Advice on MM/MF/FF

[MrsStevens]

Hello! I'm new here and am going to be getting a cockatiel - or 2 - this weekend. I'm so excited! My husband bought me a very large cage for my birthday (today) thinking that the bird would be happier with a companion. So I have 2 questions. Do birds do better as a pair? (they'd be from the same clutch, raised together for the last 5 months) (I'm a SAHM, so I'm home a lot). And 2, if I did get 2, would you suggest 2 males or 2 females? I'd LOVE a boy and a girl, but I'm not prepared for mating and baby birds. Any thoughts and suggestions are welcome! Thank you!

 

[JerseyWendy]

Welcome to the forums, MrsStevens, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

What an exciting and promising b-day gift!!

I'll let experienced cockatiel folks answer your question(s). In my own experience, a single cockatiel will make a wonderful and very sweet pet, and if you can spend a decent amount of time with him/her daily, a companion cockatiel would not be necessary.

 

[gracebowen]

I have a tiel but I'm a newbie so all I can offer is not to get a male and a female from the same clutch. You might also want to start with one if you have any kind of allergies.

I was lucky and found one that was fairly tame to begin with.

 

[MrsStevens]

Thank you for the birthday wishes - this is the best gift ever!! I had a cockatiel growing up and have wanted another one for years and years. I've never been in a place or position where I could invest the time and attention properly, but now I am! And I can't wait! I'll post a pic of him or her or them this weekend!

 

[Kiwibird]

I would suggest getting one now, and then considering getting a second at a later date. Often, when you get 2 at the same time, they become more interested in each other than their human family, and it takes a lot more effort to train and socialize than working with them one at a time. Train your first bird well, then bring a second (if you still want a second) into the scenario and go from there. And birds are animals, if you don't want babies and all the issues that come with them, get same gender. You can always name one a girls name and one a boys name. It's not as if the bird cares that humans have decided a name is only for one gender or the other! They will learn the name all the same

 

[Allee]

Sorry I'm late to this party.

Hello and Welcome, MrsStevens! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! What a sweet gift from your husband!

Cockatiels are so much fun. I agree with the others, I would start with one, especially if you have the time for training and building a strong bond.

You must be so excited! Looking forward to homecoming photos.

 

[4dugnlee]

HAPPY (belated) BIRTHDAY!! I love cockatiels! I used to raise them years (and years...) ago. I really enjoyed raising them, it was an amazing experience, but I don't want to do it again. I would not suggest getting a M and F from the same clutch. I would also suggest getting one to begin with. You will probably bond very easily with one, where if you have two, they may bond to each other more than you. Can't wait to see pics and hear updates on what you decide.