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Anonymous
Evening /an/, /v/irgin here...

I was thinking of raising a cockatiel, mainly because I thought it would be awesome to have a bird and was told they could learn to talk.

Anyway, I went to my local pet shop and found some. I was thinking of getting a female one but, I wanted to ask you guys if raising a female would be trickier than a male.

The only bird I've had is a budgie but, I was a kid back then and wasnt in charge of taking care of it so, Im pretty new to raising birds.
>> Anonymous
Just get a young cockatiel. You don't need to raise one from birth to get it to talk.

But if you want one to talk, be aware that males are usually the talkers and you might be disappointed if you get a female and she doesn't talk. They aren't amazing talkers overall and it could take a long time for them to start, but they are still awesome birds.
>> Anonymous
Try to find a handfed. They may be a little more expensive but they should be well socialized, at least more so than parent raised babies.
>> Anonymous
>>250145
Hmm...I guess I wouldnt really mind a male. I wouldnt really mind the wait, it all seems worth it. Thanks.

>>250151
Are they any harder to come by? And thanks for the advice.
>> Anonymous
I recommend not getting a petshop bird -- find a local breeder and get a hand-raised one. They're so worth it. I just bought one recently, she's five weeks old and behaves like a puppy. She constantly wants to be held and snuggled and petted.
>> Anonymous
Welcome to a world full of bird crap.
>> BitterAnon !!WJLRQ1cwCyZ
>>250207
And bird jizz, if the last bird thread was any indication.
>> Anonymous
>>250160
Really just depends on what's around you. Some pet stores will carry handfeds. Inquire about it. Local breeders probably won't be that hard to find, either, but be sure you check out the facilities.. make sure everything looks good and healthy. A good breeder shouldn't have a problem letting you see what's going on. Check google or pick up a bird enthusiast magazine, you might be able to find listings there.
>> Anonymous
>>250131

If you want to keep the birds socialised, remember to trim the wing feathers so they won't fly far and play with them for at least half an hour every day. With birds, this kind of thing is important because they are not turly tame, and constant interaction is the only thing that gets them going.
>> Anonymous
>>250233
True, except you do not have to clip the feathers. The bird, if it bonds with you, will want to be near you unless you abuse it. Ours gets genuinely upset when you put her in her cage, and if you open the door, will fly around your head for a sec before landing on you and cuddling up under your chin.
>> Anonymous
>>250246
You should clip the feathers when you bring it home though. Bonding can take time and having the poor thing fly around your place hitting itself wouldn't be a very welcoming experiance.
>> Anonymous
A hand-trained male will have more chances of talking, but make sure you buy one that's about 8-12 weeks old.
>> Anonymous
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one of my dudes (pictured) talks all the time. He's no conversationalist but the 2 or 3 things he knows, he loves to share with the world.

He isn't clipped, either. He understands that he can't go through the windows and my fiancee and I are careful about the doors, and he doesn't seem to want to escape anyway. He's well fed and cared for.
>> Anonymous
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>>250334

follow up:
in fact, I'd recommend not clipping a bird's feathers if you can teach it to fly safely in your house.

My other dude (seen here) was adopted from another family who kept him clipped, and his tail feathers are all scruffy and broken from when he decides to try and fly anyway. We're letting him grow in his flying feathers but he was clipped too far in and it's taking a while. Birds can injure themselves just as easily when they aren't flighted than when they are, and I think it's cruel to deny them their natural means of getting around.
>> Anonymous
>>250296
That may be true, yeah. The feathers DO grow back, and by that time the bird will either have bonded with you or not.
>> Anonymous
Oh, and get a nice big cage. The stuff they sell as "cockatiel cages" is often waaaay too small.
>> Anonymous
>>250334
What stuff does your cockatiel says?

My girl sings Jingle Bell when she's bored.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
A handfed baby is ALOT easier, handraising a baby all by yourself is very hard and tiring, feeding every few hours, the risks etc.

read www.cockatielcottage.net, its really great and has heaps of information.

My little guy is 4 months and is clipped, I clipped him for bonding reasons, and now that we are friends, im letting his wings grow out.

I've bought him a "flight suit" its a little suit you put on them and it allows you to contain their poo (like a nappy) and take them outside even when fully flighted (you can attatch a lead to it)

He loves to cuddle and be around me, tiels are affectionate and fun pets. Just be sure to do your research on them.

pic related, getting a scratch.
>> Anonymous
I was typing a response but it was too long, so I uploaded it: http://cidsa.blackmage.org/bird.txt

I tried to put as much info as I could think of about this. I think it's very important to go into bird ownership with your eyes wide open. They are WILD animals that are very intelligent, have special needs and a lot of commitment.
Sorry if any of it seems negative, but I feel strongly about this. If you read it all and have no problems, then go for it.
>> Anonymous
Oh and if you made any mistakes, it's not too late to undo them. Bad behaviours can be changed (with time and patience), diets can be fixed, etc.
And even if you did buy a cockatiel don't feel guilty, instead do your best to provide the best life for your bird. :)
>> Anonymous
>>250339

he says "biddy biddy biddy" and "good jojo" and sometimes he'll just repeat his name over and over
>> Anonymous
the real trick is to make the bird say "help! help! they turned me into a bird!"
>> Anonymous
We have a previously owned Cockateil. It's Male and doesn't talk, but it's generally friendly. Sometimes it makes a lot of noise, but I stops when I whistle at it loudly until it stops.

PS: In before, "You're killing your bird by whistling at it. I'm calling PETA"
>> Anonymous
>>250458

no way, they love a call and response thing.
>> Anonymous
>>250458
my female cockatiel barks and that is also the only way to get her to shut the fuck up. though she usually whistles nicely after that.
>> Anonymous
>>250131

Males are more vocal than females and are generally better at learning words
>> Anonymous
>>250452
Somebody get working on this immediately.
>> Anonymous
I vote for getting a male as well.

Also, look into obtaining a lory.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
I have a male. He is awesome but kind of evil. He is VERY chirpy and has kind of learned to whistle some tunes.

From what I've heard, males can be a bit easier to take care of (Don't have the issues with eggs and being egg bound) They also are more vocal from what the breeder told me.

Only other thing I'll add...I kept my bird's wings clipped at first because we let him out all the time and I didn't want him bumping into windows or hurting himself. But when I let them grow out...he doesn't fly. He backflips but doesn't fly.

he's still awesome, very active, and happy.
>> Anonymous
>>250796
>But when I let them grow out...he doesn't fly. He backflips but doesn't fly.

aww, poor little dude never fledged right
>> Anonymous
>>250796

is that your bird? The dull color of his face feathers means his diet isn't so great. He needs to eat veggies.
>> anonymous
cockatiels are awesome, you should get one. Just make sure you check out that your local vet or one near you treats birds, as quite a few dont treat them.
>> Anonymous
>>250816
Aaaw. Is there anything I can do to help it? I mean, he seems cool doing his thing, but if I can help him be more of a normal birdie..

>>250823
Part of it might be the picture, cause he looks pretty bright in person, but regardless, good advice and a good reminder to me - I should be more regular with his veggies. I usually give him cucumber and lettuce, sometimes brocolli (lol though i'd be buying it just for the bird) i don't think he likes carrots.

oh yeah, he LOOOOOOOVES eggs. LOOOOOOVES them, which i find funny, but the breeder said it was very good for him. cannibal birdies!