Kisota
New member
Hi, everybody!! Been MIA for a while, but some of you may remember this thread from a while back.
The short version of the story is that after years of wanting another bird, I got a yellow-sided GCC, Cuzco, but found our personalities to be a little mismatched. He didn't have the cuddly, attention-seeking personality I'd heard was typical of greencheeks, but did have the pinchiness and scream capacity for sure! I found myself missing the peaceful, snuggly cockatiel attitude and thought maybe I should get one. My partner was not on board with it.
BUT! Well, there's good news on two fronts:
1) Cuzco continues to change slowly but surely, and we've really grown together. He's still not a massive fan of physical affection, but he will accept scritches fairly often, for short bouts. His biting is improving quite a bit and I no longer get so frustrated with him...the screaming is off and on, but overall, I totally enjoy him. He's so funny. AND he's insanely smart! I could go on and on about all the funny stuff he does, but the best part is that we both seem to love and respect each other a lot more now.
and
2) WELL... we got a cockatiel today! YAY! Pictures to follow... but she is just great (at least I think it's a she). I got my partner to agree to let me look for a cockatiel with the personality I want. We missed our chance at a really sweet bird in a pet shop, and I was kind of bummed about that. So we check out Hartman Aviary, a private breeder, and today, a bird fair. I asked around at Facebook as well and had a lot of other offers. But ... I was being really picky. This time I wasn't going to choose a bird unless it came up to me and begged for scratches and was eager to be held, like the one at the shop had been.
So I figured I'd just be patient and wait it out. We'd find the right one eventually. I got some toys at the bird fair so it wouldn't seem like a total loss. Only one person there had tiels, and they were packed in tiny cages and didn't seem very friendly or personable. On the way out though, I asked "Do you supposed there are any pet shops around we should check out while we're here?" I am not normally really "into" buying animals from pet shops, but since personality has been tantamount in this search, I've been keeping all my options open.
There was a Jack's Pets on the way home, so we stopped by. Some adorable rabbits, a cinnamon turquoise GCC (who wanted some scratches), a REALLY gorgeous ringneck (who didn't want scratches) and... a pretty little pearl pied cockatiel in the next cage over. Super pretty, but I immediately made sure not to get my hopes up. The bird started scooting toward us when it saw us coming over though. A good sign! She took a little poop-squat and waddled across the perch to immediately and without hesitation stuff her head against the bars and get petted.
I was trying not to get too excited, but I was pretty darn thrilled! Tiels can be SO shy, even when handfed, so having one run up to me was awesome. Even the last friendly one I'd met had been a little hesitant at first. Not this one. She wasted no time in between seeing me and getting her crest scritched. So I asked if I could hold her, and the employee said yes, informing me that it was just the nicest bird ever. I opened the door and slowly offered my hand, but I needn't worry... she was already waiting for me to reach down so she could climb up. Her head then went down and she nuzzled against my other hand. I stopped worrying about being excited at this point. Unless something horrible happened, I knew at this point I'd probably be bringing her home.
I tried to hand her off to my boyfriend. She wouldn't step up right away. I was mildly concerned at first, but then I realized that she was sticking her head down at the hand, because she wanted it to scratch her too! I walked around with her on my shoulder for while. She nonchalantly preened and played with my hair and did that weird cockatiel thing where they throw their wings out and lean forward all excited. She never nipped, and the only sound she made was these tiny little grunty squeaks (allegedly the only sound she ever really makes). Apparently the guy there had decided the bird was male and has been calling him "Cornelius." I joked that, since it seemed to likely be female, we'd call it "Cornelia" or "Corny." ... I will not actually be calling the bird that, though! Still don't have a name.
So, sex unknown, but likely female, pearl pied, a bit less than six months old... and my new buddy!
She's doing great already. She started playing with all the new toys she had almost right away. She only had one toy in her cage at the shop, so I was worried she'd be afraid of them, but I was adding some of the new ones while she was in there, and each time, she'd scoot over to the new object to check it out and play with it. She's obviously a little nervous as she settles in, but I think she'll be fine. She still is happy to come out and be scratched. She stuffed her little head all the way into my fist earlier. And she stretches in greeting whenever I walk by.
I would welcome any advice, though, especially regarding introducing the birds!
Right now she's in a separate room (our apartment is 550 sq ft, so the best I can do is keep her in the bedroom for semi-quarantine).
We got a receipt for a free exam with a nearby avian vet, so I'll have to call tomorrow and see if I can make an appointment within the 5 day limit.
I'm thinking that after the 30 day quarantine is up, I'd just move step by step: first move the cage into the same room as Cuzco. Then, when they seem more comfortable, move the cages closer. Then try having the birds out at the same time in neutral territory away from the cages, and finally, let them interact directly. Any more advice?
I don't think Cuzco knows there's another bird in the apartment. If he hears her I'm sure he'll start calling like crazy.
Anyway, I'll try to post pics soon! I'm so very happy. She's gorgeous, and so sweet!
Now we have a little gryphon to go along with our dragon. 
Sorry my posts are always so long!!
The short version of the story is that after years of wanting another bird, I got a yellow-sided GCC, Cuzco, but found our personalities to be a little mismatched. He didn't have the cuddly, attention-seeking personality I'd heard was typical of greencheeks, but did have the pinchiness and scream capacity for sure! I found myself missing the peaceful, snuggly cockatiel attitude and thought maybe I should get one. My partner was not on board with it.
BUT! Well, there's good news on two fronts:
1) Cuzco continues to change slowly but surely, and we've really grown together. He's still not a massive fan of physical affection, but he will accept scritches fairly often, for short bouts. His biting is improving quite a bit and I no longer get so frustrated with him...the screaming is off and on, but overall, I totally enjoy him. He's so funny. AND he's insanely smart! I could go on and on about all the funny stuff he does, but the best part is that we both seem to love and respect each other a lot more now.
and
2) WELL... we got a cockatiel today! YAY! Pictures to follow... but she is just great (at least I think it's a she). I got my partner to agree to let me look for a cockatiel with the personality I want. We missed our chance at a really sweet bird in a pet shop, and I was kind of bummed about that. So we check out Hartman Aviary, a private breeder, and today, a bird fair. I asked around at Facebook as well and had a lot of other offers. But ... I was being really picky. This time I wasn't going to choose a bird unless it came up to me and begged for scratches and was eager to be held, like the one at the shop had been.
So I figured I'd just be patient and wait it out. We'd find the right one eventually. I got some toys at the bird fair so it wouldn't seem like a total loss. Only one person there had tiels, and they were packed in tiny cages and didn't seem very friendly or personable. On the way out though, I asked "Do you supposed there are any pet shops around we should check out while we're here?" I am not normally really "into" buying animals from pet shops, but since personality has been tantamount in this search, I've been keeping all my options open.
There was a Jack's Pets on the way home, so we stopped by. Some adorable rabbits, a cinnamon turquoise GCC (who wanted some scratches), a REALLY gorgeous ringneck (who didn't want scratches) and... a pretty little pearl pied cockatiel in the next cage over. Super pretty, but I immediately made sure not to get my hopes up. The bird started scooting toward us when it saw us coming over though. A good sign! She took a little poop-squat and waddled across the perch to immediately and without hesitation stuff her head against the bars and get petted.
I was trying not to get too excited, but I was pretty darn thrilled! Tiels can be SO shy, even when handfed, so having one run up to me was awesome. Even the last friendly one I'd met had been a little hesitant at first. Not this one. She wasted no time in between seeing me and getting her crest scritched. So I asked if I could hold her, and the employee said yes, informing me that it was just the nicest bird ever. I opened the door and slowly offered my hand, but I needn't worry... she was already waiting for me to reach down so she could climb up. Her head then went down and she nuzzled against my other hand. I stopped worrying about being excited at this point. Unless something horrible happened, I knew at this point I'd probably be bringing her home.
I tried to hand her off to my boyfriend. She wouldn't step up right away. I was mildly concerned at first, but then I realized that she was sticking her head down at the hand, because she wanted it to scratch her too! I walked around with her on my shoulder for while. She nonchalantly preened and played with my hair and did that weird cockatiel thing where they throw their wings out and lean forward all excited. She never nipped, and the only sound she made was these tiny little grunty squeaks (allegedly the only sound she ever really makes). Apparently the guy there had decided the bird was male and has been calling him "Cornelius." I joked that, since it seemed to likely be female, we'd call it "Cornelia" or "Corny." ... I will not actually be calling the bird that, though! Still don't have a name.
So, sex unknown, but likely female, pearl pied, a bit less than six months old... and my new buddy!
She's doing great already. She started playing with all the new toys she had almost right away. She only had one toy in her cage at the shop, so I was worried she'd be afraid of them, but I was adding some of the new ones while she was in there, and each time, she'd scoot over to the new object to check it out and play with it. She's obviously a little nervous as she settles in, but I think she'll be fine. She still is happy to come out and be scratched. She stuffed her little head all the way into my fist earlier. And she stretches in greeting whenever I walk by.
I would welcome any advice, though, especially regarding introducing the birds!
Right now she's in a separate room (our apartment is 550 sq ft, so the best I can do is keep her in the bedroom for semi-quarantine).
We got a receipt for a free exam with a nearby avian vet, so I'll have to call tomorrow and see if I can make an appointment within the 5 day limit.
I'm thinking that after the 30 day quarantine is up, I'd just move step by step: first move the cage into the same room as Cuzco. Then, when they seem more comfortable, move the cages closer. Then try having the birds out at the same time in neutral territory away from the cages, and finally, let them interact directly. Any more advice?
I don't think Cuzco knows there's another bird in the apartment. If he hears her I'm sure he'll start calling like crazy.
Anyway, I'll try to post pics soon! I'm so very happy. She's gorgeous, and so sweet!
Now we have a little gryphon to go along with our dragon. Sorry my posts are always so long!!
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