Concerning a friend for my bird (his girlfriend)

[WVUSAE]

I bought Mr. Crackers from a store (he's come a long way) and he was housed with another female cockatiel. I visit her sometimes and she is clipped now. The owners let me take her out and let her stay on my shoulder. How much louder are two cockatiels than one? The workers say she is very quiet. She is also slightly more tame than Mr. Crackers due to the clipping she can't escape. I have debated clipping him as I know he has been clipped in the past but I'm not sure. Anyone have any insight?

[GlassOnion]

I would definitely work on bonding with Mr.Crackles before introducing another bird. It took me about a full year before my Cockatiel started becoming extremely velcro and stick to me as much as he could.

Females in general, are VERY quiet. They don't whistle or sing, so that's already a lot.

If you do decide to get her, I'd put her in a different cage in a different room of the house for many months. You need to quarantine her for illnesses and you also need to bond with each bird separately.

[WVUSAE]

He's bonding very well with me, I've had a greater workload in school (I am a graduate student and I am forced to work more recently). They lived in a cage together for over a year at the store. My issue is if I were to put her in another room, we have two dogs (they never get into my room ever) but it would be hard for them as they are puppies to not "express their curiosity"

[liz]

How long has Mr Crackers been seperated from the female?

I would only quarentine for a month. If an avian vet checks her out and says she is okay I would probably even lessen that.

Your puppies are curiouse. Just make sure your bird cage is secure and can not be knocked over. Keep the cage out of reach of the dogs so they will not frighten the birds.

You already know this - but as a mom I have to say it - make sure you wash your hands between touching the bird. Don't share food or food dishes. Even if you are just cleaning cages make sure you wash your hands.

Even in seperate rooms they will be noisy because they will call to each other. They are flockers and will do anything to get together.

[WVUSAE]

They've been apart probably like a month and a half. I just feel bad seeing her sitting in there by herself. Her wings are clipped and she is very dependent on the handler so I'm not sure if I'd do it just because he's used to being flighted (and a great flyer for someone who didn't fly a lot). Any thoughts? Thank you liz and onion as well for your input

[dohcsvt]

I have 2 birds and enjoy them greatly. I got the second one because I thought the first was lonely. But if you do not bond with the new bird it will bond more with the first bird and not be as interested in you. I am working through this exact scenario right now.

[WVUSAE]

I understand I guess I just feel bad for her. They were caged together for a little over a year. I'm still torn on what to do and I'm not sure on the noise as I live with three other guys (they are very understanding and very cool about pets). Anyone on the noise level of two cockatiels? The store said she is very quiet but idk if that'd change based on them together.

[liz]

I understand I guess I just feel bad for her. They were caged together for a little over a year. I'm still torn on what to do and I'm not sure on the noise as I live with three other guys (they are very understanding and very cool about pets). Anyone on the noise level of two cockatiels? The store said she is very quiet but idk if that'd change based on them together.

Bond with her while she is in quarentine. The noise level will go to tweets and singing when they are back together.

[WVUSAE]

That's the major issue I have. It would be very difficult to quarantine them as every room in my house has someone living in it or would be in the kitchen or around the dogs. I was just wondering as they are both healthy and they lived together in the shop. It's tough trying to figure this out hehe.

[Shelby]

It's really important to quarantine, even if they both look healthy. There could be something lurking, as birds hide their illnesses until they are too sick to keep pretending otherwise. (They are prey animals in the wild and predators pick off the sick and weak ones first.) You could try quarantining her in a bathroom, as long as it has a window so she isn't in the dark all day. Or ask one of your roommates if they wouldn't mind having her cage in their room for a month. Birds are very quiet at night (because they're sleeping haha) so she wouldn't disturb their sleep. I've also heard of people quarantining their birds at the house of a friend who doesn't mind animals, and they go visit the bird at least twice a day to feed, play and take care of the bird.

I wouldn't recommend clipping for the sake of making them tame and forcing them to like you/be with you a lot. The best relationship with a bird is one based on trust and friendship, not the fact that they can't get away from you. Plus, flying is the very best form of exercise. Flighted birds have fewer health and psychological problems, tend to take better to eating healthy foods, and there is less of a chance that they'll start plucking (as long as they are clean and eating a good diet). If you have a good bond with your bird, you can train flight recall (they fly to you when you cue them) and because they can they can fly away when they don't feel like hanging out, they don't feel the need to bite to get their point across.