Talk to me about cockatiels

[SaunteringDownwards]

A family member has gotten quite sick quite suddenly and as a result can't look after a bird they very recently bought. Because I am a bit of an idiot (and also bipolar) I agreed to take it. As a result I am now two feet away from a cockatiel I'm already a bit obsessed with. My main worry is it being very loud and upsetting the neighbours. We live in a semi detached and it will sleep in my room. They work all day (and have been doing DIY at unsociable hours for the last three years) but I'm scared of night noise mainly bit I've been assured they sleep at night quite quietly?

I'm besotted but I'm a bit overwhelmed. Any advice/stories about cockatiel ownership would be appreciated. I'm already a bit in love with him and want to make this a success.

Maybe he does want to come out ?

• if he’s screaming all the time he’s trying to communicate something at least. They are loud and do scream but probably not constantly.

Break a bulb off. And use as the treat. That's how I trained mine up. Took about 6 months. And he still doesn't like hands 100% prefers shoulder or head or to sit on the top of my phone when I type.

Not all parrots/birds will end up liking hands.

If you do let him out. Keep the agenda door open so he can go back if he wants too

Mine doesn't talk. But he does kisses when I say kiss. And he will give me a little beak bop on my nose.

I'll shut up now! I'm just in love with birds 😅

These birds are ridiculously intelligent and can be gained quite easily. They like being spoken to so it's good to socialise them. Let him out to roam providesld it's safe and doors and windows are shut.

Mine when I was young thrived on routine weirdly. She knew when it was time to go back into her cage for bed and at night her cage was covered with a light blanket.

She only made noise when she heard the Neighbours theme song, that used to set her off.
I'm envious of the little beaut you have in your house.

Trained* not gained

I just can't see a way of keeping him if this his every day sound level. DH is bloody livid with me. I'd had them as a kid and they were never very loud so I thought it would be ok.

Thanks for being so nice everyone. I know I must sound ridiculous. Of course birds make noise and why didn't I think of that. I just impulsively offered and thought it would be OK but it has been a horrible afternoon and DH and the DC's are all very pissed off with me.

Well.. if you do decide to re home, sometimes it's for the best. If they aren't happy then the bird won't have a happy time either. Do you think they will warm up to him?

Where abouts are you in the UK? If up north birds seem to be rehomes all the time up there. Not so much down here in the south east. Took me ages to find a breeder let a lone a reputable one

I'm in the Midlands. I wouldn't even have a clue how to rehome and family member I took it from is in no position to have it back. Argh what a nightmare. I'm hoping we both calm down tomorrow and can figure it out.

Have you tried half covering the cage? He's just a bit scared and confused. If he's got a darkish place to hide he might calm down.
They are lovely bird. We inherited ours in very similar circumstances.
He was called Billy Bird.

Awww this is making me want to get a bird again. Absolutely the best pet I've ever had. I think it'll just take some time for him to get used to his new surroundings.

Hang in there, they make wonderful family pets.

If you live in a semi detached make sure you put him on the far side from your neighbours on an outside wall. Look at cheap soundproofing methods if the noise is bothering you?

I suspect you’re feeling overstimulated because of the noise? Can you pop some ear plugs in maybe?

It does take some getting used to. Dh didn't like ours at first. Even though it was his idea. He wanted a cockatoo and I said that would be much too noisy. Our parrotlet is no bigger than my hand and is loud. He didn't realise how loud they are.

Eventually you get used to it and don't notice it. We have a cat too. He tool time to grow on dh too. Cat was his idea too 😅🤣

He was quiet again last night apart from a bit of jingling with his toys. Let me know at 8.30 that he wanted to wake up but it was more of a sing song noise than the demonic screaming of yesterday.

I have cockatiels, they can be noisy but you soon tune it out tbh and I live in a terraced house, my neighbours mentioned them when we moved in but they haven't complained since. They are great little characters

How old are your kids? Can you have a competition to teach him something?

Sounds a nightmare though. Lots of people on this thread sound like they may be persuaded to have him.

I do hope he settles down for you.
Ours only make such a din when they are disturbed.
Are you feeding him what he is used to?

Oh yes and he will need lots of toys!

I had one for 16 years so if you intend to keep him make sure you’re in it for the long haul!

I don’t recall mine being noisy, but we taught him to talk and he would mimic whistling and loved having company. Definitely let him out to fly around as much as possible.

I have a parrot and have had a few before. He is likely to be picking up on your tension and that is why he is yelling. Mine does this. If I can't find anything and start grumbling to myself whilst searching, he will suddenly start up squawking or screaming. I calm down and he does too. I am not allowed to get grumpy (so probably a good lesson for me). Things to know about birds (in case you don't already) - they are very susceptible re air quality. Fumes from a burnt non-stick pan will kill them in 2 or 3 mins, plug-in and stick air fresheners, scented candles, aerosol spray freshener, chemicals and nail remover, etc, fumes are dangerous too. There are foodstuffs that should not be given to them - chief ones are chocolate, coffee, tea, onion,tomato, peach stones, etc There are a lot more - google the list to make sure things are safe before offering them. My parrot likes Classic FM (all day) and they do get lonely, so it is good to have them somewhere where they can see out of the window (though be careful to provide a shady area of cage because hot sun can kill them). Give him time to get used to you and you to him and you will find yourself getting very fond of him. Birds are great characters and very funny.

He is so funny and lovely and my DS is obsessed with him and actually started crying about how much he loves him yesterday so I want it to work very much but it's the squawking that I just can't handle it is ear piercingly loud. I'm so worried the neighbours are going to be cross with me too.

Do they get distressed if you move them from room to room? DS has suggested a compromise where if he starts to get his scream going I can put him in his room for a few hours every day. It's the furthest point from the neighbours but a very small room and I worry about dander etc.