Albino cocketiel?

[Deja Q]

I can't really afford him, but he was the cutest bird at the pet store yesterday.

He was also picked on by his lutino and pied cagemates. :(

I almost bought him; he was so cute and friendly.

I named him 'Honky', but I doubt he'll remember.

[Darth_Kitten]

1. then buy him anyways.......

put him on layaway. :)

[Deja Q]

4. So tempting...

And on sale for $125...

If he's still there, I'm really tempted to get him. They are rare...

[sarge43]

36. If he's hand raised, that's not a bad price. n/t

[sarge43]

2. What Darth Kitten said

Tiels are sweetest pets. One of mine, Spazz, is walking around on the keyboard right now.

[Darth_Kitten]

3. They are so lovable........and fun to spoil......

with toys, treats, and love. :loveya:

I don't know what I would do if I didn't have my little birdie. :hug: I love her so.
For now, she's my baby. :D

[idgiehkt]

5. I love my little guy

He has the best personality. I think he's about 5 years old. Only recently he has begun to do something really weird on his play gym, that I have never seen before (and truthfully never want to see again). It's making me wonder if he is in fact a she. I don't know how long it take for tiels to reach sexual maturity, but it seems like this is sexual behavior. It just started...I don't know what to think about it.

[Darth_Kitten]

12. is it something like this?

they start this continuous chirping and trying to rub their little vents (their behinds) against a toy?

they are, uh, masturbating. :hide: You are supposed to take the toy in question away from them if they are doing this.

If you little buddy pops out an egg in about a week or two, she's a girl. :evilgrin:

[idgiehkt]

19. OH SHIT.

That's exactly what it's doing. It has never done this before. Oh Christ, I watched my bird masturbate. I need another shower....ewwwww.

[Darth_Kitten]

24. LOL

chirpchirpchirpchirp.... :evilgrin:


it's perfectly natural..... :)

[sarge43]

34. At least s/he isn't getting it on via your hand

which they will do if given the chance. Birds aren't modest. :evilgrin:

[Stardust]

29. Why stop them?

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

31. Laying eggs can be very dangerous for females.

Also, if they get too bonded to their toy, it can lead to other behavioral problems.

[sarge43]

35. Constant egg laying will deplete their calcium and other

minerals. If they can't brood the eggs, they keep on laying.

[Lilyhoney]

6. I saw one in my yard 2 weeks ago.

There were 3 of us out on our deck and we heard the bird squack whch sounded unfamiliar to me. We looked up and this bird landed in our tree. It was beautiful. It stayed in the tree for atleast an hour.

I did'nt know what it was but it sure did'nt look like any of the other wild birds I have seen around here.

I did'nt know what it was until I googled the bird you mentioned. It was totally an albino cocketiel.

I hope it found it's way home or to a nice safe new home. I have'nt seen it since.

Birds don't belong in cages. Sorry.

Lilyhoney

[idgiehkt]

8. It probably won't survive for long in the wild

My bird was a rescue and only goes in his cage when he chooses to.

[Lilyhoney]

9. It looked scared and unsure.

Thank you for rescuing your bird. I am sure you treat it well. I just have never seen a happy caged bird.

[idgiehkt]

10. if you see it again you might try putting a cage out for it with food

and water in it. If it goes in you can take it to a rescue.

[Darth_Kitten]

14. My cockatiel is very happy..........

they need their own space....... decorate it with toys and perchs and they are happy.

Birds are unhappy if they are neglected, not because they live in cages mostly.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

17. With proper care, toys & exercise, they're happy.

I used to keep birds, even bred some parakeets. They were all very happy & friendly.

[Darth_Kitten]

20. yeah, they just need some time out each day..........

I give Murphee a lot of attention......I'm always close by her even when she's in her cage. :)

[Kat45]

7. Awwww! Sounds so cute.

If you can get him, do it. :-)

[Darth_Kitten]

18. How's Gracie?

the little sweetheart? :D

[Kat45]

28. She's good. Thanks for asking.

She's such a sweetie, and she's so adaptable. I went away for a week and a friend, who she adores, took care of her. We moved her into a smaller cage that she'd never seen before, brought her in the car and to a house she'd never been to--and she was perfectly fine with it. She didn't get scared at all, and she was a wonderful house guest. But when I got her to take her back home after the vacation, she persisted in biting me from the get-go. Trying to bite be all the way home too. I think she was a bit pissed at me. But by bedtime, she was putting her head down for scritches. I love that bird. :-)

How's Murphee doing?

[Darth_Kitten]

39. Murphee's sitting on 9 eggs right now.........

She usually has 4, but last month she decided to have 6. So she was sitting on 6 of them for a couple of weeks before she got into another cycle of having eggs. She usually has a batch every few months or so, but now it's right together.

Otherwise she's fine. Spoiled as usual. :)

[RedStateShame]

11. Was that the kind of bird that Robert Blake had on that cop show?

[Darth_Kitten]

15. No, he had a cockatoo..........

this is a cockatiel....much smaller. :)

[johnnie]

13. Chuck and Charlene says....

"Get 'em"

[Darth_Kitten]

16. What sweeties!!!!

I love their bright cheeks. :)

Murphee is mostly grey all over, with white tipped wings and a little bit of yellow on her face. And of course those blushy little cheeks.

:)

[johnnie]

22. Yeah ...sweeites...LOL

Actually, they aren't too bad. I saved them from a pet store so they weren't hand fed. They make me laugh, but they really don't get all cuddly.

[idgiehkt]

21. they are beautiful!

I wish I had a camera so I could take pictures of my bird and bunny and post them.

pretty birds, Johnnie

[johnnie]

23. Thanks

When I got them they said they were two boys. When Chuck got on top of Charlene (not their names at the time) and started humpin', I thought they might not be two boys. But who knows. Although now that I have had them a while, Charlene acts like the female is said to act.

[sarge43]

38. They are beauties, johnnie n/t

[vickitulsa]

25. Who doesn't love cockatiels? : - )

I've had that problem, too, about birds in cages. Same with dogs on leashes or chains or in pens ... or any animal in a crate ... the list goes on.

But after having a cockatiel of my very own that a neighbor gave me, I grew to understand the complex behavior of these amazing little birds that is comparable to the way canines chose a very long time ago to associate themselves with humans.

My cockatiel, Myrrh, was a feisty little girl that caused trouble in the group with her previous owner's little flock of 8 or 9 cockatiels. Myrrh was demanding and had a temper and would pout and scold me when she was unhappy.

Yet even so I hardly ever had to make her go back into her cage -- she went willingly when asked and definitely felt safer there if any excitement at all was going on in or near the house. We eventually became so close I almost couldn't bear it when I had to give her back to the lady who gave her to me, but a move I couldn't avoid forced that separation on us. She's still doing well, adjusted in the larger flock again very well after a year with me, and doesn't cause trouble anymore. :)

Then last year I rescued a pair of cockatiels and enjoyed them temporarily while I found a new home for them with a lady who lives nearby -- and I still get to see them!

I think you really MUST get that albino, HypnoToad. Clearly it touched your heart. Might they come down on the price? I don't ever haggle over purchases as a rule but will do so for an animal! :hi:

[Deja Q]

26. Well, now isn't the best time...

:(

I still have my Senegal Zoe and to get him now when I'm planning a trip in November would require the added expense of having 2 birds in their vacation center (one bird alone is pricey enough...)

The albino was a beauty, but not right now. :( There's another bird I want to see... :D

[vickitulsa]

30. Ah yes I see your point.....

and it sounds like you have your plans well in hand. ;)

Oh hey I didn't even write that as a pun! :rofl:

Goodonyamate, and good luck.

[fortyfeetunder]

27. How big a cage?

I would like to get one of those little guys but need to know how big a cage to get.

[vickitulsa]

32. Cage needs to be about two feet square or slightly less

is what I'd recommend. Some say you can get by with a somewhat smaller one but I never opt for the smallest size that serves. Imagine if it was you in there! You'd want as much room as was practicable.

Though a really huge cage isn't necessary and would just be harder for you to manage, clean, carry, etc.

Of course it doesn't have to be square, I just gave that for ease of measurement. And don't forget the perches and toys, but you needn't go overboard on that either.

I haven't had other types of birds, but I can say with confidence that cockatiels are cool ones, easy to care for, of a nice size to handle easily, and beautiful as well as smart and fun. Hope you get to get yours soon, you'll love it! :D

[sarge43]

33. For one tiel minimum two feet square.

Standard guide line for any bird: In the center of the cage can the bird spread its wings without touching the sides with some room to spare. It's always best to go larger as the cage will always fill up with toys and other stuff. On the other hand if the bird is going spend most of the day outside of the cage, smaller might not be a problem.

[Darth_Kitten]

40. Bar spacing is very important...........no more than 1/2 inch spacing

and try to get a cage with a lot of horizontal, not vertical bars, they love to climb. :)

[DawgHouse]

37. Oh, he sounds so sweet!

I had a cockatiel for 17 years. I miss him :(