Are we the right home for the bird?

[sunnysnewmom]

I had written previously that we inherited a 13 year old cockatiel about 3 weeks ago. He seemed to be adjusting very well to living in our house and seemed to have bonded with me (not so much with my husband), but loved for me to scratch his head, etc.

Well the past 3 days he seems really agitated, wants me to stand by his cage and gets upset when I walk away, has started nipping at my fingers, etc. I thought at first maybe he wasn't getting enought sleep and have contemplated moving him to a quieter place at night. Now, I wonder if he spends too much time alone. I work full time, and while my husband has just been working part time, he returns to full time work next week. We thought about getting a second bird but he has lived 13 years as the only bird. He freaks out at anything new (including the new toys we bought him). So I think he'd have a heart attack over seeing another bird.

I've grown very attached to him and really don't want to get rid of him. (A friend of his former owner said she would take him. And she works from home.) However, I want to do what's best for the bird. Will he be more upset to be moved since he has bonded with me or is it better for him to have a different home? I apprecaite any advice anyone is willing to give.

[marieandchirpy]

My Chirpy will vocalize when I leave the bird room. Once she sees me she'll stopl When Cockatiels call out like they just want to know where we are.

If you just recently started handling him with your hands that would be why he is nipping at you. It's a trust issue and is something you'll have to work with him. It will take time and patience for him to warm up. It will take several weeks to do this.

If he has been living in the same cage with the same toys for most of his life, then that is why he freaks out every time something new is put in. Because he is an older bird it will be harder to introduce new things to him. As for getting another bird, well the thing about getting another bird is that you will also have to work with it to gain it's trust and we don't know if Sunny will get along with it. Just because there's another bird in the house does not mean Sunny will get along with. Putting another bird in Sunny's cage is definitely out of the question.

Right now I suggest you try to make it work with Sunny. I suggest trying to find out as much information as possible about Cockatiel ownership. Try joining a bird club and talk to people who own birds. Try joining an online forum. The National Cockatiel Society has a facebook page. If you are on facebook you can talk to Cockatiel owners there. I also have my own facebook group called Rehomed Parrots ( Cockatiels are in the parrot family ), which is basically for people who adopted parrots or have a Second Hand parrot. Birdchannel.com also a forum for parrot owners.

[suunysnewmom]

Thank you. That makes me feel better. I really just want what's best for Sunny. He is a sweet little bird and I know having lost his owner had to be stressful for him. I just don't want to cause more stress for him. I'll will definitely check out your facebook page and other sites you mentioned.

[marieandchirpy]

Good luck

[folmonty]

Cockatiel's like many bird from my understanding bond with "one" person in the household. Took me almost 20 years to figure this out! If that person isn't within sight then a second person can become the defacto "chosen one. If my wife is home, our KatoBird will give me the business. If she's gone, I'm a hero. When he was young it was really pronounced. Started to mellow at about 25 years. Now he's dependent! Every bird is different. Try the many great things you'll hear from people here. marieandchirpy seem to know their stuff.

Monty