stuck on me

ok...I knew Wrangler was pretty attached to me but and Ive been a bit concerned about it but not sure what to do, if anything, until now. I get the flock calls (the smoke detector test signal) when Im out of sight, or when I leave home. If I take the dog out I can hear his calls halfway down the street, and when I leave for work I can hear them through the front door. My husband may or may not be home, but it's me Wrangler wants. I took him with me last week to Atlanta when I visited my mother mostly because I thought I had a better chance of keeping his feathers attached, and I think it was the right choice.


Twice this week when I've gotten home from work I've found him on the stair rail overlooking the front entry/door. He can climb up the rail, but cant figure out how to get down--he's done this on other parts of the rail in the past and I've had to go rescue him. To do this he's had to climb down off his cage and waddle through the dining room and living room....and past the dog...to reach the stairs. The first time it was pretty cute that he'd clearly been waiting for me. Today when I got home there he was...and a pile of feathers. My husband was home, but cant handle him. Wrangler isnt his biggest fan and tries to bite him when he is asked to step up (despite my coaching my stubborn husband insists on doing it HIS way--which isnt working). I know he cant get down from the rail...so in his distress, or boredom, he resorted to plucking. I guess my question is...will getting him a buddy help any? I understand they may hate each other (and I want a second bird--its just getting my husband to agree) but if he has some distraction or interaction, is it possible that he may lessen his dependance on me, or am i just projecting human values onto the bird....wishful thinking.

It's always going to be a big gamble getting a second bird especially if intentions behind it are directly related to looking to 'solve a problem' with an existing bird...

He might be jealous of a new bird. Then again, he might be completely indifferent to a second bird.

Only get a second bird because you want to have a second bird, plus keep in mind your doubling of all the care and playtimes, which effectively means Wrangler will have you half as much as he already does. How will he feel about that?

I got my second bird in November and I'm still working on socialising the two together (which still might be a failure). They were in different rooms during his quarantine, then opposite eachother in the same room, now their cages are side by side. They take turns being out of their cages and spending time with me. Initially there was a great deal of lunging and growing from them at eachother, but this has reduced considerably over time. It would be great if they could get along and play together. But if not, they will continue to share me.

The best thing i've found for keeping mine busy is lots of toys to destroy, plus a hanging kabob of something tasty in a place they have to climb and work for to eat.

Sorry for rambling on - I'm a bit sleepy as it's nearly 3am

I know I've dug a pretty deep hole, Im just trying to figure out where the ladder is so I can get out! He is out of his cage 99.9% of the time, even at night right now, so as far as toys are concerned he really isnt much of a shredder but he has access to his cage all the time. Same for kabobs..there isnt much he will eat from them other than apple or pomegranate. No luck with veggies at all and other fruits get a nibble or two and then ignored. I have interactive puzzle toys but unless im there to work with him, he isnt terribly motivated by challenges. I gave him a pistachio the other day that wasnt partially cracked and he abandoned it in about a minute. It took me presenting it 4 times before he decided maybe it was worth the effort. We used to cage him when no one was home but my husband hasnt been very good about that lately. He figures that Wrangler is safe enough on top of his cage and/or I'll be home soon---or he wont be gone that long, so by default now, he's out of his cage all the time unless he chooses to go in it. He is still sleeping upstairs with us because he is still missing a majority of his body feathers and its still a bit too cool downstairs (62-65) at night and he wont perch near his K&H heat pad.

I know another bird is a risk, and I wouldnt get one if i didnt want one. He has access to me almost all the time when Im home so sharing wont go over well--but that's part of my problem---the little green man has become TOO dependant on me IMO, hence my thoughts about a buddy at least providing a distraction, if not friendship. Other suggestions about how to reduce his reliance on me, short of getting another bird?

coopedup said:

I know I've dug a pretty deep hole, Im just trying to figure out where the ladder is so I can get out! He is out of his cage 99.9% of the time, even at night right now, so as far as toys are concerned he really isnt much of a shredder but he has access to his cage all the time. Same for kabobs..there isnt much he will eat from them other than apple or pomegranate. No luck with veggies at all and other fruits get a nibble or two and then ignored. I have interactive puzzle toys but unless im there to work with him, he isnt terribly motivated by challenges. I gave him a pistachio the other day that wasnt partially cracked and he abandoned it in about a minute. It took me presenting it 4 times before he decided maybe it was worth the effort. We used to cage him when no one was home but my husband hasnt been very good about that lately. He figures that Wrangler is safe enough on top of his cage and/or I'll be home soon---or he wont be gone that long, so by default now, he's out of his cage all the time unless he chooses to go in it. He is still sleeping upstairs with us because he is still missing a majority of his body feathers and its still a bit too cool downstairs (62-65) at night and he wont perch near his K&H heat pad.

I know another bird is a risk, and I wouldnt get one if i didnt want one. He has access to me almost all the time when Im home so sharing wont go over well--but that's part of my problem---the little green man has become TOO dependant on me IMO, hence my thoughts about a buddy at least providing a distraction, if not friendship. Other suggestions about how to reduce his reliance on me, short of getting another bird?

Click to expand...

My home has always been a two bird home. First came Smokey. She was with me for about a year,and she was 1.5 years old,when I met a friends blue fronted 'zon,and fell in love,and decided I WANT ONE!
So in comes Amy..she was only 4 months old. Smokey could NOT stand Amy,as hard as Amy tried to be friends.
Smokey would sneak behind Amy,pull Amy's tail,and turn and run back to her house,LAUGHING!
One time they went beaky to beaky..I thought Smokes finally gave in and wanted to be friends.
Well...Smokes bit Amy's tongue,making it require an emergency trip to Amys' CAV and get five stitches
That was the LAST TIME I let Smokey get close to Amy.

After Smokey passed away 27 years later,I could see it affected Amy. She became depressed..wouldn't say much,and just sit on her nite-nite perch or on her play gym when she was out,and that in turn depressed me.
A few months later, I adopted Jonesy the beady-eyed monster goffins and Amy and Jones became best friends,hanging out together and preening each other. Jonesy turned into an unpredictable screamer/biter and I had to rehome him. The depression returned to Amy,and me once again

Amy and I NEEDED another bird! lol.
So I read,and researched,and read some more,and after reading all sorts of stuff on this awesome forum,decided a little Cockatiel would be great.
Sure,Amy is a big green monster when she sits next to the Beebs lol,but she always wants to be with him or on his roof top..and Beebs,welllll...he just doesn't care one way or the other. If he feels like she is aggravating him,he just goes flapflapflap and goes to the couch...or ME

I guess what I'm trying to say..you won't/can't know if two birdies will like each other..Don't get one JUST FOR A COMPANION for the other bird. I did that BUT I wanted a second fid also...and it took two attempts to get it right.


Jim