Once upon a time, I had a cockatiel named Patrick. He must have been made of fairy dust because he was the perfect bird. Hardly ever screeched, just ran back in forth in his cage like a dog when we got home from work. Never bit me. Was curious and playful but not annoying. Didn't get into everything, loved to cuddle and nuzzle me behind the ears while I washed dishes. Showered with me and swayed back and forth in the shower stream regularly. And most importantly, he didn't screech in his cage when we had to put him away for whatever reason. Stupidly, I thought all cockatiels must be like Patrick. Because of my stories, my son started asking for a cockatiel, so we got him one for his 14th birthday.
At first, Indiana Jones was great. But as he got older, he got more and more insistent on his way (he is about 1 year old now). At first we had the cage in a front room, but we had to move it to the living room/kitchen area because he would screech when we weren't in the room. That was better. He would chill in the cage while my home-schooled daughter did her work. If we ever let him out during school time, he would of course eat everything on the table...laptops, school books, school work (my...bird...ate my homework?? no, really)...just impossible to get stuff done. So, back in the cage during school time. Fine. But then after a few months....screech, screech! Cover cage...screech, screech! Doesn't matter. Let him out and he will be on my shoulder and often screech DIRECTLY in my ear while I'm doing kitchen stuff. That's enough to make me angry, as my ears will often ring for hours when that happens.
Almost impossible to get him back in the cage in the morning because he flies. We can't clip his wings because one of the cats is just way too interested in him (and he's stupid...will literally walk on the floor right in front of her). By now I'm ready to let nature take its course I mean what? JUST JOKES. But just this morning, he was in his cage and I was trying to have some solitude. He's downstairs and I'm upstairs with the door shut, blasting white noise thru a pair of Yamaha HS8s and I can STILL HEAR HIM through the white noise. I give up and let him out, he flies on my shoulder and starts screeching in my ear again. Can't. Take. Anymore.
His saving grace is that usually in the afternoon, he chills out. You can get him out and he will be very personable, let you pet his head in the most vulnerable way, accept kisses, etc. All of this but I can't get my hand near him in the morning. Super weird.
Sorry for the rant, but I'm on the verge of telling my son that I'm sorry, he's gotta go. He is precious but he's not worth my sanity. Really. I am fully prepared to accept judgment for that statement. However, I am wondering if a second cockatiel will provide the companionship he needs so that he can chill out. I know there's a risk the birds won't get along (which would be worse), and there's also a risk that he won't want to cuddle with my son anymore. I don't know what to do. I do love him and so does my much better half and my son. But again, I don't want to start to hate the bird and have every morning be miserable.
At first, Indiana Jones was great. But as he got older, he got more and more insistent on his way (he is about 1 year old now). At first we had the cage in a front room, but we had to move it to the living room/kitchen area because he would screech when we weren't in the room. That was better. He would chill in the cage while my home-schooled daughter did her work. If we ever let him out during school time, he would of course eat everything on the table...laptops, school books, school work (my...bird...ate my homework?? no, really)...just impossible to get stuff done. So, back in the cage during school time. Fine. But then after a few months....screech, screech! Cover cage...screech, screech! Doesn't matter. Let him out and he will be on my shoulder and often screech DIRECTLY in my ear while I'm doing kitchen stuff. That's enough to make me angry, as my ears will often ring for hours when that happens.
Almost impossible to get him back in the cage in the morning because he flies. We can't clip his wings because one of the cats is just way too interested in him (and he's stupid...will literally walk on the floor right in front of her). By now I'm ready to let nature take its course I mean what? JUST JOKES. But just this morning, he was in his cage and I was trying to have some solitude. He's downstairs and I'm upstairs with the door shut, blasting white noise thru a pair of Yamaha HS8s and I can STILL HEAR HIM through the white noise. I give up and let him out, he flies on my shoulder and starts screeching in my ear again. Can't. Take. Anymore.
His saving grace is that usually in the afternoon, he chills out. You can get him out and he will be very personable, let you pet his head in the most vulnerable way, accept kisses, etc. All of this but I can't get my hand near him in the morning. Super weird.
Sorry for the rant, but I'm on the verge of telling my son that I'm sorry, he's gotta go. He is precious but he's not worth my sanity. Really. I am fully prepared to accept judgment for that statement. However, I am wondering if a second cockatiel will provide the companionship he needs so that he can chill out. I know there's a risk the birds won't get along (which would be worse), and there's also a risk that he won't want to cuddle with my son anymore. I don't know what to do. I do love him and so does my much better half and my son. But again, I don't want to start to hate the bird and have every morning be miserable.