[Sharon]

I know some of you have cockateils, and I have a question.

I've been reading the ads again(I'm going to have to stop doing that!!!) and I've come across a 9month old Cockateil and an absolutely beautiful cage(3months old) going for $200. I know the cage alone is worth that. I seem to be wanting another bird, and I'm really not sure why?

My biggest worry is the Cockateil dander...How bad is it? And, is he likely to fling food? I imagine the poop would be similiar to Levi's(Linnie) poop? Surely it can't be worse???? I'm a very fastidious housekeeper, so I don't want to get into something that I'll regret.
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[Mythara]

Cockatiels are wonderful. I have two and I personally don't notice the dander that much, unless they're sitting on dark trousers preening. Things like frequent baths/showers can help to keep it down a lot. As far as the poop goes, I'm pretty sure it's not as bad as a Linnies, lol. I've heard bad things about Linnie poop, but never 'tiels. It's really mostly like a budgies, but bigger. Flinging food, isn't really a problem, as such. They can be messy eaters, but ours pretty much keep it with in the cage.

 

[Sharon]

Thanks Mythara...I've just spoken to the owner. The bird is not tame, although it was earlier. He hasn't the time to spend so the little guy spends all day in his cage, or on the perch on top of the cage. Apparently he'll sit on top of the cage on that perch for hours....He has bitten but only when the owner picked him up the wrong way, enclosing the wings...so that sounds good. I really do think I'd like him. It's an eight hour drive return, and I still have to convince Hubby that another bird won't be that noticable....but I'm already thinking of names. His current name is Buddy....
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[nanay]

Sharon,

I had a cockateil many, many years ago. I've not had a cockateil with a linnie, and it has been a long time since I had a cockateil. I honestly believe, if my memory serves me correctly, that the linnie goes to the bathroom more often than a cockateil, but, actually, it could have been MY particular cockateil and my particular linnie. My linnie goes more often than any of my other current birds, though, and it is a bit runnier, too.

The cockateils I have known, both mine and those of family members, have had marvelous personalities. They don't seem to hold onto past stresses as much as most other birds. By that I mean they seem to be able to forget the past if the present is safe, so I would think if the bird has been tame and just left unattended for a while it could return to being tame.

However, I really DO notice the dander. The dander is the only thing I could ever have against a cockateil. That doesn't mean rule a cockateil out. It means assess whether or not you can handle the dander. Unless you have an allegry to it, I would think a fastideous housekeeper like yourself would be okay with it, because you will take care of it quickly. If there is any possibility of an allergy to the dander, then I wouldn't chance it, because those things build up and you might be in love with the bird by the time you realize your health just won't tolerate it.

I'm sure there are lots of housekeeping tips to make the dander manageable as long as there is no possibility of an allergy. The dander is not as plentiful as cockatoo dander.

So - I believe cockateils are great birds who are not generally more messy in eating or bathroom habits than linnies, but they do produce a dander that has to be contended with, and other cockateil owners should have good hints for that. If allergies are a possibility, though, take extreme caution.

 

[Sharon]

There are no allergies. My concern is that I've read so many different reports on the dander, and don't really know what to expect. One site said that if the bird rubs against you, he'll leave a coat of the stuff. I don't mind a little extra dusting or swiffering around the cage...I do that anyway, with my present three....but I can't imagine I'd enjoy a constant coat of powder all over the room he's in, or all over me for that matter. The present owner hasn't noticed anything powdery...and he was totally honest about everything else...the biting incident, and such. He does bathe the little guy, occassionally. Could it be that some Cockateils are dustier than others?

 

[hannahjack]

i agree with Nanay on this. Cockatiels can be amazing compainion birds- mine is, she is so loving and gentle and quirky! but the dander is annoying. I have allergies to everything under the sun- cats, dogs, trees, grass, dust, pollen, scented lotion...you get the point. and in my previous apartment the cockatiel dander wasa little bothersome for me. i had carpet there, and i had to vacuum constantly or i would get sneezy. however, now i have the same bird in a room with wood floors, and much less of a problem. from my experiance at least i think so long as you keep their area clean, and they bathe regularly, it shouldn't be an issue - i bought a hepa filter and that made it pretty much unnoticable to me. and its kind of cute when they shake their feathers out and make a little puff of dust...

Do you plan on keeping him in your bedroom? this might be a problem if you have allergies, but if you have a room with good air circulation that you do not sleep in to keep him in, it isn't likely to bother you.

Also, Wednesday is far cleaner than my budgie when it comes to eating and throwing things and etc, and her poop is really easy to clean up, just like myartha said it is like budgie poop but a bit bigger. (in fact when i first got zoot, who wasn't my first budgie, but the first one i had had in a long time, i saw his droppings and exclaimed to my now ex boyfriend - "aww! even his poops are cute- their little versions of wednesdays!"-- for some reason the bf wasn't as interested in this as i was)


this post was long, and really just repeating what other people said. i just wanted another chance to declare my cockatiel love.

also, that cockatiel would benifit from living with YOU, I know how you spoil Levi!

I have a little problem with looking at the ads when i shouldn't, too. I just had to talk myself out of adopting a linnie yesterday, and one that was bonded to a little budgie- all that time i was seriously getting ready for one, and had spoken to a breeder, but was going to have to have one shipped to me, because i couldn't find any locally- and now there is one a few towns over! but, i have to remind myself that i signed a lease saying there will be no more pets than the 2 birds i moved into the apartment with, and also i have to remind myself that my roommates probably already think i am a crazy bird lady, if i went from 2 birds to 4 all of the sudden, it might not be so great for those roommates...sigh...someday i will live in an apartment with only other bird lovers...

 

[hannahjack]

haha Sharon, i didn't see that you had already responded "no allergies" it took me so long to type that whole thing up!

 

[Sharon]

Thanks for the well thought out reply, Hannah. I'm not concerned about sneezing as much as I am about having to keep a Swiffer duster in my pocket, permanently!I'm going to have to really think about this, before I get into a situation I regret. The thing is that if he comes to live with me, I may be unhappy with the dust, but I wouldn't be able to rehome because I'd be afraid he wouldn't get the same care...you know, the time out, the homemade mash and muffins, toys...etc. That's why I really have to be careful...because this decision will be with me for a long time.

 

[Jenny]

My cockatiel is dusty, but that's because he refuses to bathe otherwise, they really aren't that bad at all (we had 20 at one point!). I just dust every 2-3 days, because Goober has an allergy. Otherwise, I was dusting once a week, and it really wasn't a problem at all.

If he was tame, he will tame back down with patience. Moose was very tame when we sold him, was played with for a year, then sat on the back porch with no interaction what so ever. When I first got him back, he would not come out of the cage, but would let me scratch him through the bars. Now, he comes out when he wants to and will sit on my shoulder getting scratches and kisses all night tiels tend to be inherently sweet birds :lovehearts:

 

[hannahjack]

i agree that it would be bad for the bird to be rehomed more times, do you know anyone near you who has a cockatiel you could spend time with, see if the dander bothered you?

uh oh, i got so sucked into all of this, i forgot to look at the time, i could have left the office by now! (to go home to a cold apartment, but thats a different story...)

 

[Sharon]

Thanks all...I think my decision will be to go get him!!!:biggrin5: Hannah, at least your birds are warm!!!

 

[Jenny]

Oooh, let us know! :hearts: Can't wait!

 

[Solace.]

Yay! Cockatiels are awesomee.

To be honest, I have 11 and I have never had dander problems.. but mine are misted/bathed quite often so that's probably why. They tend to flick food, but get a deep enough food dish and you shouldn't have any problems.