Cockatiels aren't snuggly

[SilverSage]

People on the internet: "I want a small bird like a conure. But not a cockatiel because I want a bird that cuddles."

Me:

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[TexasWade]

My long lost Dusty. I miss him so!

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOmTQJwcuPE"]VIDEO00311 - YouTube[/ame]

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

Yanno? I was thinking that very thought just a few days..and its HOGWASH! I open BB's door and put my hand in..he immediately jumps right on and I bring him out..he's already telling me what a good boy he is..as I bring him to my face to kiss him..with my other hand I gently cup his back in it and do gentle pets all the up and down to his head..all the while I'm kissing his head and face and rubbing my nose on his beaky tellin him I love him,and he starts whistling with glee giving kissy noises back to be..
Ya...cockatiels don't snuggle...



Jim

 

[Scott]

The number of myths and untruths swirling about aviculture are mind boggling.

This thread has already deflated at least one!!

 

[Tropical]

My long lost Dusty. I miss him so!

VIDEO00311 - YouTube

I love watching tiels get scricthes it's very cute indeed
'Rascal loves scritches so does "Nut except 'Nut never sits still long enough for me to be able to scritch him like that he's always moving around like a nut... no pun intended haha.

 

[smbrds]

Cockatiels are sweet birds even if they don't do x amount of tricks, although there are some that do. It's nice to see cockatiels illustrated being sweet and accepting head scritches. Although Baby (and some 'tiels) doesn't accept head scritches/fingers much (but he will happily step up), he accepts love and cuddles in other ways as we are together. I've learned he (and some) are mild-mannered in general, but they are overall sweet, accepting and forgiving.

 

[pycthedragon]

I miss my cockatiel so much. He died this summer. I only had him for 6 months but he was the best bird I ever had. We took showers together, I could take him to the store/drivethru, we used to go on adventures all the time. He would pretty much DEMAND cuddles by shoving his little head right in my face. At the time I slept on a narrow couch, so there was no risk of rolling over, and he would sleep on my blanket and greet me in the morning with an energetic chirp.

He was so tame that if his feathers grew back I would have probably worked on training him for free flying, he was incredible. I even took him out to Ann Arbor with some friends, and we even got pictures of him kissing a celebrity. He loved everyone, he was literally that friendly. Everyone was a cuddle buddy to him.

I miss him so much. Makes me tear up a little when I think about him.

 

[wrench13]

What was his name?

 

[pycthedragon]

His name was AJ, a lovely Lutino cockatiel.

 

[GaleriaGila]

Some of the sweetest bird-faces ever, anywhere. Also, sweet memories, I know.
I would so love to have a cockatiel, but you-know-who would attack it. He attacks 200-pound men. But I would love one. Thanks for the wonderful pictures.

 

[pycthedragon]

You're definitely missing out. Tiels are top tier birds.

It kind of makes me laugh in retrospect. I bought him since I recently lost a rescue budgie we found outside, and I wanted to have a third bird. I met him in the bird store and he was the only cockatiel not taken and he was apparently a bird that had to be given up by his owner. So I expected a totally uncooperative bird.

So I put him in the cage, and covered it so he could adapt to his new cage. Surprisingly though he kept flailing about, that scared me so much! I thought he was having a heart attack like how the budgie did. But really he just wanted to cuddle. The poor guy was kind of dirty on the face and I cleaned him up, and he pretty much was my therapy animal until he died. It really sucks how sometimes the best ones you only get to have for such a short period.

Just amazing birds, can't believe people write them off. They're not for everyone since they're so sweet and need some patience. But they definitely have pay off.

 

[Tropical]

You're definitely missing out. Tiels are top tier birds.

It kind of makes me laugh in retrospect. I bought him since I recently lost a rescue budgie we found outside, and I wanted to have a third bird. I met him in the bird store and he was the only cockatiel not taken and he was apparently a bird that had to be given up by his owner. So I expected a totally uncooperative bird.

So I put him in the cage, and covered it so he could adapt to his new cage. Surprisingly though he kept flailing about, that scared me so much! I thought he was having a heart attack like how the budgie did. But really he just wanted to cuddle. The poor guy was kind of dirty on the face and I cleaned him up, and he pretty much was my therapy animal until he died. It really sucks how sometimes the best ones you only get to have for such a short period.

Just amazing birds, can't believe people write them off. They're not for everyone since they're so sweet and need some patience. But they definitely have pay off.

Thanks for sharing your story... he was very lucky to have you in his life that's for sure. My new tiel 'Nut is a handful compared to my other tiel... but I love him so much. He is a very cool bird indeed. I LOVE spending time with birds Don't know why I'm so fascinated by birds... I could stare at them all day hehe

 

[Scott]

His name was AJ, a lovely Lutino cockatiel.

Beautiful, sweet face. May his memories bring comfort.

 

[Kyoto]

His name was AJ, a lovely Lutino cockatiel.

Awwwww he looks just like my Jo-Jo did. I miss that cockatiel so much they are really special birds.

 

[Tangie]

I think it also depends on how people classify "cuddly". Do cockatiels roll about on their back, snuggle into your clothing, and grab at you with their feet? Perhaps not in the sense of a conure or something. But just because it is a little different doesn't make it not cuddly.

I think, in general, a lot of non parrot owners are against getting cockatiels in general, and I have often heard them classify cockatiels has non parrots.

Kiko isn't cuddly, but this is only because of the history he has had. However, that has not prevented him from learning tricks! Kiko has learned every trick that I have tried teaching him, and it's pretty cool! He waves, spins, and nods. It's amazing!

 

[ihijazi]

My Jack tiel was one of the most amazing birds I've had. The most cuddling, and needy I'd say, birds. It was annoying sometimes how much attention he needed. But he gave so much love back. All he ever wanted is to stay on my shoulder, everywhere.

 

[Tropical]

My Jack tiel was one of the most amazing birds I've had. The most cuddling, and needy I'd say, birds. It was annoying sometimes how much attention he needed. But he gave so much love back. All he ever wanted is to stay on my shoulder, everywhere.

Hey! That is exactly what Rascal does when I'm in the car... he goes everywhere with me
He's super laid back and he just sits still as a statue on my shoulder.

 

[pycthedragon]

I used to take AJ out when I ordered fast food. He would sit on the seat instead of my shoulder. You better believe the cashier was surprised to see him!

Are cockatiels in general friendly towards a lot of people? AJ wanted to be friends with everyone and loved kisses from anyone. I was definitely his number 1 human but he loved everyone.

 

[SilverSage]

Yes they can be extremely friendly birds.

The fast food workers are the best! I often get a "I'm not sure if you know this ma'am, but there is a bird on your head..."


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[GaleriaGila]

"I'm not sure if you know..."