New member and looking for new potiental owner advice

[IrisOwl]

Hello! I registered here hoping to seeking help socialize with bird owners.

As a wanna-be bird owner I'm think about getting a cockatiel! I do have some concerns due to my house and a family member. As a new adult I live with my parents and my mother has MS, I'm worried about getting the bird due to them being able to transfer diseases and my mom has a weak immune system because of her condition. I might be overthinking it as I have seen people with MS handle birds and other types of animals as well. I also worry about the cockatiel chewing things. I have bookshelves with many books and am not sure if that'll be a problem. Any advice is appreciated!

 

[Ellie777Australia]

Hello! I registered here hoping to seeking help socialize with bird owners.

As a wanna-be bird owner I'm think about getting a cockatiel! I do have some concerns due to my house and a family member. As a new adult I live with my parents and my mother has MS, I'm worried about getting the bird due to them being able to transfer diseases and my mom has a weak immune system because of her condition. I might be overthinking it as I have seen people with MS handle birds and other types of animals as well. I also worry about the cockatiel chewing things. I have bookshelves with many books and am not sure if that'll be a problem. Any advice is appreciated!

Welcome to our community IrisOwl...we have lots of members owned by cockatiels here. No doubt you will hear from some of them shortly.


With respect to your mother's MS and weakened immune system, is she experiencing 'asthma-type' reactions to dust, dander, pollens etc? This will probably influence your choice in the end... Then you can get to the nitty-gritty of chewing....



Kind Regards,
Debbie

 

[IrisOwl]

Hello! I registered here hoping to seeking help socialize with bird owners.

As a wanna-be bird owner I'm think about getting a cockatiel! I do have some concerns due to my house and a family member. As a new adult I live with my parents and my mother has MS, I'm worried about getting the bird due to them being able to transfer diseases and my mom has a weak immune system because of her condition. I might be overthinking it as I have seen people with MS handle birds and other types of animals as well. I also worry about the cockatiel chewing things. I have bookshelves with many books and am not sure if that'll be a problem. Any advice is appreciated!

Welcome to our community IrisOwl...we have lots of members owned by cockatiels here. No doubt you will hear from some of them shortly.


With respect to your mother's MS and weakened immune system, is she experiencing 'asthma-type' reactions to dust, dander, pollens etc? This will probably influence your choice in the end... Then you can get to the nitty-gritty of chewing....



Kind Regards,
Debbie

No she doesn't have asthma, she can handle that stuff it's more just allergy snot in nose and throat but never severe or unable to fix.

 

[Ellie777Australia]

No she doesn't have asthma, she can handle that stuff it's more just allergy snot in nose and throat but never severe or unable to fix.

Ahh that's good...have you looked through the 'cockatiel' section of the forum? Have a read through while waiting. I can't help with cockatiel info but someone will soon.

 

[Amsterdam]

Welcome to the forum good to have you here i wish i could give you more information about this subject but im sure other more experienced members could give you more information

 

[Flboy]

Hello and welcome! A healthy parrot does not carry disease, so put this fear aside!

 

[LaManuka]

Hello and welcome! You’ve made a good choice in going for a cockatiel, they’re lovely natured birds

Our boy Fang is not a chewer, but his predecessor Twinkle was. They’re all different personalities. You need to be careful yours doesn’t chew anything that could be dangerous to him, like metallic substances. Many pet parrots die from heavy metal poisoning and it’s surprising how many things around the home are hazardous.

Diseases, well, it’s vanishingly rare for a bird disease to transmit to humans in the average home environment. You are best to have a wellness check done on your new bird by a specialist vet as soon as possible when you get him. Some common avian diseases like psittacosis are quite easily treated, some others like borna virus and psittacine beak and feather disease are rarer, but pretty nasty. Still not transmissible to humans though.

Cockatiels do shed a fair bit of feather dander but as you’re only getting one that won’t be an issue.

There’s a reason why cockatiels are such commonly kept birds, it’s because they are sweet, loveable and sociable little characters, as you may be about to discover. I wish you a long and happy relationship with yours.

 

[noodles123]

WELCOME!
Thanks for doing your research--I wrote a small book (reply)-EEK!

The lifestyle changes will be gigantic. These include cleaning routines, pet safety, sleep schedules, cooking changes etc.

VERY IMPORTANT- If you do get a bird, any sort of heated mechanism (anything that heats or is heated) and contains PTFE/PFOA/PFCs/Teflon will be out of the question--This includes things like pots, pans, cupcake trays, cookie sheets, cake pans etc, but it will also things like include hair-dryers, straighteners, curling irons, curlers, rice-cookers, SLOW COOKERS, popcorn poppers, air fryers, microwave meals (including certain types of microwave popcorn), steamers, irons, ironing board covers, electric skillets, griddles, George Foreman Grills, drip trays, toasters, toaster ovens, poaching pans, electric blankets, humidifiers, heat lamps, SPACE HEATERS, etc etc...To find out what contains PTFE/PFOA/PFCs/Teflon, you have to call and be a bull about it over the phone (and in some cases, you won't get far). Almost always, it will take a few days for them to get back to you and you must provide the full chemical names, abbreviations and brand-names. Shopping when you have a bird is super annoying..You cannot visually ID these chemical coatings, as they can be colored, transparent, or mixed into metal/fabric during the manufacturing process. Teflon and chemically similar products have killed birds on separate floors with the doors shut. Similarly, while DuPont claims that off-gassing only occurs at higher heats, there have been myriad parrot deaths (even within academic circles) at temperatures well within the 300 degree F range!
Think about all of the products you own currently and know that many of them will have to go (toasters, irons, griddles, pans etc etc etc).
Also realize that neither you, nor anyone in your household will be able to break ignore this rule or shop without researching ptfe/pfoa/teflon/pfcs once you get a bird.

Your bird should wake up about 12 hours after it goes to bed. They need 10-14 hours of dark, uninterrupted sleep. Sleep=essential to hormonal and immune function. This means that someone must be there to cover and uncover the bird at the same time each night and that your home must be conducive to sleep...or you must have a sleep cage in a quiet room. If I wake up in the morning and am moving around, my bird wakes up too (even if she didn't get enough sleep). This means that I have to plan her bedtime based on my morning wake-up time. She goes to bed at 5:30 because I wake up at 5:30 for work. She will fall asleep in the evening if there is some mild noise etc, but after sleeping for many hours, she will wake up and be ready to be uncovered even if she hasn't gotten enough sleep.

They need a decent routine (light/dark schedule), so a 6:00 PM work dinner cannot stand in the way of a bird's dinner and sleep schedule...Late nights at work become a thing of the past...You have to come home and put your bird to bed (and socialize with it beforehand).

VERY IMPORTANT:-Make sure (and your family) aren't using any unsafe products around the bird. This is pretty much everything with a scent (and some things without).
No perfume, carpet cleaner, flea shampoo, aerosols, solvents, air fresheners, paints, smoke of any kind, vaping, sunscreen, bugspray, candles of any kind (organic or non), insecticides, certain soaps/shampoos, fire-places, burning or heated oil/fat, self-cleaning ovens, gas and any standard household cleaners (e.g., bleach, windex, lysol, fabreeze, scrubbing bubbles, kaboom, pine-sol etc), nail polish, glue...You will seriously have to re-think your entire home and your cleaning routine will change a ton.
The list goes on. Birds have VERY sensitive respiratory systems. Essential oils are also fairly unsafe due to their ability to be absorbed into the blood-stream and due to a bird's sensitive air sacs.

This also makes traveling with a bird complicated, as it is very unsafe to bring your bird with you into a location where teflon or chemical cleaners are being used. Unless you are visiting close family and you can give them a 30 hour instructional course on eliminating respiratory dangers from their homes before you get there, it is going to be a bad idea to take your bird (and no one wants to be a pushy guest!).

Also, know that people can have fairly severe allergies to birds and their dander. I would make sure that you and your family spend a lot of time around birds in case anyone is sensitive. If you have asthma etc, this could be problematic, even with an air filter running. Even people who don't have asthma can have serious bird issues. If your mother requires a very sterile environment in the home, you will have trouble cleaning/sanitizing with a bird due to restrictions on chemicals/fumes in the home. Vinegar +water or grapefuit seed extract + water are pretty much the only safe cleaners. There are some veterinary grade avian safe products like F10 SC, but seriously sanitizing surfaces is tough with a bird.

ALL BIRDS ARE LOUD! As a rule, the bigger the bird, the louder the sound...Doesn't matter what type you get (although some are louder than others, even the "quiet" varieties are loud). Since when they scream for attention you MUST ignore them until they are quiet, this can lead to hours of screaming at inopportune times early on. For example, nap-times, business calls, when guests are over for dinner etc..You just have to wait it out because, while attending to the bird will stop the screaming, it will increase the behavior pattern in the long run and teach them that if they scream, they get your attention (good or bad---doesn't matter to them).

Birds hide illness like crazy, so there is nothing intuitive about their diseases. You have to be ready to study your birds poop and behavior daily, because even the slightest change can be a huge indicator. Blood work must be done yearly and should be done soon after you get a new bird. They can spread deadly diseases to other birds without showing symptoms---it's a giant pain. Make sure that you have a certified avian vet (CAV) near you. Exotics vets who see birds are not the same thing. If you don't have a CAV near you, your life will be much more anxiety-ridden than if you do (and the difference between a CAV and an exotics vet can mean the difference between life and death for your bird in certain instances). Also, be prepared to spend a lot of money on vet bills ....birds are like money pits.

Behavior stuff:
DO NOT assume that all members of the family will be able to safely handle the bird. It doesn't matter how much time you spend with a bird--some birds just prefer certain people....AND others may become the source of violent jealously (not always, but it can and does happen). If the "favorite" person is out for the evening, the person picking up the slack may get bitten etc, and that can wear on a person over time. Again--- not all birds are like this, but many are and even with proper socialization, there can still be issues in this area. There is really no way of knowing what you will end up with because they change so much over time (depending on environment, triggers, socialization, hormones and individual bird personality).

If you get a bird, pet your bird only on the head and do not allow any shadowy spaces in the cage (boxes, bedding, crumbled paper, tents, blankets, low furniture, in clothing etc)..Cuddles are the devil...and so are tents/huts/hammocks etc. These things are hormonal triggers and they can cause health and behavior problems.

Also- do not assume that a bird's personality as a baby or even when adopted will stay that way forever. Babies are much quieter and much nicer than adults and all birds change when they hit sexual maturity. The age at which sexual maturity occurs varies by species, but it can take a few months to 7 years (depending on the species). Birds are often rehomed at puberty because their allegiances can change and they can appear to transform over night. Preventing hormonal triggers early on is huge in avoiding some of this, but it can't be avoided completely.

If you get a bird and are bitten, DO NOT react to bites and do not scold. This is VERY difficult for most adults (let alone children). They pick up on your tension and are very astute. If you are fearful, they will know it and react to it. If you haven't been bitten hard by a larger parrot, it is hard to imagine the level of composure and confidence that are required to persevere and to not react. Smaller birds, like cockatiels can still draw blood, but they won't break a child's finger. A bite hurts--- even from a small bird, and it is easy to say that you won't react, but this can be quite difficult for people who haven't been bitten numerous times before. It can really become a source of fear for people because the more frightened and reactive they are, the more the bird picks up on that...which changes bird behavior.

If you get a bird and they scream, DO NOT react to screaming and do not scold. Again, everyone who interacts with the bird must not react. Birds move in slow-motion and can "out-stubborn" the most willful of humans. You cannot give in to the temptation to attend to the behavior.

ABA is an important behavior concept that you should research thoroughly if you are getting a parrot--especially the larger varieties (even the small ones are VERY intelligent, so don't assume that a small bird is less brainy-- they just are capable of less damage).

Long term-it can be VERY difficult to have a parrot with a young child or non-bird person in the house...My mother is 60+ and I am still trying to train her to not react to biting and screaming when we visit...Everyone has to be on the same page...My ex was on board when I adopted mine, but he became fairly resentful of the time and lifestyle changes that it required...

 

[EllenD]

Welcome to the Community!!! And congrats on your wanting to add a bird to your family...They really are family members, as they are much more intelligent than dogs, cats, or any other type of pet (except pet Primates such as Monkeys, Lemurs, etc.)...Even the very small species of Parrots like Parrotlets, Budgies, and yes, Cockatiels posses the intelligence of a 3-4 year-old child, and they use logic and reasoning skills. So one of the most important things for anyone who is thinking about adding any species of parrot to their family is whether or not their lives allow them ample time for the bird. They need at least 4-5 hours of out-of-cage-time and interaction time with you every single day...I don't like putting an actual "time needed to be spent" on the minimum daily time you must spend with your bird, but in-general it's a good rule of thumb that if you're not able to spend at least 4-5 hours a day having your bird out of it's cage and interacting with you directly, then you may want to rethink getting a parrot...

****As far as your mother with MS and a weakened Immune-System goes, birds/parrots are one of the best pets for people who have physical disabilities, chronic-illnesses, chronic disease-processes, etc. to have, because there are actually very, very few illnesses, diseases, etc. that birds can acquire that can also effect/infect humans or other mammals. The only Avian Viral Diseases that can be spread to or contracted by humans are the really big, scary ones, but they are also luckily the rarest ones and ones that will not effect a pet parrot coming from a local breeder in the US, UK, Canada, or most other countries, even the tropical countries or "third-world" countries, such as Avian Influenza ("Bird Flu"), West Nile Virus, and a few others that we never hear about...

Now all birds can acquire "localized" infections, just like any other types of animals/mammals, reptiles/amphibians, rodents, etc. can, meaning localized Bacterial, Fungal/Yeast, and even some common Protozoan infections (though most of these are not contagious but rather spread through infected drinking water and infected food, such as Giardia)...So yes, birds commonly acquire Upper Respiratory Infections, Sinus Infections, Ear Infections, Gastrointestinal Infections, etc., just like we do and all other types of pets do, but these aren't anything that will effect your mom, you, or anyone else...It's actually much more risky/dangerous for your mom to live with a dog or a cat than a bird!!! So overall, your mom should not have any Immune-System concerns regarding living with any species of parrot!

****As mentioned above, there are a few parrot species that are "Dusty" or "Powdery" parrots, meaning that their feathers are coated with a very soft, powdery substance that looks/feels like Talc (though in small quantities, you can't typically see the powder on them, though they feel extremely soft)...Those species of parrots include Cockatiels, all species of Cockatoos, and both Congo and Timneh African Greys. Now that being said, don't freak-out and change your choice of parrot species from a Cockatiel simply because they do have the "Powdery" feathers, because the powder/dust on a Cockatiel's feathers is not a threat to your Mom's Immune-System at all; their feather powder/dust does not carry any types of extra Bacteria, Fungi, Protozoa, or Viral Infections at all, and does not pose any threat to someone with a weakened Immune-System at all. However, this feather dust/powder does sometimes effect people who have really horrible Allergies or Asthma...And typically the people their feather dust/powder does cause a problem for are the poor people who have really severe Upper Respiratory issues and are extremely sensitive to any and all types of dust, dander, plants/flowers, and especially animals/pets with fur or hair...But a Cockatiel's feather dust/powder will not have any negative effect on someone with MS or a weakened Immunce System, so the only way that a Cockatiel would cause your Mom any issues/problems at all would be if she has any Allergies or Asthma, or anyone else in your home who has the same...So if no one living in your home has severe Allergies or Asthma, then you should be totally fine to bring home a Cockatiel!

I'm glad that your Mom doesn't have any Allergies or Asthma, because Cockatiels are wonderful birds that are extremely intelligent, affectionate, loving, playful, and make just fantastic parrots to add to your family...i don't know if you're planning on adopting an adult Cockatiel or buying a young baby from a local Breeder, but if you are thinking about a baby Cockatiel from a breeder, just make sure that you do not bring the baby home until it is FULLY-WEANED BY IT'S BREEDER! There are unfortunately a lot of unscrupulous parrot breeders who will sell babies to people who have never hand-raised/hand-fed a baby bird before, telling them that "Hand-feeding them is easy", and that "You'll bond more-closely to a baby if you hand-feed them yourself", which is a total lie...These breeders just want to get rid of their babies as quickly as they possibly can so that they save money on hand-feeding formula and then the pellets and seed-mix they will be weaned onto, and they want to save time feeding them multiple times a day/night and make room for more just-hatched babies...And most of these young babies end-up becoming extremely sick with Fungal and Bacterial infections, and a lot of them die, because hand-feeding baby birds IS NOT EASY! So just make sure that any baby Cockatiel or other parrot you decide to bring home from a breeder or a pet shop is eating 100% SOLID FOOD and require NO HAND-FEEDING FORMULA AT ALL!!!

Welcome to the Community, and please don't ever hesitate to ask any and all questions you might have about anything!!!

 

[Scott]

Welcome to the forums, thanks for researching your concerns in advance. Wonderful information thus far, seems a cockatiel may be an ideal candidate.

 

[munami]

Welcome to the forum Iris!
I'd like to add on, even if you have allergies, you still might not be allergic to a cockatiel. The only way you'll know is if you spend time around them. I personally have a lot of allergies, including all kinds of pollen, dust, and animal fur.


However, I am only very minorly allergic to tiels. No nose issues, just when there's a build up of dust my skin can get mildly itchy.



If the dust is of any concern, I am constantly using an air filter. Make sure you get one without an ionizer!!!
Also, consider putting some bird safe house plants in the areas you intend to hang out with the tiel to help imrpove the air quality.