Do Tiels need other tiels for companionship?

[myschuler]

Dear everyone:

I'm hoping someone can tell me if it's cruel to have only tiel in the house. We've had bubschen (a very cute lutino male) for about 4 months. He's about 13 months old and in great health. He's got a big cage, lots and lots of toys (that I change on a regular basis), a pellet diet, and fresh veggies. I'm a stay at home mom with 3 kids so I'm home most of the time (on and off), but I'm not playing with my guy all day long. I usually leave the cage door open and I give him at least some one on one time every day. BUT, here's my worry: tiels are a flock animal. I know that they are very social in the wild. Should I get him a friend (another male tiel -- I really don't want to breed him -- I already have 7 chickens, several fish, and a dog to take care of!) for companionship? I've also seen mentioned (in the Idiot's Guide to Cockatiels) briefly that you can get companion "pets" for your cockatiels, i.e., a canary or budgie. Is this true? I asked the bird person at our local pet store and I think she thought I was nuts!

Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[TaNnii]

That "Idiots Guide" raises it's head again! Sorry about that Myschuler, but that book has been discussed many times already, but I can't seem to find any links to the other discussions The general thinking is that a tiel and a canary probably wouldn't get along because they are too different and they would certainly have to be caged seperately which is another cage to buy and clean.

If Bubschen spends a lot of time with you and your family, both inside and out of his cage he will consider you and your family as his flock and as long as he gets to interact with you he'll be perfectly happy with that

If you got another 'tiel Bubschen would probably want to spend his time with the other bird and not you so you will have to consider that.

I would think, given his toys and his flock and the fact that you and he have one on one time every day, Bubschen is one very happy tiel

[flyingduster]

Ok, so there is nothing stopping you from keeping him alone, and he is obviously very well cared for and loved, and he will be quite happy and content.
But they ARE generally happier with another tiel. And NO! they do NOT become less of a pet with another tiel around! They will still be the same cuddly freindly pet, and you still need to spend that time with him (and the second tiel) every day, but they will have a freind for that time when you can't be with him.

Here's the thread on pet canaries (or whatever bird) for tiels; http://www.tailfeathersnetwork.com/c...d.php?t=18402&
basicly it's a stupid idea and no one here supports it...

Now, Katie also mentioned 'buying another cage and cleaning" well you'll have to do that anyway if you want another tiel. You CANNOT just put two tiels together and expect them to get along! I'm not saying you intended this, but I'm just letting you know!

If you get another tiel you will need to have a seperate cage, and a seperate room to keep him in. They have to have at least 30 (60 or 90 is even better...) days with absolutly NO contact. Birds can hide illness incredibly well, and alot of illness also have an 'incubation' period where they don't do anything for a while. You need to keep the new bird seperate for that time incase he has something wrong and contagious. By then it should have shown itself, and you can treat it. If you just put them within contact though he will pass it on to Bubschen and you could end up with two sick or dead tiels!!!

Ok, so you get a new tiel, and go through the quarrentine, but remember that they may not ever be freinds. Have their cages near each other (not so close that tails or feet can be bitten!) and let them talk and chat and so forth for a week or so. When you introduce them out of the cage, take them both to a place that bubschen hasn't been before. Maybe a couch or table or a new play gym.... Somewhere that bubschen CANNOT have already claimed as his territory! Let them look around and get to know each other there, but still put them back in their own cages; especially if there is fighting! If they are getting on like a house on fire you can start just letting them out at the same time and see what happens, but ONLY when you are around to supervise at first! If one went into the other one's cage, and all of a sudden the other one didn't want his territory invaded.... You need to be there!!

ONLY, and only, when they are happy to roam in each others cages without any worries from the owner of the cage can you put them together and leave them. They will let you know when they are ready; they'll be both falling asleep in the same cage rather than in their seperate ones! But you do need to still watch them for a while just to make sure.

And remember that there ARE tiels that just don't 'mesh' and will never be able to be room mates. They will be fine in cages side by side, and let out together, but they can't always be housed together. So are you prepared to have another cage to clean and feed if it came to that?

Basicly I'm saying don't rush into a new tiel if you're still not sure. Yes they are happier with another tiel for company, no it doesn't make them less freindly as a pet, so yeah, it probably is better ot have another tiel. BUT, you ARE looking after him very well and you are providing alot more companionship than someone who works or goes to school, so don't fret about it too much!

[raventha]

I got 2 parakeetsto keepmy female tiel company and they couldn't have cared less about each other but maybe that's because the 2 parakeets had each other--so I got her another cockatiel then I fell in love with a new one so now the three of them are always together, though it gets tense when the 2 males compete for the female's attention. At least they are not bored. Yours don't sound bored either, but if you get another cockatiel they will most likely bond toether and you'll find yourself an pbserver more than a participant. I find that they consider me to be less their friend than when it was just me and the female. Which is natural. Their true loyalty is to the flock, and it's funny to note that one bird is most affectionate to me when his place with the female has been taken over by his rival.

[baileysperson]

My two cockatiels are pretty much bonded to the people in the house, so I think that is more of a function of how much time our family spends with the birds.

My flock is seven birds (currently). I'd say don't add another bird unless you think it would make everyone's life better-because if it's just to "keep the other bird company", you'll be missing out on an opportunity to become a member of the flock. I love having a bunch of birds, but it's not for everyone-it's more work, more mess, more time, and a lot more money!! *empties wallet at bird store*

[Oh Mowsie]

*empties wallet at bird store*

Looks at Taxi.. snoozing away in her cage and sighs. Don't I know it! :::blows dustbunny out of wallet:::

[baileysperson]

*giggles*

I know! I keep looking at my little parakeet flock, and think, "you know, if I got a little girl, I could have baby birds to play with too!" I blame the gorgeous babies being posted on the budgie page!

*sigh* And I'd really love a rainbow English.....or maybe a yellow-faced grey...

You really think my spouse would notice one more budgie?

[java]

I always wondered about 2 birds not wanting our attentions ...glad to know for further referance that isnt the case ...I love Apache so much that sometime id like to have 2 ...was afraid he wouldnt love me anymore ..waaa. Glad to know different
thanks!!

[myschuler]

Thank you for your replies, especially flyingduster and Tanni. It sounds socializing two together is more work than I can handle right now (espcially with a mini dictator in the shape of a 2 1/2 year old boy in the house). I will certainly keep it in mind, though. Especially if I can figure out where to keep that other cage! And during that month quarrantine, I will have to keep that other bird happy too! Yikes, I don't think that you get a bird as much as they get you. I don't know how y'all do it with 3+ tiels in the house. Compared to a tiel, dogs are a piece of cake (mine eats, sleeps, whines to go out, sleeps, eats, sleeps, goes along for the ride, sleeps.........)

[Squawk and Howl]

hey there.

late to this post, but thought i throw in my 2 cents. as long as the bird spends "flock time" with you, i think a solo tiel is OK. what do i mean by flock time? things that a flock of tiels would do living in your "habitat":

bathing/showering together
eating together
taking naps in front of you, you taking naps in front of the bird
time playing together
allopreening (scritching off pin feather sheaths)
travelling together from room to room

good luck!

[WolfRyder]

Does that mean, pretty much when you're home, the tiel is out of the cage with everyone else?

I'm so trying to learn what I can about tiels.

Carol

[flyingduster]

I'm not sure what you are asking there Carol..... If it is safe for the tiel to be out then yes by all means have it out as often as possible.

My tiel is quite happy being alone, and alot of tiels are that get pleanty of attention. They are quite happy with a companion too! You just need to assess with your situation if you want another tiel or not.

[baileysperson]

Does that mean, pretty much when you're home, the tiel is out of the cage with everyone else?

Exactly!!

*sigh* Although it usually starts out that they are on the play gym, usually by the time we finish dinner, at least one of the birds have decided to take a little "walkie" and come find someone human to play "pet me here!" with them! Such cute little boogers!

I love how it was described. "Flock time"-just sort of low-key, hanging out sort of attention-that's exactly what I do every evening! And non-bird people think I'm nuts-I answer the door with at least one bird on my shoulder, meals involve feather dust in our food, bathroom breaks are no longer solo affairs-it's like having toddlers in the house!