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My experience with my GCC is that he became very much a one-person bird as soon as he hit puberty. He's warmed to me a little, but I don't have the patience to deal with getting bit dozens of times to do step-up training with him.
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Aug 9, 2018 21:42
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Faerie Fortune posted:Finally, I don't have a bird to show you yet, but we took a trip to the pet store (Pet City in Bradford, for anyone who knows it!) As ridiculously unlikely as it is yeah, this is where I get my Senegal’s food from. And yeah, a cockatiel is a great choice for a first bird.
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Aug 9, 2018 22:50
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I can speak to cockatiels! I've had both males and females at this point, in pairs and singly. I love cockatiels. I talk big about other parrots but given the choice, I would probably take a cockatiel. They are an amazing mix of "Hey I love you let's be bros!" and "I can just chill here and do my thing nearby" and "I need some me time now, just gonna be in my cage." I had Judah for over a decade and during that time I experienced two pretty much mental breakdowns. Failed out of college, stopped showering, got heavily addicted to percocet. Judah was the one constant in all of that. There were months where he got what I would consider minimal care - cage cleaned once a week, food/water always full and fresh, but almost no time out with me. I still cringe when I think about it even though I know what my mental state was at the time and know it wasn't an intentional thing on my part. The beautiful thing is that he stayed friendly and loving as always. When I started figuring out how to move forward without periodic life resets, he was his charming, cheerful self the first time I took him out again after a few months. Just chirped and cuddled up against my neck and fell asleep in my hood like he had since he was a baby. They are resilient little birds, mentally-speaking. Bright enough to be charming and alien in that fascinating way parrots have, but not nearly so sensitive in that sense as a cockatoo or other larger parrot. Of course, mileage will vary depending on the specific bird - I can only speak for the ones I've had! I love cockatiels and they are the best little cinnamon rolls who are too good for this world 
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Aug 9, 2018 23:08
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LITERALLY A BIRD posted:but soaks up love like a tiny beaky sponge and dumps it right back onto you. mochi soaks up love for sure but I'm not sure if that's what he keeps dumping on me
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Aug 9, 2018 23:25
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subpar anachronism posted:mochi soaks up love for sure but I'm not sure if that's what he keeps dumping on me 
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Aug 9, 2018 23:28
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Tendai posted:I can speak to cockatiels! I've had both males and females at this point, in pairs and singly. As a depressive I can say that this is a big reason I love cockatiels. The upside of their derpiness and ubiquity in the wilds of Australia is that they're extremely hardy and resilient little derps. The bigger thing is that like Tendai said about Judah (pbuh) cockatiels are incredibly attuned to emotional states and they are pretty easy in terms of husbandry requirements. On top of that unlike a lot of parrot species they're just naturally in a good mood most of the time. They're, pun intended, unflappable.
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Aug 9, 2018 23:48
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Either bird will be amazing and I'm sure will be a major boon to your mental health. I will say personally as a person that struggles with depression and went through an insanely tough year, my conures were lifesaving. They can be demanding little turds, but they are going to be on you reminding you how much they love and care for you. Speaking of little turds, here are mine. I recently moved to a much smaller place in Chicago, but first priority was setting up the cage. So now my biggest cage is sitting center piece style in my living area until I can get more stuff unpacked.   
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Aug 10, 2018 00:56
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Everyone, meet Peck-a-cles (this is what happens when a 3-year-old helps name something) I found it sitting in my driveway today. It's totally domesticated, clearly used to people. It wouldn't even move so my wife could park her car. It has a band on its leg indicating it's registered with the Int'l Federation of Homing Pigeons or somesuch thing and may have been banded at a pet store in PA, which is a long way from here (FL). I put in a few calls to see if anyone is looking for an albino pigeon. Meanwhile, until I can get my extra bird cage set up, he's currently having his way with my kitchen.  Edit: So, definitely has some sort of bird flea or something. Bunch of tiny, skinny, brown bugs. A bath managed to get them all off so far as I can see. He's in quarantine to keep separation from our birds, and everything is getting disinfected. Enigma fucked around with this message at 01:51 on Aug 10, 2018 |
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Aug 10, 2018 00:58
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Shark Sandwich posted:On top of that unlike a lot of parrot species they're just naturally in a good mood most of the time. They're, pun intended, unflappable. Ha, my female cockatiel was the cuddliest thing, then puberty hit like a brick, is my only guess. She's derpy and likes pets from me, but she is a bitch on wings to anyone and everything else. Fortunately, she never learned to bite, so she just does an angry ineffective pecking thing at people.
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Aug 10, 2018 01:07
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Enigma posted:Everyone, meet Peck-a-cles (this is what happens when a 3-year-old helps name something) What a handsome bird!  If you have dried peas or lentils, those pack a bit more punch as far as energy goes for pigeons, and straight seed is typically better for them as well. Unlike parrots, they actually eat the seed whole (they are still really messy eaters though!)Those are probably mites crawling around on them! Thankfully, making a dip is fairly easy, but I would recommend having your new friend checked out at a vet before attempting home mite treatments. Also, they aren't necessarily albino, but you can def describe as white homing pigeon with band #: X as far as trying to locate their original owners.
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Aug 10, 2018 02:02
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Shirec posted:Either bird will be amazing and I'm sure will be a major boon to your mental health. I will say personally as a person that struggles with depression and went through an insanely tough year, my conures were lifesaving. They can be demanding little turds, but they are going to be on you reminding you how much they love and care for you. Enigma posted:Everyone, meet Peck-a-cles (this is what happens when a 3-year-old helps name something)
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Aug 10, 2018 04:04
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Unrelated Charlie just landed on the same shoulder where Ama was sitting and I have never seen two more startled birds in my life. Like, I totally get why Ama was surprised, but Charlemagne he was sitting right there how did you not see him
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Aug 10, 2018 04:08
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Wait his full name is Charlemagne That's amazing
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Aug 10, 2018 04:22
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It is now that I'm his caretaker (with apologies to Shark) because I discovered very quickly I can't inject the full amount of disapproval that's sometimes necessary into fewer than three syllables
LITERALLY A BIRD fucked around with this message at 06:38 on Aug 10, 2018 |
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Aug 10, 2018 04:27
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Faerie Fortune posted:Hi birb thread! I've been lurking for just over a year now, enjoying all your cute bird pictures and reading all the advice here to see if I'm ready to have a bird and I think I am! Hey, fellow PTSD Person. I have kept cockatiels most of my life and they see me through thick and thin. I used to be a bad alcoholic, and then had a ton of medical poo poo happen, got severe aphasia (which this thread got to see firsthand. It's still embarrasing), and tons of other things, and my cockatiels didn't decide to hate me. They love human contact, but can handle being alone better than some parrots. If you need an ear to talk about PTSD or birbs, toss a PM over. I honestly feel like parrots are THE animal for people suffering from things like that.
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Aug 10, 2018 05:41
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Captain Log posted:Hey, fellow PTSD Person. I have kept cockatiels most of my life and they see me through thick and thin. I used to be a bad alcoholic, and then had a ton of medical poo poo happen, got severe aphasia (which this thread got to see firsthand. It's still embarrasing), and tons of other things, and my cockatiels didn't decide to hate me. They love human contact, but can handle being alone better than some parrots. obligatory article post, don't click unless you wanna lie about chopping onions. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/31/magazine/what-does-a-parrot-know-about-ptsd.html?_r=0
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Aug 10, 2018 06:28
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You'll have to turn up the volume but this is my bird saying goodbye like he does every morning. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQF_yqIzwmM
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Aug 10, 2018 13:55
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Updated on Peck-a-cles: Tracked the band to an owner in a city two hours away. The phone number is disconnected, and a reverse Google suggest the owner is (was?) 90 years old. Can't find an address or any other info, so that's a dead end. Talking it over with the wife about whether we want to find somewhere that will take it in or if this means we now have a pet pigeon. I have no idea how they are as indoor pets or whether sharing a giant cage with a cockatiel and conure would be feasible (after quarantine and vet checkup of course). Enigma fucked around with this message at 15:22 on Aug 10, 2018 |
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Aug 10, 2018 15:19
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Re: cockatiels and emotional support One of my birds, Ozzy, is a rescue. I've had him since January, and what I know of the situation he came from is that there were five tiels housed together with some severe aggression between them. They ended up going to four different homes because of that. He had such atrophied flight muscles that he could only drop like a stone, and his wings were severely clipped (though that might have been the rescue, because birds that have no idea how to fly probably don't need full flight feathers). He's nervous around people, he's nervous around other birds, he's very defensive of his personal space and goes days refusing to come out of the cage, because the cage is safe. He's my trauma brain baby. I have a diagnosis of generalised anxiety disorder with depressive episodes. I'm doing a lot better these days than I used to be, but there are bad days. A few weeks ago I had a horrendously bad stretch and was just paralysed with anxiety. I called in sick to work, something I very rarely do, then huddled up in front of the TV to play video games for a while, anything to just shut my brain off for a bit. Sera, my other bird, had been giving me the usual attention all day, wanting lots of snuggles and kisses. Ozzy climbed to the top of his cage, though, and with that height managed a flight/fall with style across the room. He landed (clumsily) on my knee. I cooed encouragingly at him, because that's an impressive flight for him, and also he had come to visit me on purpose. He climbed up to my shoulder, nibbled very gently on my earlobe for a bit, and then removed himself to sit nearby, because that was all the close contact he wanted for basically the whole day but he still wanted to be near me. Coincidence that it was on a day where I was not doing well? Maybe. I don't think so. They're creatures of intense emotion. They can see it in you.
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Aug 10, 2018 17:11
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Cockatiels are both sensitive and oblivious. It seems like they have the best of both worlds for the average bird owner. In other cockatoo news, fingats are tasty! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJfexVlnwHs&t=156s
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Aug 10, 2018 18:15
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Enigma posted:Updated on Peck-a-cles: Given the age of that lookup the owner may be too, if it's correct. 
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Aug 10, 2018 18:44
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Kitfox88 posted:Given the age of that lookup the owner may be too, if it's correct. I'm guessing the owner knew he/she was dying and couldn't find anyone to take the bird so they let it loose into the wild to be free.
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Aug 10, 2018 19:46
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Cythereal posted:I'm guessing the owner knew he/she was dying and couldn't find anyone to take the bird so they let it loose into the wild to be free. I plan on having birds for the rest of my life, as long as it’s feasible, and I 100% will have plans for my birds to be moved into sanctuaries I love/approve of (pre-paid or wills or arranged legal agreements) on my death/terminal illness. No way I’ll let anything happen to my bird loves like what happened to Gobbles (even if that has a happy end). It makes me a little sick to think my family/friends could potentially abandon a pet as smart and loving as my birds have been to me.
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Aug 10, 2018 19:58
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That's what I was thinking too, or his heirs said "wtf are we going to do with Dad's crazy pigeon collection" and set them loose. We are leaning toward keeping him and have a vet visit scheduled. Currently brainstorming cages with the hopes he can share a new, large enclosure with a cockatiel and conure. One thing is for sure, though, this bird is chill as gently caress. It's like having a feathery potato on quaaludes.
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Aug 10, 2018 20:00
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Enigma posted:That's what I was thinking too, or his heirs said "wtf are we going to do with Dad's crazy pigeon collection" and set them loose. A chill bird is a happy bird. I'm hoping we have a new thread pigeon! Whatever happened to the person with the "literal anime" pigeon?
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Aug 10, 2018 21:06
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Enigma posted:That's what I was thinking too, or his heirs said "wtf are we going to do with Dad's crazy pigeon collection" and set them loose. Congratulations on your new pigeotato
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Aug 10, 2018 21:35
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Captain Log posted:A chill bird is a happy bird. I'm hoping we have a new thread pigeon! Hello, it's me, i have the literal anime pigeon. And two other pigeons. And two ringneck doves that are somehow louder than the pigeons despite being smaller. RE: Pidge sharing cage with parrots-- Do not. Pigeons do not have the ability to protect themselves from parrot beaks and even in a large cage I would be very hesitant to house them together even if they all seem happy together. For pigeons, a med-large dog kennel will work when they have to be caged. Flat perches are better for their feet.
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Aug 11, 2018 00:59
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little_firebird posted:Hello, it's me, i have the literal anime pigeon. And two other pigeons. And two ringneck doves that are somehow louder than the pigeons despite being smaller. You must post pictures. You must!
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Aug 11, 2018 02:41
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Appreciate the advice. For some reason dog cages are way more affordable than bird, so probably going that route. So...do pigeons do anything or have personality? Could be because it’s a strange environment, or maybe I’m just too use to conures/tiels, but so far this guy is basically a making GBS threads houseplant.
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Aug 11, 2018 03:09
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Enigma posted:Appreciate the advice. For some reason dog cages are way more affordable than bird, so probably going that route. With pigeons, you want a cage that is typically longer than it is tall. I'll get a picture of my adopted rescue setup who is actually in a large rat cage, but it's perfect for her during the day. it's probably three feet long and more than enough room to spread her wings if she wants to! And yes! Pigeons do have very individual personalities! Just consider that your new friend is just that, new, and still getting used to their surroundings. Find treats they like, train them, teach them tricks! There's no risk of a bloody bite with pigeons, but letting them get used to you is also very important just like with any other new birds.
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Aug 11, 2018 03:15
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little_firebird posted:With pigeons, you want a cage that is typically longer than it is tall. I'll get a picture of my adopted rescue setup who is actually in a large rat cage, but it's perfect for her during the day. it's probably three feet long and more than enough room to spread her wings if she wants to! Pictures would be awesome, thanks! I know practically nothing about keeping pigeons and have much to learn.
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Aug 11, 2018 03:32
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Thanks for all your advice, guys! I passed it on to my girlfriend and we both agree that a conure might be a better choice for my needs in particular, but she really does love the cockatiels so there's a high chance we might be getting both!
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Aug 11, 2018 15:25
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We have both, and for what it's worth I don't find having two to be much more work than one, especially if you luck out like we did and your birds get along really well. If it's your first bird, I would space them out until you have a handle on one though. Here's our GCC, Bruce, and tiel, Toots (wasn't I who named her). Bruce needs some grooming time today. Bruce got his name from the fact that he didn't know how to perch when we first got him and would hang upside down like a bat, so we taught him to flip upside down when we said "Batman" in exchange for slivered almonds. Biggest differences are space and cleanup, since it may mean having room for and cleaning two cages or at the least one big one.
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Aug 11, 2018 16:10
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A conure named Bruce is just so right somehow
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Aug 11, 2018 16:12
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Conures and cockatiels make such an amusing combo. Crazy ball of energy partnered with derpy ball of fluff
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Aug 11, 2018 16:31
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Shark Sandwich posted:Conures and cockatiels make such an amusing combo. Crazy ball of energy partnered with derpy ball of fluff Ohtori and Steve are my otp. PS Momentarily back to galah chat - this is one of my favorite internet birds and I don't know if I can link facebook videos here embed-style so go here and watch them Peachu!Pretty sure they just naturally go "WHEEEEE!" now??? https://www.facebook.com/peachesthegalah/videos/2030554737267396/ Tendai fucked around with this message at 16:43 on Aug 11, 2018 |
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Aug 11, 2018 16:41
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The level of foof that bird goes into a the end of that video is delightful.
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Aug 11, 2018 16:49
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Is there any good way to socialize our birds (a budgie and a GCC) other than just letting them look at each other through the cage bars? I want to be cautious since Mochi is so much bigger and Bradbury is skittish.
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Aug 11, 2018 18:40
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Captain Log posted:You must post pictures. You must! Hyde says hi.  Sootsprite bite.  Soot's cage for reference:  and a bonus alphonse playing with a jingle bell https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzIpmQ8-VXs
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Aug 12, 2018 06:43
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Birds who are angry and hate jingly bells and birds who are playing with jingly bells is always really difficult to tell apart
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Aug 12, 2018 07:11
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