How do cockatiels react to the change of the owner?

[kikika7]

Hello everybody! This is my first time on forum so I hope I'm in a good thread. My friend bought two cockatiels, one girl and one boy, almost a year ago. They are relatively tame and she was taking good care of them. However, due to some unforeseen circumstances in her family she has to put them away. She offered them to me but I'm afraid they would not like me and miss her. Do you think it would be hard to gain their trust or should I not worry? The parrots should be a year old. Also she said she would give them to me with their cage and all things in it, would it help that they have something from their old home?

 

[ParrotLover2001]

They are both females, judging by the pearling on their backs. Males would lose them during their first molt. Females keep them.

How they react depends on how bonded they were to their first owner, and how quickly they accept a new person depends on the bird as an individual.

It will take a couple days or even weeks, maybe even never, for them to warm up to a new owner.


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[reeb]

I think it is a male and a female, judging from colouration, and I trust your friend knows their genders! I’m sure the two of them are a bonded pair if this is so.

While cockatiels do become very attached to their owners, it is definitely possible for a rehomed or adopted bird to bond to a new owner - they are also in a pair, which means that they will have some familiarity in their new home with you, because they will still be together.

It may take time, but I believe that you will be able to bond with them if you spend plenty of time with them and give them lots of attention. It is dependent on the individual bird, but it is certainly possible.

I hope you give these babies a loving home!

Good luck, and welcome to the forum.


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[Jen5200]

Are you able to go visit the birds a few times and see how they react to you when spending time with them? This may give you a better feel for how they are around people other than their current person. Many of us have birds that have been rehomed from other people and I think that with time,love and patience, most adjust well (some faster than others). As ParrotLover said, birds are individuals and have their unique personalities and quirks. I can say that both of my conures came to me from other owners and have adjusted and bonded well with me.

I love that you are concerned about their emotional wellbeing if they were to transition to your home, and want to make an informed decision. I think that it can be helpful to have familiar surroundings (their old cage and stuff) if they move homes. It takes time to build a relationship and bond with any bird, and some take longer than others. There are some great threads here about building trust with your bird that might give you a better idea of what that might look like.

Good luck with your decision! I hope you’ll let us know how it goes.

 

[kikika7]

Thank you all very much for your answers, I appreciate them all. I thought about it a lot and also consulted her.
Due to her unfortunate life events and the situation that she is in, I will handle this for her. The parrots have to leave before the new year starts and that is such a short time that I'm afraid I couldn't prepare enough for them. Right in the morning, I will call their breeder and ask him if he can't take them back, for free of course. He is experienced with cockatiels and could surely give them a good home they deserve. If this isn't possible then I will take them because if I don't they will literally end in a bin.
Thank you again for your concern.

 

[Jen5200]

What part of the world are you in? I ask only because I have been planning to add cockatiels, and there haven’t been any in need of a new home in my area so I have not done so yet. I know it’s unlikely anywhere near me - but can’t hurt to ask

 

[kikika7]

I'm from Eastern Europe, so like the other side of the world. But I appreciate your concern. I'm sure I'll sort it out and either find or give them a good home. I care about them even though they're not mine. By the way, your conures are stunning. The orange one is really bright just like the sun.
Again, thank you for your concern, after I call the breeder I'll write here to close this thread somehow.

 

[kikika7]

Hello, just letting you to know the breeder will take them. Tomorrow I will drive them to him. He has many cockatiels and will take good care of them.

 

[Jen5200]

Thanks for the update - glad to know that they’ll be going to a good place!