Update on Simo the ringneck! :)

[seagoatdeb]

Gaugan decided she hated cockatiels, so they were in constant danger and it was very hard to keep them safe. I just want to make sure that the OP knows this can happen.

In unrelated cockatiel news, i just found out there is a small rescue of budgies and cockateils in Kelowna, so I can make some toys to help out. I may not be able to tolerate the dust of cockatieils, but i just adore them, and a little exposure should be fine.

[Viatrixa]

I think I understand; tiels are basically really sweet in nature and may not understand if they are being... overly sweet to another bird like that. Simo thus far seems to have a really sweet nature himself and has at least so far never shown any aggression; weather this is how ringnecks generally are I don't know. His beak is indeed powerful, he's made short work of nut shells (he LOVES to break the shell of the nut, but doesn't bother to eat what's inside). He's only ever bitten me once, and even that was extremely early in his life, when he had just moved into our house and I was dumb enough to transfer him to his new cage by grabbing him. (aaargh, looking back at this I feel so annoyed - after a stressful trip some big scary stranger grabs you, what was I thinking?). But that's the only time so far - even when he decided to explore my hand himself he nibbled on my fingers and knuckles very very gently. Still, I've a lot to think about now. One of us is always home to keep an eye out on him and his future buddy in any case!

There do seem to be quite a few videos out there or IRNs with other species of birds but I know better than to trust youtube on subjects like this!

I don't -have- to get a tiel per se, but the idea was to adopt a bird instead of buying. Lots of people take budgies and tiels and don't understand what birds really need and give them up for adoption!

[seagoatdeb]

i like to keep my parrots beaks close to the same size these days, since even the same species of parrots can decide to attack each other. There is a more even playing field that way and less chance of serious injuries.

Last month Gaugan and Sunny were getting along fine, when suddenly I heard loud bird cries and Gaugan had a hold of Sunnys tail and Sunny was trying to fly away, and was hanging upside down and Gaugan was not letting go. Not sure what he did to make her so mad, but his tail was straightened out with some preening and he was fine after. 10 minutes later they were flocking together happily. I have to supervise them closely and they get along and are close to the same size.

[liz]

Myrtle picks on Rambo enough that he has learned to call me to make her stop. One day I heard Myrtle screaming. When I looked Rambo had her by the end of her tail and would not let go so she could fly. It was all I could do not to laugh. I pretended that I did not see it. I was not going to get involved with him teaching her a lesson.

Rambo does not like Cockatiels because they fly and move too fast. It scares him when one lands right up against him.

[Wolf]

As long as you are aware of what could happen, I am satisfied that you can make the right choice for both you and Simo. Truthfully, the same type of thing can occur regardless of what the species of the two birds are, but the reason that I zeroed in on the cockatiel is because it can't effectively defend itself and is unlikey to keep its distance, the rest of the parrot species are better equipped to deal with aggression from another bird and so I am not as worried about them. If they can't hold their own ground against another bird they will at least keep their distance as long as there is enough room to do so.

[Pajarita]

Ah, yes, indeed! It's imperative that the birds that are supposed to get along together are all flighted because flying away is a bird's primary predator (and any other type of danger) avoidance mechanism.

[seagoatdeb]

They really act like kids sometimes. When Sunny is too crowding for Gagaun, she does want to teach him to leave her alone. When she chases him away he always flys to me, and sits there looking at me like he wants sympathty....lol...but Gaugan will be over in a few minutes, she cant leave Sunny alone on me...lol....Most of the time they hang around togeher, they get closer all the time. When I take Guagan to my daughters the other parrots give her a wide birth, even though they are the same size as her. She really knows how to communicate with her evil eye and beak and feathers. She really doesnt go after any other parrots, unless they bother her first except for cockatiels. I think she may see them as a threat because she cant predict them, and so doesnt feel safe with them.

[Viatrixa]

Unrelated to cockatiels or Simo's possible future friend but today, he just wouldn't take NO for an answer. He kept perching on my coffee cup and did his darnest to try and taste it - naturally I kept a keen eye on him and wouldn't let him do it, but boy did he try.

I had to pick up the cup and gently shake it to stop him - he just remained there, even when I brought it to my lips and drank it all. He then just remained there and kept giving me the stinkeye.

(he actively seeks to be close to me as of late - he's either perched on my monitor or the computer tower and just stays there... unless there's a coffee cup on my desk.)

[Wolf]

you could start by keeping a second cup with some unsweetened fruit juice in it for Simo, so that he has a cup of it that you can share with him. Their is no better way to get a parrot to want something that you have than to try to keep it for yourself. That is what parrot parents do to teach their young what foods to eat in the wild. It makes them think that it is especially good, so good that you don't want to share it with them. You might want to make sure that the cups look the same and it still may take a little while before he will drink from it.

[Pajarita]

Yes, indeedy! Zoey Senegal (my little sweetheart) has tea with me. She gets a caffeine-free herbal tea while I get Earl Grey and she has her own little cup (a demitasse from an espresso set) and everything!