Conference 7.286::pet_birds

    First of all, are you certain that your lutino is indeed a male?
    I purchased my first cockatiel (as well as first bird) and thought
    that it was a male since she was a pied and had bright orange cheeks
    only to find an egg in the bottom of the cage 3 months later.  She
    didn't chirp much as well, although that occasionally doesn't make
    a difference. 
    
    If you decide to breed him you must take into consideration the
    fact that he or both of them will become bonded to eachother for
    life and will not be the sociable birds they were before.  Even if
    they are hand fed and puppy friendly.  They may occasionally come
    on you but they will not display the love and affection that they
    once had to you.
    
    My female was not hand tame but I did manage to get her on my
    finger and she would come out of the cage with me, however she was
    not a real sociable bird.  So I got her a male and they immediately
    bonded and have been a pair ever since.  They did successfully rear
    one clutch of babies.  Now they lay eggs lay on them until almost
    full term, then stop a few days before hatching.  I guess they're
    in retirement.
    
    As for talking.  Cockatiels are not the best of talkers and most
    do little or no talking.  Once in awhile you may come across one
    that can say a few words, however it is easier to teach them to
    whistle a tune or the wolf whistle.  If you are looking for a talking
    bird I suggest that you look into a bigger bird such as a Yellow Nape
    Amazon or African Grey Parrot.  These birds are just about guaranteed
    to talk with little or no effort and are very intelligent.
    
    What I would suggest that you do is either keep your one bird for
    awhile and see how he/she progresses as far as taming goes.
    
    Or if you really want to get into breeding,  I would first find out
    if Samee is really a true male (this can be done through a vet or
    an experienced cockatiel breeder).  If so you may just want to
    find a mate for him/her (Not necessarily a tame bird) and then
    set them up together.  Then if you want to get a handfed baby 
    just as a pet for yourself, you could then purchase one and keep
    it separate from the others.  That way he will always be your
    special friend.  
    
    Hand fed babies are quite easy to come by.  I know of a few pet stores
    and breeders in my area (Salem New Hampshire area) that sell them 
    they usually run you about $40-60 for a normal and $60-90 for a pied
    or lutino hand fed.  SeaWorld in Salem N.H. offers handfeds of all
    types.  I could get you the name of a few breeders as well in the
    Southern N.H. area, however I don't know of any in the Fitchburg/
    Leominster area though.  Perhaps other noters may be able to help
    you out.
    
    Best of luck.  These are only my suggestions based on what you
    are looking for.
    
    Regards,
    Denise

    Thanks, Denise...
    I am not positive that Samee is a male.  The bird has bright orange
    spots. The woman at the store told me that a sign of a male is bright
    orange spots and the females have a paler orange color.  So, I am not
    sure.
    I like your suggestion about getting a mate for this one and possibly
    getting a baby hand fed separate from them.  THANKS for that.
    Samee is such a nice bird that I don't know now, after reading your
    mail stating that if I got a mate, that THEY would bond and Samee 
    wouldn't be the same towards me.  He is special to me and I don't know
    if I'ld want to get another one for him to get close to, instead of
    me..you know?  But, that was good information and I have seen Seaworld
    mentioned here before.  I will have to find that place and check it
    out.  
    I also feel better about knowing that cockatiels are not the best of
    talkers.  I notice that when we whistle, he/she will chirp back.  I'll
    try that more often.  
    I am going to take Samee to someone who is experienced to tell me if
    the bird is a he or she. And I'll take it from there...
    What my husband and I originally thought, was that if we got another
    young, hand fed MALE, and put them in the same cage together for
    companionship, that Samee would learn to be as friendly as the little
    one or that even if the little one was the "follower", that both birds
    would have a good nature and be fun & sociable.  
    Thank you for your advice and information!

    Hi,
    
    A couple of other places to look/call, but *not* in the Fitchburg area,
    unfortunately, are Wingsong Aviaries in Merrimack at 603/880-6393 (Exit
    7E off Rt 3 North) or Pat Tucker, Feathering Crest Aviary, Sudbury, MA
    at 508/443-8577.  Wingsong is a huge but caring and carefully run 
    business.  Pat has a private, in-home aviary where she hand-raises
    all the birds herself (she shows and wins, by the way, so may ask
    if you are looking for a pet or show bird--she may have some pets
    available if you are not interested in showing...but her birds would
    be good for breeding if you want to breed for show).  The people at
    Wingsong are super for answering your questions over the phone (ask
    for Karen, if possible).  Pat is also very helpful with information
    and advice (she has a booklet she wrote on bird care that you get with 
    any bird from her). 
    
    I agree with Denise's recommendation that you decide first, in general,
    with no particular birds in mind, whether you want to even go into the
    breeding of cockatiels, then decide whether Samee is going to be a
    breeder or a pet.  It is difficult, some say impossible, to count on
    your former pet-turned-breeder to return to pet-only once it has had a
    mate and the natural life of relating to one of its own species.  I
    have put a female sun conure with a mate and a male Timneh gray parrot
    with a mate, both birds having been pets.  They seem very healthy and
    content with their mates, but clearly have shifted their affections, which
    is only to be expected.  
    
    About the talking...I had the same thought you did. I put my pet Timneh
    that talked next to the cage of another male Timneh (wild) that didn't talk,
    hoping/expecting the silent one to mimic the vocal one.  Wrong.  The
    vocal one reverted to bird noises only, having wonderful conversations
    with the other bird in their own language!  Only when I separated them
    into two different areas in the house did the first one start to do
    people-talk again.   But they did continue to call to each other across
    some distance at dawn and again at dusk!  (The end of this story is that
    they are both with hens now in a breeding situation and seem just
    fine.)
    
    It's a special treat to have the trust and affection of a pet bird, so
    if you want Samee to be your friend, don't get him another bird friend
    right now.  If you are worried that he needs feathered company, an
    alternative solution I have seen work is to put a  parakeet and a
    cockatiel as buddies, so you don't have the complication of breeding
    the birds, but they *will* bond to each other, so once again you could
    lose your friend to a feathered rival.  If you really want to breed
    cockatiels, you could keep Samee as your pet and buy two breeders.
    Just a thought.
    
    Linda
    

    Hi   
    
    Welcome to pet birding ! As you are asking about the Fitchburg area I
    assume you live in Fitchburg. I live in Lunenburg and belong to a bird
    club in Nashua, New Hampsire Avicultural Society(NHAS). The NHAS meets 
    the fourth Wednesday of every month. You might want to consider joining
    as there are often people there with good deals on birds, particularly
    when they have their auctions. There is another club in Hampton N.H.,
    Birds of a Feather, but I consider that too far for me. You also get to
    meet other Bird people and hear guest speakers on birds.
    
    I thought I knew all the pet shops in the Fitchburg area, where is
    Animal Kingdom.
    
    Doug

    I'm no expert but don't give up on Samee ever talking.  My Rosie (whom
    I thought was a she and turned out to be a he!) has learned to say a
    few phrases; whata ya doin? and  pretty, pretty boy! 
    
    He will say these over and over again and is so proud of himself when
    he does.  On the flip side, his companion, Sunny, barely even peeps or
    chirps.  He's just as quiet as a church mouse.
    
    You know, there are pros and cons to talking birds.  At this point I
    figure the next word Rosie will learn to say is "shut up" which he
    hears quite often on Saturday and Sunday mornings! 
    
    Best of luck to you and your new cockatiel.  They're great birds and
    you will just love them!
    
    Jeanne
    
    

    Hi Doug,
      By the way...I am Cathy...I have written 2 notes here and just
    realized that I didn't mention my name.  I live in Lunenburg, too.
    Animal Kingdom is on John Fitch Highway right past Child World and
    past Capitol warehouse.  It is sort of a small place and I am not real
    familiar with this area since I just moved to Lunenburg last October.
    How do I get in touch with someone about getting into the NHAS.
    That sounds really interesting.
    
    Thanks,
    Cathy

    Maybe it is Animal House, not Kingdom?? /Linda

    I have a 3 1/2 year cockatiel.   Her name is Mosi.   I think it is a
    she because she isn't a real "squawker".   She was very easy to tame as
    far as comming out on my finger or staying on my shoulder.  I was never
    able to pat her though.  She would always hiss or fly away.  All of a 
    sudden though, after 3 years, I went to pat her and she started singing
    away.  She'll stay on my finger and sing and sing until I stop patting
    her.   She loves it now wether I am patting her back or scratching her
    head or neck.  I can't believe after 3 years she now likes to be
    petted.   I guess it just took her a while to fully trust me.  
    
    Good luck with your new birdie.
    
    Pam

    
    Is it common for a female cockatiel to become constipated after laying
    the last egg?
    
    Chris D.

    
    
    Not that I have noticed - unless you mean that they hold it while in
    the nest box and the really let go upon exiting the box...

    
    No, I mean they don't let go for days, until you try to catch her in
    the cage then you litteraly scare the **** out of her!
    
    Chris D.

    
    A few days ago was a first for me.  I actually heard one of my baby
    cockatiels chirping........while still in the shell!!!!  NEAT!
    4 have hatched, 2 to go!  And I thought hand feeding 4 was hectic, I
    just can't wait to try it with 6!  :^)
    
    Chris D.

    
    I'm curious about the mix of cockatiel colors in a set of babies.
    I thought that greys were the most common, yet out of my last 3
    clutches, I had 2-grey 2-lutino, 1-grey 3-lutino, and with the last
    batch at least 3 are lutino and 2 are too young to tell yet.  Is this
    common?  The adults are a female grey and a male lutino.
    
    Chris D.

    
    	What an excellent question! I have had basically the same results.
    2 Lutino's to 2 greys. My latest clutch started hatching yesterday and
    so far - 1 of each. Would love a little more explination!. ( you can
    tell by the eyes which are which at birth.) If the eyes look dark - it 
    will be a grey - if no coloring - Lutino.
    
    Dora D.

    
    I went to the local library to see if they had a book on cockatiel
    breeding.  They do carry one, but it was out, and it was overdue..
    ....by 5 years, 9 months!!!!  I'm not holding my breath for that one!
    
    :^)
    Chris D.  

    
    Well, it's a new record for us.  We ended up with 5 out of 5 being
    lutinos!!
    
    Chris D.