Considering a cockatiel too....

Aavogaro

New member
Jan 3, 2020
80
10
Austin, TX
Parrots
Fish & Blue - the budgie brat pack
Snoopy - lovable M whitefaced cockatiel
(Pending adoption) Paco - 25yo CAG
Hi. New to this forum. Joined the other day after I decided to bring a sweet Lutino Budgie into my family and wanted to learn from this community. He/she is currently at the pet store being cage trained. I have been visiting him/her (I think it’s a him so I am going to go with that for now) every day to start bonding. The store I purchased him from has one available cockatiel which has caught my eye every time I am there bonding with my budgie. He’s the only one available out of the 7 they have in the “pen” so naturally I thought he was the “reject”. But today he proved me wrong. He has been super sweet and affectionate, but most of all PATIENT with everyone I have watched hold him, including children!!! I found myself thinking about him constantly after leaving the store today and am now considering bringing him home as family as well.

So my question is, does anyone have experience with having Budgies and cockatiels together? I would house them separately but would love to bring them out together on the play or tree stand during family time. I have minimal experience with cockatiels. I had one for 2 years that never tamed and unfortunately met a terrible fate due to a bad decision I made, but even during the time I had with him I can’t say that owning him made me an experienced tiel owner. And he was my only bird.

Mainly looking for advice, pros:cons to having both, would having 2 housed separately make either less tame, .....TIA
 

1oldparroter

Member
Nov 4, 2019
267
7
Waiteville, WV
Parrots
I am 71, married and fairly private. I have PM privileges but prefer the phone. Printed messages, are so limited. jh
I have seen a lot of video's of people with multiple specie's of birds out about the house. You can try it and if they don't get along (within a weeks time) keep them segregated then. jh
PS: Goto YouTube.com in the search window type parrots and hit enter. jh
 

LaManuka

Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Aug 29, 2018
25,555
Media
26
Albums
1
33,188
Queensland, Australia
Parrots
Fang ({ab}normal grey cockatiel), Valentino (budgie), Jem (cinnamon cockatiel), Lovejoy(varied lorikeet), Peach (princess parrot)
Hello to you and welcome to Parrot Forums!

Budgies and cockatiels generally get on quite well. Budgies are well known for their pester power though so having separate accommodation for your cockatiel is recommended. My vet describes budgies as that pesky little brother who just doesn’t know when to quit and this is something that often gets them into trouble. Cockatiels are more tolerant of this behaviour than most though so I think as long as you exercise common sense they should be fine.

As far as taming and training is concerned, if you’re starting with two youngsters who have already been socialised with people they should adapt well in your home. In the early stages it may be best to have individual one on one time with each bird separately so each one has an opportunity to bond with you. My cockatiel Fang was hand raised and is generally very sociable (when he’s not being pushed around by a certain lorikeet that is!). My budgie Val on the other hand was a bit older when we got him and is not hand tame but loves hanging out and playing with the other two. Budgies are more flighty by nature so don’t be discouraged if he takes longer to settle. Remember they are going through major adjustments in their short lives and neither of them has any reason to trust you. It’s up to you to ensure each interaction they have with you is positive, take everything very slowly and move at the bird’s pace, even if it’s glacial sometimes! And don’t forget to come back here and give us updates and post some photos - we LOVE baby photos :)
 

bug_n_flock

Well-known member
Jan 2, 2018
1,371
207
Isolated Holler in the Appalachian Wilderness
Parrots
B&G Macaw, Galah, 5 cockatiels, 50 billion and a half budgies. We breed and do rescue. Too many to list each individual's name and age etc, but they are each individuals and loved dearly.
Haha "pester power", I love it.



My senior tiel hates the little guys, HATES them(but even with all his tiny hatred, he has never hurt one or anything like that. Just squeals angrily when they get too close, and ahouts for me to come get him or the budgie). Probably because he is a grumpy old man and the budgies seem obsessed with him. But yeah, tiels and budgies in the same house do tend to work out fine. Separate cages of course, but it should be fine.
 

Laurasea

Well-known member
Aug 2, 2018
12,593
10,702
USA
Parrots
Full house
Welcomed! Lots if great info and great people here! I too think having two will be great, especially since they are both young and not set in their ways. Can't wait to see pictures of them! And gear about them eating their veggies! Getting young birds started on a healthy diet pay off for life. And young ones are more willing to try new stuff.
 

AmyMyBlueFront

Well-known member
Apr 14, 2015
6,315
Media
4
3,034
Connecticut
Parrots
Amy a Blue Front 'Zon
Jonesy a Goffins 'Too who had to be rehomed :-(

And a Normal Grey Cockatiel named BB who came home with me on 5/20/2016.
Hi and welcome to the forum! We have quite a few members who have budgies and 'tiels. I have an Amazon and 'tiel and they both come out at the same time. I'm lucky as far as Amy (Amazon) simply adores BB (cockatiel) and after watching/supervising for the last three years I can say Amy would never harm BB.
Amy doesn't fly,doesn't know how to..BB is an excellent flap flapper. He'll hang with Amy,sing to him,wolf whistle and when he has had enough..flap flap to me!
I don't see any problems with a budgie and 'tiel. As stated,budgies can be bossy little so-and-so's so i'd keep a close eye on them.


Jim
 
OP
A

Aavogaro

New member
Jan 3, 2020
80
10
Austin, TX
Parrots
Fish & Blue - the budgie brat pack
Snoopy - lovable M whitefaced cockatiel
(Pending adoption) Paco - 25yo CAG
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #7
Well thank you to all who responded. I went back today to bond with my budgie and had plans to spend time with the cockatiel, but to my pleasant surprise he was already out picking his forever family in an 11 year old girl who was so great with him. Obviously this little guy wasn’t meant to be for me, but so thrilled he found a great home. I think it wasn’t meant to be because my little Budgie is showing me winning his trust and opening up his personality to me is definitely going to be a labor of love and time. Thanks to everyone for being so welcoming. Guess it’s time to start asking my questions on the budgie threads. (I have a feeling I’ll be back on here though in the not too distant future. :yellow1:) :):)
 

AmyMyBlueFront

Well-known member
Apr 14, 2015
6,315
Media
4
3,034
Connecticut
Parrots
Amy a Blue Front 'Zon
Jonesy a Goffins 'Too who had to be rehomed :-(

And a Normal Grey Cockatiel named BB who came home with me on 5/20/2016.
Sounds like a win-win for everyone concerned :04: Awesome! We are always here to help in any way we can. Please check in anytime you can. Remember a "stupid question" is a question not asked! And BTW...we LOVE photo's! ;)
hint-hint :)


Jim
 
OP
A

Aavogaro

New member
Jan 3, 2020
80
10
Austin, TX
Parrots
Fish & Blue - the budgie brat pack
Snoopy - lovable M whitefaced cockatiel
(Pending adoption) Paco - 25yo CAG
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #9
Hey Jim @AmyMyBlueFront Here’s a picture of the new little guy. Still unnamed. Leaning towards Omelette, Fish or Tweety Bird. Found out a new batch of hand-fed Tiels are hitting the floor tomorrow and am super interested still. I have been scouting cages on Craigslist. If I can do it without a huge financial impact Immediately I am seriously considering taking the plunge. Stay tuned......
 
Last edited:

Smerft85

New member
Jun 10, 2019
178
10
Colorful Colorado with colorful birds
Parrots
6 budgies, 3 cockatiels, 1 amazon and two Indian ringnecks
I've got 6 budgies and 3 cockatiels that will hang out together, but the species do have separate sleeping arrangements. Anymore they are so used to each other they do their own thing and interactions between the two groups are in passing, I guess they are looking for their spot at the treats, all 9 birds avoid conflict and if I had an aviary or bird room they would probably do fine all day out together, but the list of my own reasons to not house them together is extensive, on top of the reasons everyone else would give. I say let them out together while supervised and see how it goes.
 
OP
A

Aavogaro

New member
Jan 3, 2020
80
10
Austin, TX
Parrots
Fish & Blue - the budgie brat pack
Snoopy - lovable M whitefaced cockatiel
(Pending adoption) Paco - 25yo CAG
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #12
I just bought the cage pictured below. It has a removable divider but I will keep them separate. In the middle of building a big tree stand where they will be able to hang out together. Hoping living side by side will help allow them to get along when out on the play or tree stand together. Can’t wait to have them home together, but enjoying my bonding time with Fish the Budgie for now.
 
Last edited:

Most Reactions

Latest posts

Top