wanting a quaker have 2 tiels

[primrose04]

Please no hate mail let me explain first.I purchased a lutino male about 10 months ago. He hates being touched. I keep his wings clipped but he can fly anyway.he will step-up.get on your shoulder and a kiss now and then, but will not let you pet him. I also have trouble at bath time. he hates that too. he will not get in the water, or get under a foscet. I have to gently wrap him in a towel and mist him while he is screaming and biting. He has never really liked me, loves my husband but will only play with him once in a while.
now my trouble is I found out that he is a SHE. I already have a pied female and they hate eachother. (now to those of you that claim to have female tiels that talk as good as males, I am happy for you but you are in the minority) I wanted a bird that would talk. I am considering either making another attemp to get a male tiel or find a good home for the lutino and get a quaker.
I have fallen in love with the quaker and even if I happen to get a female quaker it doesn't matter they both talk. 3 quakers were hatched at the local pet shop 2weeks ago.they will be ready to come home mothers day.I need to make a dicsion. Can tiels and quakers get along?

[Lora, Archer, & Kira]

First of all, I don't think anyone here would send you hatemail... we're a friendly bunch, and are always willing to give our opinions.

Now... I have never owned a Quaker myself. My father has one that he talks incessantly about. From what I understand, Quakers are pretty aggressive. Cockatiels are very passive. I have a budgie that picks on my cockatiel, who is two or three times her size.

Talking ability should not be your only reason to own a bird though. They are darling creatures even if they never say a word. If you do decide to get the quaker, don't try to force your birds to get along. My GCs and my cockatiel don't mind each other, but my male GC can be very aggressive. He tries to get at my budgie every chance he gets. :(

[Monica]

I don't see any reason why we would backlash at you for wanting a quaker and a tiel(s).

I've got two friends who both own a cockatiel and a quaker. Though the two are not close friends, the tiel and quaker live fine with one another in different cages, in both homes...

As for your two cockatiels not liking each other, now you know why, and it explains why your lutino may not be that friendly, of course, my female cockatiel is a sweetie and loves humans AND baths!

If you want a bird that talks, then I'd suggest to forget about forgoing and getting another bird, as not every bird will talk, and it's usually up to the bird as to whether or not it wants to talk. I’m not saying this to be cruel, but wanting a bird just for it’s possible talking ability is not right. However, if you would like a bird as a companion, and don't mind if it talks or not, then go ahead and get another one. If the quakers are being handraised by humans, then you should get one, however, if they are not, you should look for a breeder that handraises quakers.

I don't see why you would have to get rid of your lutino to get a quaker, unless you just don't have the room nor time for three birds. If you get a handraised quaker, then he/she may get along fine with a cockatiel or two, however, should live in a different cage, and should be supervised around the tiel(s).

Whatever your decision may be, good luck!

[The Outlaw]

I love quakers. They are totally nuts, lots of fun, and haven't a clue that they're little. As for playing nicely with your tiel, I wouldn't count on it, but hey, you never know. My Tilde talks very well, laughs like a lunatic and will take on any and all comers. You should know one thing, however about Quakers: they can become very wild very quickly if you don't interact with them on a daily basis. They have "little man syndrome" bad.

Also, be sure that your state allows the ownership of quakers. In many states, its illegal to have quakers. NJ and PA are among them. In some states, you need to have a license or some kind of permit. I think that's the case in NY.

THE OUTLAW

[primrose04]

I was on another site and was trying to explain my situation and they were actually to the point of yelling at me. :oops: That is why I started out that way.I realize that talking ability is not the only trait to look for in a bird.I rescued my other tiel from an abusive home.she has had a wing broken wing sometime in her sad life and is missing1/2 the middle toe on her right foot. It took me along time to win her trust but now we are best buddies. She can't fly so I get her out and she sits on my shoulder and lets me pet her. I would never consider giving her up.I just feel that the lutino female would be happier in a single bird home, or with a male owner, for she seems to like men.But then I am the one that has to do the things to her that she doesn't like, so that might be why she likes my husband and not me. He just plays with her and never gives her her baths or has had to hold her after a night fright.
I do want a quaker and my son wants to buy me one for mothers day.now I might just get another tiel that has been DNA sexed as a male
Thanks for your advise

[Monica]

I understand your point with your lutino. If you believe that she may be better in a home with a male owner, and you can find her a good home, then that's a responsible thing to do that and may be the right decision that other bird lovers may not be able to make.

Speaking about quakers, they are conures, and the larger aratinga conures are relatives to the ara macaws (aratinga means "mini macaw"). If you were to get a quaker or conure, one that has been handraised by humans you wouldn't regret it, as they can be little clowns. I have a cockatiel and a cherry head conure that get along, and shair the same space. They have been together for nearly two years and I cannot separate them. If you were to get a quaker, the new bird may get along with your cockatiel, but there are no guarantees.

I would love to own a quaker someday, and luckily, I moved out of California, so I could own one someday, but not sometime soon...

[primrose04]

I was hoping not to have to buy a new cage.I don't really have the room.I have 2 hughe cages as it is. you see I was hoping to house both the tiels in one and have the other for the quaker.But since they hate eachother I can't do that or one might get hurt. If it comes down to it I might have to buy one anyway.it just seems a shame to have one bird in each cage that are so large.
as far as the lutino I want her to be happy and well adjusted.I'm just not sure that she is happy here, and I want her to be happy. Having two females is stressful on both of them.If I can find her a male owner that will take the time and be loving to her and maybe let me visit her now and then, that might just be the best for us all. ofcourse I will cry my eyes out if I do make this decsion and she may miss being here for a short while but in the long run I think she would be happier with a male owner.
thank you so much for being so understanding.Rose

[Monica]

You know what is right for your birds, and it's great to hear that you have large cages for them to live in! I'm sure you'll make the right decision when the time comes.

I wish you luck with your decision!

[Joel]

Hi Rose.......What are the dimensions in actual numbers of each of your cages. I'm asking about interior living room only? You may simply need to give the tiels MORE TIME to get used to each other in a large cage that neither has occupied before. I definitely would not put a Quaker into a cage with a Tiel, in most cases, unless the cage was HUGE and maybe the Quaker was clipped and the Tiel fully flighted. There are always exceptions to every rule but safety should prevail when unsure of possible reactions to mixing species.

Btw, if ya get a male Tiel and put in the cage with your female (since you only seem to want to have 2 cages in your place not three) then you have a problem with resulting eggs. Even if you don't want to breed them intentionally with a nest box and everything, you will in fact be breeding them unintentionally in the same cage. To me it is not right to take a fertile egg, no matter what stage of development it is in, whether it be fertile for one moment, one day or one week etc. and destroy the developing life in there. Really burns me up personally when people just toss fertile eggs in the garbage can whether they be finch eggs or any other species.......Well good luck with your decision, do you mind saying where you live?

[primrose04]

Joel,I live in West Virginia and quakers are leagal here :)