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.

When DS is home so he mostly has someone with him at all times.

Depends on the bird. Mine will happily have his cage moved daily. Some like it to be in the same place. I would suggest training him up. Maybe ds can do this? And then he can come our for extended periods of time and chill in ds room without a cage.

How big is his cage?

Cockatiels are adorable and such massive characters, the funniest thing is when you're wearing a hat and their eyes go wide that you've got a crest like them now lol

The cage is a fairly big one and the biggest one I could fit in our small house. I spent forty pounds on toys for him yesterday and have some natural perches coming later on. He has been MUCH more tolerable today so far, much less noisy than yesterday but has already lost his Motown privileges for today because he cannot use his inside voice when it is on.

Sounds like you are doing well @SaunteringDownwards

Toys should help.

Get some parrot puzzles and they will spend the time figuring out how to solve those rather than making infernal noises. Of course they may end up throwing the puzzles around the cage.

If they ever get too loud just put a cover on the cage. The darkness makes them go quiet.

You should look forward to letting it out when it can start to rip your house to pieces.

@SaunteringDownwards hows everything going?

They ae cute! I am surprised though that they are as noisy as cockatoos! I thought nothing beat them! There is plenty about them on you tube - including the couple already mentioned. One of the birds tweets "September'!

I hope they don't have tamtrums like cockatoos. One in particular gets like a three year old kid and then when hormonal is Kevin the teenager. I was in fits of laughter when his owner laughed at him and he stormed back to his room (his cage) slamming the door! (Mr MaxTV for reference!).