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I have a question. I have a 3 year old cockatiel and we have a very nice relationship. A friend needs a new home for her cockatiel who is about 5 and also a sweet bird. Both are males. I am tempted to take her cockatiel but do not want to ruin the relationship with my bird. I am at work all day and think it would be great for my little guy to have a friend but want him to still be my friend when I'm home. Does it work out to have two birds? or will they only pay attention to each other?

Thanks for any help in making this decision.

Hi rgphia, and welcome!
I have just gotten a new tiel," boss" as a friend for my male woody. Was told that boss is a boy as well, but having some doubts about that now. Right now, I have noticed that woody only seems to want boss, and I cannot have one on one time with him anymore----at least not without boss right there too! so there will be some changes if you take a new bird! As far as the relationship goes------I really think if you have a good relationship, that it won't be ruined, it will just be a little different maybe, but as long as you keep spending time with your bird, or birds, I think you wil always have a good bond even with another bird. I will not let my relationship with woody suffer from getting a new bird, just do what I gotta do, and if I have to take boss with woody, so be it, and I was thinking if I really want some one on one time with either that I can try taking him to another room where the other one isn't and see if that helps. I think as long as there's a will, there's a way, and watching how happy my woody is now with a new birdie friend is worth a little change in our relationship to me.

As long as you continue interacting with both you shouldn't have any issues. My first cockatiel, handraised from day one, bonded to an "out of control" cherry headed conure. They are best buddies now. Casey still comes to me for scritches, and Noel has gotten better from her past.

I now have other tiels as well... one who doesn't necessarily get along well with others... she is some-what tame... she enjoys human companionship (well only from me to be honest... she doesn't trust anyone else) but is kind of more hands off... She'll allow handling if it's to go in or out of her cage, or she may even sit on ones shoulder... but otherwise is really more hands off... yet she seems to enjoy the companionship of a human more than another bird...

Rgphia1 wrote:... A friend needs a new home for her cockatiel who is about 5 ...

If you and your friend have both had bloodwork done on your birds in the past year and they're acting completely healthy, why not do a "sleepover" for a week to see how the two boys get along? BUT . . . if you've not had annual bloodwork done, this could be very dangerous.

I have several pairs who get along quite well. Some like each other better than others, but all live peaceably and playfully together. When I approach, they run to play with me, although their primary allegiance is to each other. I expect Woody and Boss will do this too once they're gotten past the newness of their friendship. That's one big advantage to proper quarantine -- your new bird gets a chance to form a bond with you while separated from other birds.

I hope you find a way to make this work. With you gone all day, I think your bird would greatly benefit from having a tiel pal in an adjacent cage.

Paca