you until midnight is not a good idea. You'll end up with a crabby bird and probably one that is not very healthy.

I don't think it would be fair of you to get a bird and expect it to live the kind of life that you can offer it. Just my opinion.

[Jannabellsmom]

I tend to agree that it sounds as if you don't have the time. Tiels do like toys but they need companionship.