Added 2 Cockatiels to the flock

I took picture but they did not come out too well but will get them uploaded soon..

So I was browsing craigslist because my children are begging for birds (only the 2 oldest will be getting one) and they have been great with these guys and I think that cockatiels are a great starter bird so I was cruzing craigslist and found some white faced hand fed babies so I called the lady and we spoke for some time and she said I can come pick them up for $10 each and she had cages etc. So I drive out there not hoping for much and what a deal. These are the sweetest most well adjusted gentle babies!

They are 12 weeks old and really the cutest things I have ever seen. One is a white faced pearl and the other is a white faced grey but he/she doesnt have a real white face more of a light grey. My significant other claimed one and my daughter claimed the other My oldest son has to wait for his which is not weaned yet but she said that we can have a pick from the two for the same price. I am so excited and they are so cute. My daughter is in absolute love!

Have you got enough room? Your going to be flat out if you get anymore. ( That was a compliment)

Ratzy said:

Have you got enough room? Your going to be flat out if you get anymore. ( That was a compliment)

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Lol yeah we are actually going to use our bedrooms as quarenteen areas and our dining room which we were using as a study is getting the furniture moved out tomorrow and getting turned into a bird room. Its pretty cool because our bottom floor has a dining room, a kitchen, a family room and a living room. THe living room is a play room, the family room is a family room where the tv is and where the family is all the time. The dining room is in between those two but is all open so the birds can see the play room and see the living room, they have full view of the whole down stairs.

cool! I'd love loads of birds. As it is I'm saving up for extending my cages. ( only have one big one but it is still big enough to hold about 12 budgies)

Ratzy said:

cool! I'd love loads of birds. As it is I'm saving up for extending my cages. ( only have one big one but it is still big enough to hold about 12 budgies)

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That is really cool. I love the singing that the budgies do. They sound so sweet!

Congratulations on the 'tiels, they are awesome birds. You will enjoy them so much. I love how I can get the attitude and cuteness of the cockatoo (once one of my dream birds), in a smaller and quieter package.

Ummm... they are cockatoos. Smallest member of the family. Thank you MaiTai, really only one is very chirpy and you can hear them squabbling from the bathroom. I'm gradully gaining their trust ( well, the ones that aren't tame) and I've found a new way as they love the suringe. I'm having to water Marigold with it, she has a sore foot and can't get over there. Anyway, I'm rambling, any updates?

Ummm... they are cockatoos. Smallest member of the family.

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Yes, you are absolutely right-- the Nymphicus hollandicus are the smallest of the family Cacatuidae, but they are part of the subfamily Calyptorhynchinae (dark-colored cockatoos). This makes their personality differ so much, it seems as if they are a completely different Psittacine.

MaiTai, please do share those pics. I'm excited to see your babies!!

congratulations on your additions! Can't wait to see their piccies!

I think it's great for kids to grow up learning to care for an animal (or bird). My son desperately wants his own budgie but he already has a python, a fish and a kitten to look after and I'm a really mean Mum who makes him pay for half the vet bills. Pocket money doesn't pay that much to 10yr olds in my house so 1 kitten vaccination = 1 month pay.

If yoru mean I must be terribly mean My kdis have to pay for all the food, toys etc I get them started with a cage and a few toys and perches but if they want more that is on them My daughter si saving up for anew cage. I figure if she gets half way there I will help some but pets are a responsibility and I know I was shocked when I moved out on my own and got a dog at how expensive they were my mom paid for everything when I was a kid I had no clue.

MaiTai said:

If yoru mean I must be terribly mean My kdis have to pay for all the food, toys etc I get them started with a cage and a few toys and perches but if they want more that is on them My daughter si saving up for anew cage. I figure if she gets half way there I will help some but pets are a responsibility and I know I was shocked when I moved out on my own and got a dog at how expensive they were my mom paid for everything when I was a kid I had no clue.

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I feel better now haha. I think it is so important for them to learn the financial cost of owning a pet as well as the work that goes into it.... not just the fun stuff. He pays for the toys and accessories as well but that's not a very big cost with the animals my son has... a bird is a different story. Good on you I think we are teaching our kids very important lessons

Mel said:

MaiTai said:

If yoru mean I must be terribly mean My kdis have to pay for all the food, toys etc I get them started with a cage and a few toys and perches but if they want more that is on them My daughter si saving up for anew cage. I figure if she gets half way there I will help some but pets are a responsibility and I know I was shocked when I moved out on my own and got a dog at how expensive they were my mom paid for everything when I was a kid I had no clue.

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I feel better now haha. I think it is so important for them to learn the financial cost of owning a pet as well as the work that goes into it.... not just the fun stuff. He pays for the toys and accessories as well but that's not a very big cost with the animals my son has... a bird is a different story. Good on you I think we are teaching our kids very important lessons

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Yes I think so atleast when they are adults they will know what to expect. They also must keep their room 100% clean since to me this is a reflection on what they think cleanliness is. If they cant keep themselves clean how can they keep a bird clean

I have to pay for the vet bills, as dad isn't very keen on taking a budgie to a vet.

Ratzy said:

I have to pay for the vet bills, as dad isn't very keen on taking a budgie to a vet.

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So many people value an animal by what it cost to buy, they often forget to take in the emotional value which for most of us would be priceless. I think it's usually those who have not experienced the joy of truely sharing their lives with a pet that has become an extended part of the family.

Good on you Ratzy, it would be very hard for you being a young student having to afford this without your Dads support.

Thanks. I'm also saving up for another cage. It is $180, and can hold about 6 budgies. I'm also going to get a quarantine cage, which is $35, just right for a pair of budgies.