Dilemma again

[RemiBird]

Recently, we went on a week long vacation. During that time, Remi went to a bird sitter's house. The lady had a cockatiel and two budgies of her own. She was super nice and her birds were well taken care of so I had confidence in her care of Remi. Anyway, Remi did great! He had a great "staycation" as she called it. At first, I was worried he may not get along with her birds, but she slowly introduced him to them and they socialized just fine together. Their cages were next to each other. He even let the lady hold him and cuddle him on her shoulder. I got daily pictures and updates.
Now, I can't help but think that Remi would enjoy the company of another bird in his house. I used to have cockatiels too, and I miss them terribly. So, although it's hard to say, I am thinking that Remi would like someone to share the room with. Or would he act differently now that he is home in his own territory?
Not sure what to do. I would like a cockatiel. I miss those birds.

 

[LaManuka]

Ooooh that’s a tough one! Many people advise against buying a bird as company for an existing bird. And you won’t know how Remi will react to another bird on his home turf! Is Remi left alone for many hours per day? If not then I’d say his human flock mates are probably sufficient. Otherwise you could consider a cockatiel but you’d need to be prepared for the possibility that they may take a dislike to each other. My cockatiel and GCC (when I had him, God rest his precious little soul) tolerated each other, mind you I had the cockatiel first and got the GCC second. And individual results may vary!

If you’re prepared for a possible change in the dynamic between you and Remi then ok go ahead. I have no doubt you’d be well equipped to provide a loving home for another bird.

 

[RemiBird]

That's what worries me - he may act differently now that he is home. Our son, who is 15, has Remi with him pretty much most of the day while we work full time. But the son is going back to school in a week. So, I am thinking Remi might get lonely.
I would love to have a cockatiel again. I just don't want Remi to torment the new bird, lol.

 

[LaManuka]

Yeah, sometimes Baci the GCC would pull on Fang’s tail or nip his toe but thankfully no blood was ever shed and there was never any violence!

It’s hard to say if Remi would be happy about a new flock mate. If it was me I’d probably cave in and get myself a cockatiel but then again I’ve been a sufferer of MBS (multiple bird syndrome) for years so don’t take my word for it!

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

Amy (30y.o. Amazon) and BB (3 y.o. Cockatiel) live in separate houses but side by side. Amy is OBCESSED with Beebs! He will do anything to be with that little guy! I had to actually hang a big towel on the outside of Amys mansion on the side that faces BB's condo because Amy would hang upside down on the bars and bob his head and regurg ( all mating symptoms) all friggin day! And as soon as I let Amy out of his mansion he'd scurry down the side and run across the floor to climb up onto BB's roof top! If BB's front door was open sometimes Amy would climb in and help himself to BB's food and toys. I'd put Amy back on his playtop and as soon as I turn around,he's scurrying back down to do it again. He is relentless and WILL NOT stop! This has been going on for over three years now!

When Beebs was young he didn't know what to think of the attention and would tolerate Amy preening him. Now the poor boy will HIDE inside his plexi tidy-bowl food bowl to get away,or he'll fly to me.

If both are out at the same time Amy will run and lunge/attack me if I even go near BB. it has gotten out of hand and don't know what to do anymore,so now I don't let them out at the same time. This is something you'll need to think about if you do decide on getting a new tiel.

Jim

 

[RemiBird]

Absolutely true.
No clue how things would play out in the future with two birds. It's just that I miss having cockatiels so much. I used to have two, and they were the sweetest things.
I stopped by the pet store where I got Remi last year, and they had a male cockatiel who was surrendered by his owner a week ago. The poor guy is five years old. He is in a small cage looking so sad... I so wanted to just take him home, but there is a problem. I think he may have a stargazing disorder. His head just looked a bit weird, he was kind of looking up and from time to time the head would slightly jerk. I looked up stargazing in birds and it just seems like something serious. I would like to adopt him and help him out, but is that curable??
I don't know... Anyone familiar with this disorder? The lady in the store didn't say much. She mentioned that word, but then she said that some birds sleep like that, which is probably just garbage. I think he was not well.

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

Like has been mentioned before, both in this thread and around the forum, getting a second bird to be 'company' for the other bird is never a good idea. It comes from a good place, people want their fids to be happy. But getting a second bird is as unpredictable as getting the first one. Even if your bird wants a mate and you get him/her a mate, there's not guarantee they will like each other.

We automatically assume that when we leave our fids alone for a while that they get lonely and need constant companionship. Thats not true, in my experience.

When I had Peaches (my tiel) and even with Skittles- he has his times when he don't want to be touched. He's a MAJOR cuddle-monster, but even he likes his alone time now and again. I notice it and I respect it, he does the same with me.

I'm of the mindset that if people feel the need to get a second bird to keep the first bird company cause they are always gone etc, then maybe getting a first bird isn't such a good idea.

I always worried that if I went out for 2-4hrs each day that Skittles would be lonely or mad and neither was the case. I leave the radio on and he's fine. In fact, on the days I do NOT go out at all, I've noticed he will often go into his day cage on his own about the same time I normally go out for a bit. They adjust.

I was convinced when I left him alone for one day/one night back in December that he'd not do well (and neither would I), but we both did fantastic. It was very reassuring.

I think a lot of the time, I overthink things. lol. That is by no means an admission on my part. lol

 

[RemiBird]

I'm of the mindset that if people feel the need to get a second bird to keep the first bird company cause they are always gone etc, then maybe getting a first bird isn't such a good idea.

We are not always gone though. We work full time but other than that, we are home. We go on a week long vacation every year and that's it. Maybe you are right, maybe I am overthinking Remi's loneliness.
This idea is mostly caused by me missing my cockatiels...

 

[noodles123]

I am of the opinion that having more than one bird raises the potential for more harm than good. Between disease, injuries, "random" aggression, sexuality, over-bonding etc, it is indeed complicated.

That is not to say that it cannot work, but never get a bird for your bird (nor assume that your bird will take to any new bird in its home). This assumption is dangerous for all involved. Never get a bird for your bird unless you personally are willing to devote the time needed to caring for 2 separate birds in totally separate spheres (as this is the necessity in the worst-case-scenario--e.g., separate out of cage time, separate play, separate everything)...Even if 2 birds seem great at first, you can NEVER let your guard down---which is problematic when you are dealing with an already high-maintenance pet. Toes have been lost, birds have died, and owners have felt abandoned by their old companions with the introduction of new birds.

Again, not saying it can't be done...It is just a massive gamble. Many do make it work, but you have to be in it for the birds to see it through and willing to deal with the potential for added stress etc. If you both work, I am not sure where you would find the time to deal with 2 birds independently (if they didn't mesh).

If you feel like your bird is lonely, you have to understand that any acceptable filler will replace your bond in 80% of cases...So, if you are gone enough that your bird IS lonely, you will be less important to your bird than a bird to which it bonds. That is not to say that a new bird will bond with your bird (again, they often hate other birds or behave in unpredictable ways around them) but if it does, you may not like the result.

 

[RemiBird]

You are probably right.
I have a feeling that Remi was nice at the bird sitter's because he was in a new, unfamiliar environment and there was no me. Who knows if he would be so nice to another bird in his own house...
Just out of curiosity, is anyone familiar with stargazing in birds as a disease? I can't help but feel bad for that poor little cockatiel in the petstore...

 

[noodles123]

You are probably right.
I have a feeling that Remi was nice at the bird sitter's because he was in a new, unfamiliar environment and there was no me. Who knows if he would be so nice to another bird in his own house...
Just out of curiosity, is anyone familiar with stargazing in birds as a disease? I can't help but feel bad for that poor little cockatiel in the petstore...

From what I understand, it can be nutritional, bacterial, viral or yeast-related, but is signals a serious neurological impact. I would never bring a symptomatic bird into my home while caring for another bird (heck- even totally healthy birds should be quarantined for at least 1-2 months before allowing them around your bird)..There are way too many highly contagious illnesses that can be spread by things like feather dust in the air...I get it--- It is very sad, but with another bird in your home, I wouldn't risk it.

 

[RemiBird]

You are probably right.
I have a feeling that Remi was nice at the bird sitter's because he was in a new, unfamiliar environment and there was no me. Who knows if he would be so nice to another bird in his own house...
Just out of curiosity, is anyone familiar with stargazing in birds as a disease? I can't help but feel bad for that poor little cockatiel in the petstore...

From what I understand, it can be nutritional, bacterial, viral or yeast-related, but is signals a serious neurological impact. I would never bring a symptomatic bird into my home while caring for another bird (heck- even totally healthy birds should be quarantined for at least 1-2 months before allowing them around your bird)..There are way too many highly contagious illnesses that can be spread by things like feather dust in the air...I get it--- It is very sad, but with another bird in your home, I wouldn't risk it.

No, I am not going to risk Remi's health. I just wish I could do something to help the poor fellow

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

I know the feeling. Prior to getting Skittles, there was a male cockatiel at the same pet store who was kept by himself in a cage at the front of the store near the entrance. Normally, the tiels are in aviaries in the middle of the store. This tiel looked mutilated (by that I mean like he had plucked his feathers out) and I asked what happened and they told me the other tiels were picking on him so they separated him so he could heal and to prevent further damage. I felt so bad and wanted to take him home but the store clerk told me he would be just fine, they just wanted to protect him.

Its tough when we see those circumstances because our first thought is to rescue them and bring them home. As someone who used to take in rescue birds, I can tell you that its quite the task and can often end up doing you (and the rescues) more harm than good. At one point, I had 9 birds with over half of them being rescues and as much as I loved them all, it became such an overwhelming task. Luckily, I was able to find some very good homes for a few of them. Once I found homes for all the rescues I stopped doing it. I was spending so much time with the rescues that my own birds were not getting the same amount of attention they were used too. They weren't neglected by any means, but they also weren't receiving the same level of care.

 

[RemiBird]

You are so right, Skitty's Dad.
I already have two dogs and Remi to take care of.