Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi eveyone! I'm a teenager who absolutely loves cockatiels. I have done a lot of research on them recently. I would like to get one in the next few months, and I have a few questions. I want to make sure a cockatiel will fit into my lifestyle, because the last thing I want is an unhappy bird. No one is home while I'm at school, but I'm willing to make up for that with 2-4 hours with the bird in the afternoon. I have a pretty much non-existent social life outside of school, and rarely more than 20 minutes of homework. I feel I would have plenty of time to devote to the bird. Would a cockatiel be able to stay home alone if it has toys and stimulation by itself, and then several hours out of the cage with me and in my room? If I'm gone for more than a day for some reason, my dad would be more than happy to take out the bird. He grew up with cockatiels and parakeets and adores birds. My other question is where I should situate the cage. I have a good sized reptile collection in my room. Would the bird be uncomfortable if it's cage was on the far side of the room away from the other animals? Where would you guys suggest putting the cage? Thanks a bunch for any help and sorry for the novel of a post!

It sounds like you've got it all sussed & lots of toys & out for several hrs a day would be a MUST.

To allow my birds (when they were new) to get used to everyday life in my house, I put them in a traffic are, not to high traffic, enough so they can see everything that goes on throughout the day & everything you do. Once they get used to all this they'll start to become quite comfortable & they'll get used to your routine too.

You didn't mention cage size. Personally the biggest cage you can get, the better. If you put too many toys in a small cage it gets a little cramped & you'll end up with a misserable tiel who isn't able to stretch & excersise.

I also have made the biggest playgyms suitable & various swings through the house for my boys so they have things to do out of the cage as well.

Heck, you can put a perch near your "homework" area & your tiel can keep you company then too! My tiel loves sit on a perch rigged up to my bedpost and watch me while I do things in the room. Make sure you get a bird who likes you, handle several before choosing one baby. Your bird will probably get used to your other critters in time. My bird has two cages and 4 perches around the house, and I'm gone a lot (during which time she's caged), but I also devote quality time to her when I'm home.

Again I will stress do not bring the bird around your reptiles. I house my reptiles (chubby frog, bearded dragon, and a leopard gecko) in a seperate room, actaully a storage closet that we nicknamed "the jungle". This won't effect the bird at all, but as cockatiels are relatively noisy bird sounds will stress your reptiles out. What reptiles do u have?

I keep my cockatiel in my room and leave the door open so he can see whats going on in the rest of our house. I live in a 2 bedrrom apartment though so he can pretty much see people at any time. I would keep yours in your living room, so he can always be around people. Plus you won't have to wake up at 7:00am every morning to his singing, which has been driving me crazy lately.

I wouldn't put a bird in the same room with your reptiles. This will def. stress out your herps. As reptiles lie direct;y below birds in the food chain