Help me decide- A Tiel friend for Prinny?

[Doyle'sMommy]

I am worried that Prinny is sad by herself. She tries so hard to be near Doyle but he really does not like her. I considered getting another tiel for her to be with when I first got her, but everyone recommended that I give her more time to settle in and see if Doyle ever took to her.

4 months later, he still can't stand her. I really was not planning on getting another bird as I feel our house and time is full. But Prinny seems so lonely sometimes and it breaks my heart. I feel stuck on what to do. I really don't want to have to take time away from the other birds to make time for another one. But I will if that is what would make Prinny happy and comfortable.

I am also concerned that the presence of another tiel, even a female, would cause her to lay eggs. And possible egg binding and all the other problems that could arise scare the crap out of me!

Any advice would be appreciated. I feel really lost and don't know what the right answer is. I just want what is best for everyone.

[Doubleyolk]

The other thing that could be a problem, would the two of them get along if you got another, or would you have two lonely Tiel's.

[Tiki]

In my experience, Tiels usually do get along with each other. You would defintely want another female because they breed at the drop of a hat! Maybe you could find a little girl in a rescue near you? Or Lynda might have one, she usually has rescue birds.

[GINICH]

Lynda hasn't been around lately because she is hand-feeding a baby tiel, on an hourly basis, 24/7. There are also several rescue tiels in the Rescue Room that need good homes. However, FWCAS only adopts out to local FL residents and before and after visits are required. Of course, as a board member, they might let me do one in ATL.

That doesn't guarantee that Prinny will like "a friend". It sounds to me that you give the four of them plenty of individual attention. She may just be a little out of sorts because you recently brought home "the new baby" and she has to share the limelight. Give her more time to adjust before thinking about getting another tiel.

[Doyle'sMommy]

That is good advice Gini, I hadn't thought of that. We are going to think this over a little longer. We at least want to hold off until after our vacation in June (if we decide to get another), so we have plenty of time to think.

Also the fact that they might not get along concerns me. Prinny is a little small for a tiel and I worry she might be an easy target for bullying. Also I don't know how old she is, I am guessing around 3 years. Is her age something to consider? The fact she has been alone all this time (to the best of my knowledge)?

[Doyle'sMommy]

Though most Tiels get along, I do have Tiels that do not get along very well or prefer not to have the room mate that they do.

Either way it is something to think about.

If she gets attention from you does she seem to be ok? It could be that you are are just thinking that she is only when in all actuality she may not be. I do think if she has her time with you and her toys etc that she would probably be fine without a playmate.

She loves attention from me and Evan (well except occasionally when she is just being a cranky, hissing, little girl tiel, lol). She seems to be fine when she is on my shoulder, but she sort of just hangs out in her cage and stares at me or Evan when we are not holding her. She does play with her toys like crazy when we are gone, she goes through them quickly. And she sometimes plays with them when we are home. I guess why I think she is lonely is because she is not as active as the other birds when we are home and around her. They can entertain themselves and she just seems to sit there. I guess because they play more it seems like they are happier and more comfortable. And she seems unsure still. Maybe I am noticing it more now because she just moved into her new cage and she could still be unsure of it. I hate to say this but I really don't want to get another bird because I don't want to spread out my time anymore between them, it wouldn't be fair to them or a new bird. Ugh, I guess I just answered my own question. I just don't want her to be unhappy and me just to be selfish and ignore her (possible) need for a playmate. Does that make any sense?

[Kateykat]

I will just say that I think my 4 tiels are happier together then they would be seperate. They play, hang out together and sleep touching each other. Cockatiels aren't *usually* agressive birds so they usually get along, if it was me (and this is just me) I would get another girlie tiel for her to hang with (is her cage big enough for two?) just because I see how much my guys love being with each other, and none of them were cluch mates.
In the end though it comes down to if you think you would be able to handle having another fid around?

[Doyle'sMommy]

I will just say that I think my 4 tiels are happier together then they would be seperate. They play, hang out together and sleep touching each other. Cockatiels aren't *usually* agressive birds so they usually get along, if it was me (and this is just me) I would get another girlie tiel for her to hang with (is her cage big enough for two?) just because I see how much my guys love being with each other, and none of them were cluch mates.
In the end though it comes down to if you think you would be able to handle having another fid around?

Her cage is big enough for two. I know that if we got another bird we would always be able to make time and the extra money and such required. It is just do I want to take time away from the rest of the gang or should I just make sure Prinny gets a little more one on one time then the others since she seems to not be as active or independent on her own. I think I am just going to hold off on this idea for awhile and try giving her extra attention and see if she perks up a little. Thanks everyone!

[Tiki]

That's a good idea, hold off if you are going on vacation and try giving her more attention. Also try putting her and Doyle on a playgym in a nuetral area somewhere and see if they play together. He just mught be territorial if she is going near his cage.

[Kateykat]

Her cage is big enough for two. I know that if we got another bird we would always be able to make time and the extra money and such required. It is just do I want to take time away from the rest of the gang or should I just make sure Prinny gets a little more one on one time then the others since she seems to not be as active or independent on her own. I think I am just going to hold off on this idea for awhile and try giving her extra attention and see if she perks up a little. Thanks everyone!

Mullani likes to be involved with everything I am doing, whether it be cutting up veggies (he is on my shoulder nattering into my ear constantly) changing papers, bowls etc. He knows he can't be out with the ringies because they are just to rough for the tiels, but it doesn't stop him thinking that he should be out when he can see them running amuck. He is just my nosy little Velcro bird.Sounds like a good idea to hold off and see how she goes, she could just be like Mullani in the fact that she always wants to be involved, even when she shouldn't/can't be?
LOL you know me, I would have a zoo if my hubby would let me so I hope it doesn't seem like I am pushing you to add more to your flock :angel:

[Archive]

I understand your predicament as that's how I've felt about Jerry over the past year. He reallllly tries hard to play with Lulu every night and she just wants nothing to do with him, and she HATES him being next to her. Lulu is different than Prinny because Lulu seems very independent. She does want attention from us - and she gets a lot of attention from both of us - but at the same time she happily plays by herself either in her cage or on a playstand/gym. Lulu doesn't give a crap about Winston (she's been in the bedroom twice now to see him), so she doesn't actively seek out a birdie mate (of the budgie kind at least lol).

I was really torn about getting another budgie though, for the exact reasons that you worry about. I'll let ya know how that goes LOL but my biggest fear is that Jerry and another bird wouldn't get along (ya know, if Jerry's the hyperactive crazy kid and the other kids always run away from him :blush:).

I agree that you should take some more time to think about it, to see if she feels more comfortable in her new cage and with Scarlett being a member of the family. And maybe someday the right bird will find you should you be open to getting another tiel. Dave and I tossed around the idea of another budgie from time to time and it really didn't seem the like the best thing to do until Winston sort of found us.

[Bustersbuddy]

Hi Tiffany, you're really asking all the right questions and for all the right reason. You're a good fid mommy, that's for sure! I think you would be right to wait until after vacation. It gives you some time to think about and to observe Prinny further. With the two conures and a baby grey, she may feel a bit neglected since those are somewhat noisy, demanding birds. Plus, she just got a new cage and that will throw her a bit even though she probably loves it. Give her some more time and see how things progress.

Given that, I will say that from what you have described previously, Prinny wants some close birdie friends as well. She tries to be chummy with Doyle, but he chases her away or wants nothing to do with her, so that's a bust. He might warm up eventually, but I suspect if he hasn't by now, he probably won't. Just keep exposing them to one another and see how things progress.

I'm in the same boat, as I want another tiel but I wonder how Buster would adjust. She is a bit jealous, especially of Kent, but I think she would take to another cockatiel. I have decided to wait until the end of April or early May to make my choice. I'm still looking for a good breeder in my area since I want a hand-raised baby of my own choosing. So I'll just have to wait and see.

Best,

D.

[Doyle'sMommy]

I held some sweet cockatiel youngins today! Even though they were so much fun, I am really hesitant. I need to get a scale or get Prinny's vet to weigh her, she seems the same size as those babies. They had grown adults there, breeders, and they were huge! I don't know if they pick big ones as breeders or what but she is much smaller than the adults she had. But then again they also had Nandays the size of Danny, so I am not sure what they are bulking these birds up with.

Anyways we still have two months to think this over. But we have been spending more time with Prinny and she seems to be perking up a bit. So maybe a friend won't be necessary, I may just have a velcro bird on my hands (er... my shoulder).

[Tiki]

Tiffany, most Tiel breeders will choose their larger birds to breed if they are professionals. Rima is my smallest and she ranges from 97-100 grams, Manu is my largest and is usually around 105.