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Post by Pammy on Feb 5, 2014 1:49:56 GMT
The phrase, "Careful what you wish for" is going thru my mind. I feel embarrassed to even mention my "problem" because I know so many others are aching to have a bird who wants them. Here's my issue, though. Mistletoe wants to be with me ALL of the time. He's very cute and sweet. I love him, and enjoy spending time with him. But, there are times when I can't (or don't want to) hold him. When I want to (or have to) do something that can't involve a baby cockatiel, I put him in his cage. And then he flock calls to me, loudly and insistently, without coming up for air. He wants to be with me every minute, and while I want to give him a good portion of my time, I don't want to devote every waking minute to playing with my bird.
Mistletoe does not interact with our budgies at all, even though he lives alongside them. They interact with one another, and he wants to be with me. Again, it's sweet and often welcome, but not every second. I'm wondering if a second cockatiel would give Mistletoe something to do when he isn't being held by a human, or if I would simply find myself with two clingy little companions who only want to play with whatever I'm doing, rendering it impossible for me to do anything else?
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Post by lisamarie on Feb 5, 2014 2:12:04 GMT
That's why I wanted Leo.. To be there for Lucy when I can't be. I go to school and work full-time, so she flock calls when I walk in the door (still have yet to figure out how she knows it's me coming thru the front door). She does it too sometimes (for a tiny bit) when I am getting ready to leave
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Post by Pammy on Feb 5, 2014 4:39:07 GMT
I can totally appreciate getting a second cockatiel as a companion for Lucy since you have to be away so much of the day. Is it wrong for me to want to find something to occupy part of Mistletoe's attention when I am here almost all of the time?
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Post by roxhum on Feb 5, 2014 5:06:52 GMT
Oh Pammy, that is an interesting thought. I have the older birds and they both want to be on me when they are loose. Pearl, even with Sweetie calls some for me. I know that Sweetie is more content now that she has Pearl. I vote for a second cockatiel, but will it solve the problem. The original cockatiel I looked at was a six month old male that lived with a older cockatiel and he still called for the attention of his owner.
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Post by luvsanimals2 on Feb 5, 2014 14:20:24 GMT
i am not sure if another tiel will help in your situation, they might not bond as much as you would like
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Post by dianapalmer on Feb 5, 2014 14:58:57 GMT
More and more birds!
Twenty-four birds!
On a more serious note: I do empathize with the problem. Birds are such individuals, it is hard to predict how adding another will change the family dynamic. I never would have predicted what's been going on between Piper and Emma.
If you want another bird, perhaps getting another young one now would help them bond. On the other hand, Mistletoe is still a baby. Maybe wait and see how he matures.
Perhaps set times when he must stay in his cage, and don't respond to his calling during these times. I have read that this will work. You ignore the calling, but go in and talk to the bird when he is quiet.. However, one must be very strong-minded about it (have you noticed that "strong-minded" is getting to be one of my favorite phrases?)
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Post by roxhum on Feb 5, 2014 15:10:42 GMT
Raising a family of healthy thoughtful children I think that Pammy has mastered strong minded. I think I agree with Diana. I am not so sure another bird will solve the problem.
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Post by Pammy on Feb 5, 2014 18:10:01 GMT
Thank you, ladies, for your input and kind words. I very much appreciate it. My little feathered man is being an angel right now. He's been sitting nicely on me since I finished washing the dishes, first on my shoulder, and now he's on my tummy. He's in a very cuddly mood. He did want to perch on my right hand for a while, and then I had to type one fingered with my left hand.  It's been too long since he's eaten, though, and so I'm going to put him back at the cage. There's food both inside and on top of the cage. The little piglet budgies have been gorging for hours. Actually, they aren't eating right now. They are socializing with one another as a flock. Oh, I love to see that! They are all playing with their toys or chatting so cutely. Well, Mistletoe's got to go eat, so here goes.... |
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Post by Pammy on Feb 6, 2014 4:45:11 GMT
Mistletoe is doing so much better with being friendly towards my family! He loves head scratches and finger perching and riding on shoulders of anyone who will tote him around - that is Aron and our teenagers. He's not so interested in Natey holding him, but he will now sit together with Natey, nestled in my lap in relative peace, with no hissing or beak snapping or mad opening of his beak. Yay, Mistletoe!!
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Post by Sarah on Feb 7, 2014 18:08:06 GMT
He should relax as time goes on Pammy. The first month I had pirate, he had to be with me all the time, to the point that the only way either of us could get sleep was for me to put his cage next to my bed instead of a bedside table and fall asleep right next to his perch! Even in the dark he would scream bloody murder. These days he will wait patiently in his cage, only calling now and then if I can't let him out at that moment, and loves loves loves the company of other people especially strangers  |
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