It's Official!

[lKristv]

After much research and LOTS of contemplating, I'm finally ready to get a cockatiel! I've gone to my local bird shop (Omar's Exotic Birds in Brea) and totally fell in love with them. Any tips?

 

[texsize]

I am sure we would all like to see pictures.
tips/

take things slow. let them settle in for a few days to a week before you try handling them.
If they are hand raised handling them should be no problems but you don't want to give them to many new things to deal with at the same time.

 

[clark_conure]

Cockateils are very sweet and social birds, they like nothing more than to just sit on your shoulder or play games like "oops I dropped this off the table pick it up please"

My only cautionary advice is don't fall in to the trap of, this bird is awesome! I want two now!!! As a previous owner I recommend cockatiels as a single family bird. Unless your an expert, there is a lot of cockatiel social interactions that don't work on a bird to bird basis.

Yeah I know someone is going to say no my cockatiel gets along with , then someone will jump in with, no I have seen it and...anyways.... Just try not to fall into the trap, get your cockatiel, love your cockatiel, enjoy your cockatiel.

 

[jm0]

Yeah cockatiels are awesome and funny birds. Never owned one, probably never will. Have my Blue Throated Parakeet the next 30 years, so that's more than enough for me, i would agree with clark_conure. Stick to one bird

They're like little cockatoo's, but without the ear splintering loudness. They have recently been catagorized in the Cacatuidae family. My local bird shop, still calls them parakeets though. That's what people are used to, so thats a selling point. "No i dont want a cockatoo, i want a parakeet!" Lol.

Good luck with your new bird!

 

[YUMgrinder]

I love cockatiels! My jazz is my ESA she comes to work with me and she is a true shoulder bird. She does not like other birds. She avoids all interactions with my conures. tiels are super sweet and they love their human very much. They are awesome whistlers and jazz sings to/with me. They aren't terribly loud either. good luck! Make sure to show us pictures!

 

[Scott]

Assuming Omar's has a number of cockatiels, spend some time with each bird and note if one has a particular attraction to you.

Very often the concept of letting the bird choose you leads to a stronger and more enduring bond. You may be more interested in a particular "look" but at least consider the bird's attentiveness!

 

[Allee]

Congrats and good luck! Cockatiels are amazing little birds, especially if you love the Toos. Many of them are sweet, friendly, easy to care for and not too loud according to what you are comparing the noise level to. One of our mods has an adorable little guy named Spike, when my friend and I talk on the phone, Spike hears my voice and climbs to her shoulder and sings a beautiful song for me. Please share your cockatiel's unfolding story and lots of photos.

 

[Terry57]

Congratulations on your upcoming new family member! Cockatiels are fantastic little guys, we have 5 and they are all a riot

Our boy, Spike, that Allee mentioned, is 28 years old and still going strong. He is such a sweetheart (and loves his Auntie Allee!)

Please do share pictures and stories when your baby comes home

 

[Carl_Power]

That's great your getting a cockatiel, I always here let them pick you so go with Scotts advice x

 

[Inger]

They’re so cute and funny! I do not for a minute regret choosing my Parrotlet, but I might have gone with a Cockatiel had I known more about them. I follow one on Instagram who is having a love affair with Keurig. Every morning he asks “her” “Did you go poopy?” And then tells her he loves her.

Can’t wait for pics and stories of your baby’s wonderfulness!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[smbrds]

Cockatiels are great little birds. They're such sweethearts, make great companions, not so demanding in care and great to have around. I'd also echo in just having one cockatiel as you never know if two birds will get along or not.

I'd suggest not only letting the bird pick you but also let it just be you two, together. They can have a long lifespan (provided good care/diet), so many years to spend with you. I acquired my little guy from a pet store in the front of the store with a bin of cockatiels. He waddled up, looking up at with little beetle eyes. That was in the early 2000s and the rest is history. As they age, they only get more sweeter!

 

[lKristv]

Oh boy. I'm still new to this forum format, so hopefully this gets to everyone who offered their wonderful advice and support. I'll be sure to update with pictures. (Do I postreply or make a new thread for you guys to see?)
Anyways, Omar's is an awesome shop. My brother and I found a whiteface cockatiel https://imgur.com/gallery/HYo6t who immediately took to our shoulders, but he was unfortunately already bought. I'm not proud to say I shed a few tears upon hearing the news.
I'm not in a hurry to find the right bird (just very eager), and it's always exciting to visit the store and interact with the different tiels. Very excited yall!

 

[Billdore]

wow look at that wall of toys very awesome looking store indeed. Good luck and congrats.

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

Definately let the tiel pick you! When I got BB the breeder had a bunch of hand raised sweet hearts. There was a table of four "normal grey" fids that were ready to go to homes that day. I looked them all over,and only ONE of them really showed interest in me. I put my hand down,and he ran right up my arm to my shoulder asking for skritches..Well you can probably guess where he is now...ON MY SHOULDER ..that was about 1.5 years ago. He was 4.5 months old when he came home to live with me and Amy.

He is a hoot..a riot..a little rascal..at times a !@%^^& so-and so!
He talks pretty darn good..knows the wolfie whistle,addams family/andy griffith theme.
As he matures,he is a little leary of "the big green monster" Amy,but tolerates her. He goes to anyone.."uncle DJ and uncle Joe" are his favorites..

You get the gist!!


Jim

 

[Terry57]

Oh boy. I'm still new to this forum format, so hopefully this gets to everyone who offered their wonderful advice and support. I'll be sure to update with pictures. (Do I postreply or make a new thread for you guys to see?)
Anyways, Omar's is an awesome shop. My brother and I found a whiteface cockatiel https://imgur.com/gallery/HYo6t who immediately took to our shoulders, but he was unfortunately already bought. I'm not proud to say I shed a few tears upon hearing the news.
I'm not in a hurry to find the right bird (just very eager), and it's always exciting to visit the store and interact with the different tiels. Very excited yall!

Awww, I'm sorry he was already spoken for, what a cutie. But I am sure your perfect match is out there, just waiting for you to find him

You can reply here or start a new thread when you find your baby, either way is fine

 

[LordTriggs]

I didn't even realize BB was that old yet Jim

definitely let them pick you out, some will hop on you and demand you care for them some may just come over and say hello

you definitely don't want to pick the one who runs off the moment you appear, no matter how pretty they are

 

[clark_conure]

like lordtriggs said, I believe almost every bird is tameable, but why not make it easy on yourself and get the one that is most social, (and thereby rewarding the breeder that cares the most and brought his/her birds up right and unafraid and social) There's nothing wrong with the breeder doing all the hard work for you. You have many many many years of them testing your limits to contend with!

 

[LordTriggs]

like lordtriggs said, I believe almost every bird is tameable, but why not make it easy on yourself and get the one that is most social, (and thereby rewarding the breeder that cares the most and brought his/her birds up right and unafraid and social) There's nothing wrong with the breeder doing all the hard work for you. You have many many many years of them testing your limits to contend with!

I advocate everyone but me doing the hard work!

I believe any animal can be tamed, just depends how hard you work with them. I'm brought back to a story I remember of where 2 lion tamers who kept the lions in their home released them into the wild after they became too big to be considered "safe". A couple years later they went to check on the pride they joined and found that not only did the lions they owned began the leaders of the pride but they remembered their keepers! They went over to say hello and introduced the pride of wild lions to them, they spent the day hanging out with 100% wild lions all because the ones they raised were tame and told the others to not harm them. I'll have to see if I can find the source of it

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

I didn't even realize BB was that old yet Jim

definitely let them pick you out, some will hop on you and demand you care for them some may just come over and say hello

you definitely don't want to pick the one who runs off the moment you appear, no matter how pretty they are

Well...one year and five months with Amy and I,to be exact...M'Lord..




Jim

 

[lKristv]

Congrats and good luck! Cockatiels are amazing little birds, especially if you love the Toos. Many of them are sweet, friendly, easy to care for and not too loud according to what you are comparing the noise level to. One of our mods has an adorable little guy named Spike, when my friend and I talk on the phone, Spike hears my voice and climbs to her shoulder and sings a beautiful song for me. Please share your cockatiel's unfolding story and lots of photos.

It'll be a while before I gain enough confidence to get a cockatoo.. I'm terrified of their temper and plucking. Maybe in another life, haha