Any cockatiel owners out there?

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

We just bought a trio of Cockatiels for my boys for Christmas since they have wanted a pet forever, but we have severe allergies to dogs and cats. We chose these birds because my SIL has one and we care for it ocassionally. We bought the hand fed type so that we could handle them.

Question for cockatiel owners. How do you teach it to sing specific tunes. Do you just keep repeating the tune to them every day until they pick it up?

We have seen some amazing cockatiels on youtube. Just wondering how they taught their birds to sing/whistle like that.
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[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I had had birds since the 70's, as many as 50 at a time, until Wally the Cockatiel kick the bucket not long ago. He was the last bird at a Wal Mart moving to a new Wal Mart in the mid 90's.

Yes, they mimic. So, repetition.

Birds are very loyal. I had one I gave away when I had to downsize. Years later I was visiting that friend and Vinnie was ecstatic . . . came to me as soon as I walked in, sat on my shoulder and picked at my earlobe, just like always.

Birds live a long time, and many birdowners grow tired of them once the novelty wears off.

[Keitht Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Keitht]

There is no guarantee that your bird will speak, sing, whistle! We have one which was hand raised (allegedly) by the breeder. All it has ever done is emit an ear piercing screech and try to sever fingers if you get within range.
We tried everything to try to turn birdzilla round but absolutely nothing works.
What's even more annoying is that my SIL bought one at the same time as us. It was really friendly, always whistling and chirping and would sit happily on your shoulder. Unfortunately that one died at about 3 years old - ours is still going strong 15 years after we bought it. Proof, if proof were needed, that the good die young.

[rikkis_playpen Diamond Club Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close rikkis_playpen]

Try making a recording of the tune you want, and then play it on a loop for an hour or so a day.. Then, you simply add new tunes as you go..

Normally, the males will be the ones who become the talkers.

Once you have a bird who talks, you simply let him teach the others..

My mother raised birds, and she originally taught a bird named Cocoa how to whistle dixie.. Each generation after would learn the whistle (among others) from the last.. It was pretty funny.. It was almost like she was cloning- because they would simply learn the whistles on their own.

Merry Christmas Jim..

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

No!
Three?
You are a wonderful dad - but where do they go when u vacation????

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

No!
Three?
You are a wonderful dad - but where do they go when u vacation????

Grandparents. they live here, too.

Each boy wanted one. What else was I going to do?

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

Grandparents. they live here, too.

Each boy wanted one. What else was I going to do?

I don't know - both my son and my daughter live in NYC - guess who is sitting here at home with Cody GrayFal 15 years later - yup, that would be ME!

Good thing I love her more then the kids

[falmouth3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close falmouth3]

My husband had received a cockatiel as a gift from his parents before we met. The bird would say "Hi Will" when you walked in the room. His name was Willie. When I entered the picture, he didn't like me at all and refused to talk after I started saying "Hi Sue" to him. He just would mumble all the time. Then he decided he liked me better than DH. He annoyed and scared my dog and we both liked dogs better than birds so we gave him to friends who wanted a pet who would live a long time. He passed away last year at around age 20.

I know he had a great life with our friends but he remembered me. We had moved away and once I visited and he went nuts as soon as he heard my voice. He was ecstatic when I went in the room to see him. It was really sweet.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I know he had a great life with our friends but he remembered me. We had moved away and once I visited and he went nuts as soon as he heard my voice. He was ecstatic when I went in the room to see him. It was really sweet.

No fair copying my posts.

Merry Christmas.

BTW, cockatiel are not the best talkers.

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

A friend's brother gave me a pair when he moved. They didn't do much but shriek when they made any sounds at all. The Male was much more aggressive. I ended up re-gifting them to my oldest son's godfather who made a breeding cage for them and got many more cockatiels for his efforts. A few years later after several lingering illnesses, he died. It was determined that the death was caused by complications from an allergy to cockatiels. Bad news birds.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

A friend's brother gave me a pair when he moved. They didn't do much but shriek when they made any sounds at all. The Male was much more aggressive. I ended up re-gifting them to my oldest son's godfather who made a breeding cage for them and got many more cockatiels for his efforts. A few years later after several lingering illnesses, he died. It was determined that the death was caused by complications from an allergy to cockatiels. Bad news birds.

Revenge of the Birds

[longtimer Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close longtimer]

We've had two cockatiels over the years, both hand-raised. The first was wonderful. He learned to sing, talk and whistle tunes. My husband is an Andy Griffin fan and this bird learned to whistle the theme song from the show! He was also a great "watch-bird." Whenever anyone stepped onto our porch he would whistle a certain way. Even the dog learned to recognize this whistle and would jump up in response to the alarm. Peety was a wonderful bird and lived a very long time - nearly 21 years.
The second cockatiel was a rescue. He never warmed up to us and never sang or talked. The only time he vocalized was when he was mad or wanted attention - and then it was an ear-splitting shriek! We had a friend who really wanted a cockatiel and had lots more time to train the second bird, so we gave him away. That bird is still living and has since learned to whistle somewhat and vocalizes a few words.

Bottom line - there's no way to tell if a bird will be talker. I suggest, as others have said, play music, keep the television on. There used to be recordings that you could buy to play words over and over to teach the bird some language. Also feed your birds high quality food - none of the low-grade bird food - and never give them food meant for outdoor birds. They love millet seed and fresh veggies. You should also find a local vet who will care for birds (not all do). That way if you have questions or one of them needs care, you know where to take them. Good luck! I really miss our cockatiel. Would love to get another, but DH says absolutely no more pets.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

As the various stories indicate, humans do not make very good pets for cockatiels.