Getting a cockatiel

[markterby]

Hey guys!
I am planning to get my first bird-parrot.And I decided to get a cockatiel,since they seem easily tamed and friendly as a pet I will go with them. Better than lovebird I suppose that can be aggressive..
But My pet store told me today that while they age they can just kick you out of their life,when they realize they can eat alone...?
Is that true? Will my future cockatiel bird suddenly be aggressive toward me and don't want me anymore?
He told me if you want a long lasting bird pet you should get a parrot,but to get a parrot like maccaws or grey parrots,honestly I am not willing to spend that much on a bird right now..
What do you think?
Thank you

[Wolf]

First of all a cockatiel is a parrot, or at least as much of a parrot as a cockatoo is a parrot or as much as a Macaw is a parrot.
He is both right and wrong about the cockatiel, but it is something that every parrot in the world goes through and it is called puberty. More on that in a minute. The person at the pet store figured that you could probably afford a larger bird and wanted to make the sale, probably get a commission for selling a bird.
One of the reasons that people buy parrots is because they are so intelligent and because the bird will bond with a human. When the parrot hatches it is totally dependent on its parents since it does not even know hoe to drink or eat and its parents must teach it everything. This give rise to the bond between parent and child and it is indeed a strong bond but when the bird goes through puberty it releases this bond so that it can establish a bond with its mate. This is the bond that everyone is wanting to have with their bird.
If there is another person in your household or even sometimes a close friend that is around enough of the time, when the bird goes through puberty and releases its parent/ child bond with you ( provided it was bonded to you) then there is a good chance that the bird will choose to mate bond with one of them rather than re bonding with you. If no other suitable mate is available then the bird will probably re bond with you. Unfortunately this is one of the primary reasons that many birds are in rescues. You can visit rescues and even volunteer for a while and while there gaining valuable hands on experience with a variety of different species of parrots you may come across a bird that you like and want that also chooses you. This is the best way to get a bird that you know will bond with you and since the bird has gone through puberty this bond is as permanent as it can be also you get to see the birds true personality which does not emerge until puberty.

[markterby]

thanks Wolf for your explanation..
mmm So I will try to get more or less a tamed cockatiel that passed puberty( maybe older than 6-9months old..) it would save some problem hopefully.I don't think there is rescues in my country but I shall check also.

thanks again!

[Pajarita]

It would need to be over a year old, my dear.

[markterby]

haha! ok sorry that won't be easy...

[liz]

Cockatiels are the sweetest of the parrots. They are not wild they are scared. Mine are all rescues and came with all kinds of baggage but once they get in the flock they are not as afraid. I don't try to touch them because I don't know what they have been through. I wait until they touch me.
I would never have one of a kind of bird or any other pet for that matter.

[markterby]

I got a lovebird a very cute and tamed one!!

[Wolf]

Congratulations on your new friend! I don't have any Lovebirds, but I do have a Parrotlet and from my understanding they are very similar in nature with the biggest difference being that Lovebirds are from Africa and Parrotlets are from South America.
They are both very small birds with Lovebirds mostly being a little larger, but both do much better with a mate. I am currently working on that situation with my parrotlet. They can and will bond with you and need a lot of attention or they can become somewhat aggressive. If they get enough attention then they are quite gentle and amusing little birds who hardly ever sit still being little bundles of high energy that they are. I hope that you love and enjoy yours as much as I do mine.