One or two

[Adw24]

I’m already on the list for a breeder near me to get my first baby cockatiel in 6 weeks time, I came across a baby that’s ready now however and I was debating on getting him now and keeping him separate from the other baby once I get him. Once they’ve been safely quarantined from each other and they can be with each other and me outside of the cage (having their cages next to each other not together). My husband and I work separate shifts so the only time they’d be without one of us and cages closed is bedtime-my predicament is this will be my first bird (I’ve done extensive research for years now) even though I can obviously still learn a lot more, the breeder has been super helpful too, would this be too much for me to handle? Should I just get the one I’m waiting on and pass on the recent found baby? Or is two better than one when they’re out of the cage, playing etc. we also have an 8 and 10 year old daughters who’ll be highly invested as much as we are as adults so that’s another thing I was considering. We’d have this baby 6 weeks before the next that was already planned so we’d have that time to bond with that one and then we’d take the same amount of time to seperately bond with the new baby.

Should we just do one-or two in two cages???

 

[macxscarl3tt]

so this has been my experience with my two conures. i got one at 4 months old. it is now 1 and a half years i also have a 3 month old. what i found is it is better to spend the time bonding with one and not have another. my 1 and a half is fully bonded with me and tamed. the 1v1 time ive had with it has solidified my bond with my first conure i have no issues with it at all. however the 3 month. idk if its just bonded too hard with my other conjure but it is not as bonded with me. it will always come to me and chill on my shoulder like anywhere but right now it runs from my hands. so yeah not as tamed and were working on it. i got it to come to my hands on certain occasions but its still young. it will learn. my point to this story is, because i spent so much alone time with my first bird i have no issues with it. if you want to get two i would suggest different rooms and spend alot of one on one time with each. imo get two just keep them seperate and spend 1v1 time with them for 6 months atleast

 

[Adw24]

so this has been my experience with my two conures. i got one at 4 months old. it is now 1 and a half years i also have a 3 month old. what i found is it is better to spend the time bonding with one and not have another. my 1 and a half is fully bonded with me and tamed. the 1v1 time ive had with it has solidified my bond with my first conure i have no issues with it at all. however the 3 month. idk if its just bonded too hard with my other conjure but it is not as bonded with me. it will always come to me and chill on my shoulder like anywhere but right now it runs from my hands. so yeah not as tamed and were working on it. i got it to come to my hands on certain occasions but its still young. it will learn. my point to this story is, because i spent so much alone time with my first bird i have no issues with it. if you want to get two i would suggest different rooms and spend alot of one on one time with each. imo get two just keep them seperate and spend 1v1 time with them for 6 months atleast

Thank you! I definitely want a relationship with one in general-I want to be it’s “person” but in the same aspect I’m afraid one of my kids will feel left out if instead it bonds with the other child. But in the same breath lol I’m afraid we won’t have the same amount of time being able to be spread between two, do they bond with more than one person? If we get one and then wait a few months will it be overwhelmed by the whole family and or be better to have two to go between everyone? Our family plans on doing everything with said bird.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

You need to teach your kids not to take anything your birds do personaly. It's likely that your bird will like one child more than the other. Both birds if you get two may like the same one more than the other child. And some birds don't like kids at all.

Since this is your first bird, I would get one baby. You can always get another later on. I adopted a hand raised baby cockatiel and he liked both me and my husband pretty equally. In fact, he liked everyone! The perfect family bird. That's what I love about cockatiels- they are such nice birds. They don't act "psycho" like some larger parrots do.

Are you adopting a male or a female? I would get a male because they're more outgoing and entertaung. Spring for a dna test if necessary because sex is hard to tell in most baby cockatiels.

Have you handled this baby? Is he being handled fed now?

 

[Adw24]

You need to teach your kids not to take anything your birds do personaly. It's likely that your bird will like one child more than the other. Both birds if you get two may like the same one more than the other child. And some birds don't like kids at all.

Since this is your first bird, I would get one baby. You can always get another later on. I adopted a hand raised baby cockatiel and he liked both me and my husband pretty equally. In fact, he liked everyone! The perfect family bird. That's what I love about cockatiels- they are such nice birds. They don't act "psycho" like some larger parrots do.

Are you adopting a male or a female? I would get a male because they're more outgoing and entertaung. Spring for a dna test if necessary because sex is hard to tell in most baby cockatiels.

Have you handled this baby? Is he being handled fed now?

I’m leaning more towards just one to start with for a couple months after reading more. And yes the breeder is DNA testing, and I already talked to her about us getting a male . Their 2 weeks old as of yesterday and she is hand feeding, I plan on going once the tests come back and their older and see how they are with me to choose, rather see which baby chooses me! The breeder is pretty amazing with updates and generally talking with me through the entire process! It is mainly my bird as I’ve waited years to be able to get a cockatiel however I’d love nothing more than a family bird!

 

[DonnaBudgie]

It sounds like you found a great breeder. I think waiting a few months or more is best. I envy you because baby cockatiels so freakin' cute, but I've got my hands full with a bunch of budgies!

Maybe a second bird in a few months can be a budgie. They usually get along well with cockatiels and I've got some extras.....I hand raise budgies.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I wouldn't have your new baby's wings clipped. You should tell your breeder now so she doesn't do it.

 

[Adw24]

I wouldn't have your new baby's wings clipped. You should tell your breeder now so she doesn't do it.

Oh no I’d never have that done! I asked her that too when we first talked and she refuses to do so as well! I love little budgies there so freaking cute but I’ve always thought they’re so flighty?

 

[DonnaBudgie]

They usually are but Enlish Budgies are larger and much calmer because they are bred for exhibitions. In fact, some are so calm they seem lazy. In the US they are hard to come by but show breeders always have extra babies that aren't "champion quality". Do you live in the US?

 

[Adw24]

They usually are but Enlish Budgies are larger and much calmer because they are bred for exhibitions. In fact, some are so calm they seem lazy. In the US they are hard to come by but show breeders always have extra babies that aren't "champion quality". Do you live in the US?

Oh my goodness never knew that! Would love to have them! Yes I’m in ohio

 

[DonnaBudgie]

This is Big Fluffy, one of our English exhibition budgies, on my husband's shoulder. He's almost the size of a cockatiel, and he's so cool! I'm in Maine but there are lots of breeders in Ohio.

 

[Adw24]

This is Big Fluffy, one of our English exhibition budgies, on my husband's shoulder. He's almost the size of a cockatiel, and he's so cool! I'm in Maine but there are lots of breeders in Ohio. View attachment 78477

His head! He’s gorgeous

 

[DonnaBudgie]

The big fluffy head feathers are called "blow" by show breeders. A male bird is called a "c**k" (how is that a dirty word?). When you compliment a breeder's' male bird you say "your c**k has great blow" with a straight face without giggling. My husband practically fell over laughing when he heard that at a show! We bought Big Fluffy at a show.

 

[Adw24]

The big fluffy head feathers are called "blow" by show breeders. A male bird is called a "c**k" (how is that a dirty word?). When you compliment a breeder's' male bird you say "your c**k has great blow" with a straight face without giggling. My husband practically fell over laughing when he heard that at a show! We bought Big Fluffy at a show.

That’s absolutely hilarious!!!