Okay - I need help

[liz]

Shadow was getting into trouble with Tommy for singing to Tammy. I put Maggie's cage (door open) against the open door of the flight cage. I thought they would instantly go to her. They did not. At the end of the day Maggie was in the big cage. No one would talk to her. Shadow kept singing to Tammy. Tommy was guarding Tammy. No one acknowledged Maggie's presents. I separated Tommy and Tammy to another cage. He still sang to her. I moved them to the other side of the house. Shadow sings to me, to the wall or anything else but Maggie. Poor Maggie has been tweeting with his music and he still ignores her. I feel sorry for both of them now.

What should I do. Should I take her back?

When Charlene died Shadow claimed Sweetie within a week. He probably thinks he can claim Tammy the same way.

I am stressed!

What do I do next?

[Periquita]

My I wish I could help you.. But I got a little lost with the names! Have you tried a little bonding time for them? Maybe giving them treats when they are together?

[Wolf]

Well Liz, I think that Maggie is the new kid on the block and so has to find her way into the flock first of all as they really don't know her yet. Shadow wants a new girlfriend but he is trying for the one that he already knows even though she is taken. This sort of leaves Maggie out in the cold for now. Maggie wants a boyfriend and is willing to accept Shadow, which would also solve her acceptance into the flock situation, but can't get Shadow to notice her because he is focusing on those he knows already. Put Maggie and Shadow in the largest cage and treat them as a pair and do the same in a different cage with Tommy and Tammie and be patient with them for a while and let them get to know each other.
I think that the next best option is to put Maggie and Tommy and Tammie all in the large cage and Shadow in a separate one but be certain that he can see and talk to the others. By letting Tommy have both girls perhaps Shadow will see the error of his ways.

[Pajarita]

Don't worry about it so much. For one thing, there is only so much we can do pairing them because they do have their preferences (I've had a female tiel pursuing a 'married' male for three years even though there were unattached males in the flock -btw, she got what she wanted in the end because his mate died and he took up with her); for another, breeding season is over and females are not very keen on taking on husbands this time of the year (and I am surprised your Shadow is courting Tammie, mine are molting, aren't yours?). I would put both pairs in two flight cages side by side so Shadow can see and sing to Tammie to his heart's content without getting Tommy all stressed out and Maggie can have some company. We have 5 months now before they go back into breeding condition so there is plenty of time for them to resolve their differences, and the good thing about tiels is that they are more flock than pair oriented so having other tiels around them is all they need outside of breeding season.

[liz]

I moved Tommy and Tammy to the next largest cage I had. Tommy seems much happier and Tammy (who had never bonded to me) is now chattering to me while hanging on the side of the cage. Even in separate cages Shadow kept singing to Tammy. I moved T&T to the other side of the house so they could not hear each other. Things are not moving very fast but I saw them eating together. I hope it is not wishful thinking but Shadow seemed to be singing in Maggie's direction.

Tommy and Tammy have been a mated pair for many years.
Shadow's mate Sweetie died.
I got 4 year old Maggie who also lost her mate to bond with Shadow.

In December by cockatiels start trying to make a nest, but they like sex and practice all year.

Wolf, I think you are right that Shadow was going for the familiar. When his mate Charlene died he claimed Sweetie who Lemone' had not claimed.

[Wolf]

I think that with this setup that Shadow and Maggie will settle in with each other and all will again be well in the land of nod.

[bonds22]

Wolf, I think you are right that Shadow was going for the familiar. When his mate Charlene died he claimed Sweetie who Lemone' had not claimed.

[liz]

Welcome to the forum. You are to be commended for your research in the forum.

You are right. Shadow took Tammy because she was familiar. Shadow and Sweetie were the dominant pair. I knew my lutino Sweetie was valuable to the flock but did not know she was the one keeping the flock organized.

Maggie is a rescued breeder bird. Now I know why she was given up. Her mate died and she will not take another.

In an effort to balance my flock I search for more rescues. I am up to 13 with the majority being bachelors and Maggie will run from any trying to sing to her. I am still looking for a lutino female like Sweetie to see how that would affect Shadow and Tommy.

I may not be the greatest parrot parent but I think I should get E for effort. My flock has grown so I bought a bigger house in a warmer climate so they will have their own room and can fly free instead of staying in flight cages. I modified flight cages and strung them together to make a big one but I am still not satisfied that they have enough.

[Pajarita]

No, you should get an A+ for effort, Liz!

[Wolf]

I really don't see how anyone can do better than you for your birds.