I have a cockatiel who I adopted a year ago and love very much. He loves to look in the mirror and gets upset if i take him away from the mirror or the mirror away from him. He bites me. I understand this is because he would rather be with another cockatiel than with me. Otherwise we have a very good relationship. My question is...if I got another male cockatiel and kept them in separate cages, would he still act as if he had a companion or friend (like with the mirror) and not like me anymore? Could having a second cockatiel hurt our relationship even if I kept them separate?
2007-01-24 14:24:33 · 4 answers · asked by imsmart 1 in Pets ➔ Birds
We bought our daughter a cocktiel several years ago, he was a baby and they are VERY close. We were told to keep a mirror out of the cage because he would bond with it instead of her. After they were close, we introduced the mirror with the motion activation (she recorded her voice for him to hear when he goes near the mirror) Just a few years ago my husbands co worker gave us her older cockatiel, he wasn't as nice and hates hands. We kept them in separate rooms at first, so they could only hear each other. A few weeks later we put them in separate cages in the same room. They chatter to each other and the older one is actually nicer since he sees our first cockatiel is OK. They are both male and fight if we try putting them on the gym at the same time. We fear for their safety so we just keep them together but apart. I think a 2nd cockatiel will be a fine idea. Just make sure the cages are similar so one bird can't be taller/higher or more superior to the other. The article below was very helpful to us. Good Luck!
2007-01-24 15:36:41 · answer #1 · answered by DB 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, your bird may have bonded with the mirror and if compatible with another bird will probably bond with him also instead of you. Personally, I think you both would benefit if he bonded with you. Get rid of the mirror for good. Retrain the bird. First, offer him treat in your hand outside of the cage for a few days and say a key word. He will eventually take the treat and you can reward him with encouraging words. Next open his cage and entice him to come out on his own with the treat and the keyword you chose. Let him come to you. Praise him when he takes the treat. Offer a handheld perch using the same technique and finally your finger. If he bites, don't overreact and push towards the bite and he should let go. Give him a firm "No!" He should stop with repetition. If biting is a bigger problem add a 2 minute time out in his cage. He will figure out that good behaviour means more play time. Have a tweet year.
2007-01-24 22:46:04 · answer #2 · answered by firestarter 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Adding a second bird could have a couple of different results. Often with proper introduction birds will become quite close and play and preen each other. Sometimes the birds will be indifferent towards each other but sine they are both the same breed i would be tempted to say they will eventually get along. As far as their relationship with the owner, it probably shouldn't change too much. If you had a larger bird such as macaw, or if your bird is very bonded with you there is the possibility of bird jealously. Remember your bird sees you as "in the same flock as him/her". Jealously is also usually worked out in time. So in conclusion I encourage you to get another bird. I wouldn't invest too much money into second cage because you might find after some time, that they want to be cage mates. Good luck!
2007-01-24 23:00:34 · answer #3 · answered by chad R 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i dont think it would really hurt it, because the other cockatiel is mobile, unlike a mirror, so you could pick up both and you shouldnt have a problem, well that is if they bonded already. with my cockatiels i cant pick one up without picking up the other one( sometimes) or else they start flying around.
2007-01-24 23:45:13 · answer #4 · answered by george 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋