Budgie + Cockatiel

[LiaraTivona]

I have had a budgie for a year and we are looking at getting a second bird. We like to give our birds free flying space as much as possible, so we put perches, food, water, etc. all over the room, with treats and toys in different places different times to encourage natural enrichment. Basically, a 200 sq ft aviary with a large "sleeper cage" within.

We would like to try a different type of bird after 20 years with budgies, like a Red Belly, but we won't risk that combo. Could we try a 'tiel? I have seen budgies and cockatiels together in aviaries before, but there was always at least two budgies, and I'm thinking maybe the second budgie absorbs the excess energy of the other. Tiels get annoyed by high-strung budgies.

Atrus is pretty calm but he does like to beak-tap a lot while chatting. I tap my fingernail against his beak with a little fake "head bob" of my pointer while he sits on my keyboard and we chatter.

My partner loves Atrus, but he would like a bird that likes a little more handling. I also would like a different species for talking, training, etc (do cockatiels use their feet? are they more timid to train?). When Atrus wants his head scratch (once a week or so) he'll itch your finger with his beak. It is really nice, but the rest of the time he is hands-off.

The two birds getting along is the primary concern, because I don't want flight time to be divided in half for either one. I also don't want them to both be lonely because they don't speak the same language (so to speak). Secondary concerns are poop (since perches are all over) and dust (allergies, computers, etc).

Thanks!

[Nir]

i think that will be great. get a cockatiel!

[Shelby]

I have seen lots of people who let their tiels and budgies out in aviaries together or play together in their houses with out-of-cage time together. I think that if you carefully introduce them and only let them together under supervision at first, and don't let either one start to get aggressive, they may eventually get along to the point you described in your first post.

It's good that you are planning to keep them both flighted. If they get sick of each other, I think it's better if they feel like they can get away from the other bird to be on a perch by themselves.

[marie83]

Cockatiels are probably not the best choice for allergy sufferers. I put up with my allergies but its like having a severe cold year round , constant itching, sneezing and bad nights sleep even the doctors told me to stop keeping animals but I simply cannot live without animals in my life and certainly can't rehome them. I would suggest finding a rescue who will allow you to spend time with their birds to see if you are definitely allergic but do remember suffering a couple of days of allergies is different to constantly having to deal with them.
Also yes cockatiel dust will clog up your computer fans pretty fast and cockatiels are not guaranteed to be hands on birds, I have only ever had one cuddly 'tiel.

[LiaraTivona]

Thanks everyone!

A nearby bird lover found a loose cocktail being attacked by blackbird so she brought it into an extra cage she had . She is moving to Michigan state and would prefer not to take the bird cross country so I wilk be it's new foster parent and if it works out we will keep him/her.

If not, a woman in Portland wants to surrender her budgie butI we are having trouble connecting right now.