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I'll upload pictures later. She has a completely happy feeling about her. She actually hopped on my hand today (while I was cleaning her cage) and then hopped on the top perch and played with the toy. I'll edit this once the videos are fully updated. I caught her eating and playing. She's doing fine. I'll get a check up on November 1st. I'll expand once I get the chance. ) Thanks for your help. Also, can you please recommend a size for Halo's cage?

I'm on my phone, so excuse any typos. Recommended minimum cage size is 24x24x24 inches, which your cage meets. I would keep an eye out for a flight cage, but don't stress it for now.

The legband is for identification. Unless your vet reccomends removing it, I would leave it. My oldest tiel has had one his whole life. I would write down the band number for future reference should halo ever get loose. Don't try to remove it yourself, you will only injure your bird.

My vet recommends removing the bands if you don't contemplate rehoming your bird someday, as I surely don't. I've left only a few for various reasons. Christie's sooo right about not trying to do it yourself! I get stressed watching the vet do it.

Apparently, I heard that vets don't recommend removing it because it's possible in breaking the bird's leg. I'm worried about this. I plan on keeping Halo for good, and maybe getting another cockatiel. A 2 months old one if possible. I should probably buy another cage if I get another Cockatiel, right? How long do they have to be apart until they can get used to each other and socialize? (I need to use this for future reference.). The band is irritating her, as I see her pick at it a few times each day. If I decide to get it removed, is there a 50% and over chance she'll get hurt in the process of taking the band off at the avian vet?

I'm not going to give you a percentage risk as I'm not a vet. Discuss with your vet the options for the band, and if he/she is comfortable (and has the correct tools) to remove the band. My bird plays with the band on his leg, but without signs of skin irritation, I would leave it be, but that is my oppinion! I've seen too many posts about people loosing their birds to feel comfortable not having the band there if a choice presents itself. It is the only 100% way to know that the bird in question is your bird if lost and recovered by someone.

For a second bird, you will need to have a second cage, a place to do a proper quarantine in, and to learn the proper procedures to take for a quarantine. I would get another single cage the size of the one you already have, and then search for a flight cage to introduce them both into at the same time after quarantine is over and they have been properly introduced. This will cut down on territorial behavior.

I would DNA test your bird (about $25) to double check if it is male or female, and find a place (preferably a breeder) that you can DNA test the new bird. I would reccomend getting two of the same gender so you won't have accidental babies. Since you already know that Halo has a "genetic fault" for baldness, I would not attempt to breed him/her since the fault will be passed down.

Also, may I ask, why are you looking for/thinking about a second bird so soon? What will you do if the two birds don't get along? Cockatiels are gentile creatures, but sometimes when put together, two just don't get along and have to be seperated permanently. Halo has already been picked on before, I don't know if that will make him/her more agressive to another bird or more apt to be picked on again.

Ah no, I don't plan another one for a few years, as I am already quite won over by Halo, I'm just considering it if I do decide to get another one in the near future, and if I do, I know what to do. If the birds did not get along, I wouldn't need to be told twice to separate them. In just three to four days, Halo's already won over everyone in my family (excluding my sister as she is in Korea ) especially me. I put in some new perches and got her a ladder. She can now get up and down without us having to help her. I also found out today she likes to play with strips of paper. I was playing with one, and I opened up her cage door (she never comes out, but it's worth a try, eh?). She was hopping around her perches and fly-tumbled out of the cage. She seemed captivated by the strip of paper and I had fun teasing her with it. After awhile she tried to get into her cage. I piled some books up to let her get in and she flied with no problem to the perch without any help. The change in her behavior is astonishing. The first day, she was huddled on the floor and wouldn't move. All she did was just stare at a random space, as she was probably in shock from the car ride. On the third day, she played and ate. Now she rehearses a chirp every now and then. It's very cute. The chirping that is.

I'm so glad that he/she is warming up to you!

The first few days in a new home is very stressful for a bird. I'm glad you have found another toy he/she likes to play with. You might try buying a roll or two of shredders. You can string small strips on bird safe rope and hang them to chew up, or weave them through the cage bars.

I also use bird safe chinese finger traps. I string them on leather (with a hole poked in the middle) and then stuff the insides with nutriberries.

Here is an image of a toy I made for my tiels. I have two males that are chewers, so I make bigger toys for them since they destroy a cockatiel sized one in a day or so.

Thanks for the advice, Christie.

Great toy!

Thanks Blues! I got the supplies from Grey Feather. It's amazing how fast determined birds can chew through the wood blocks on it!