I've socialized mine to not be too dependent. I handraised my two girl cockatiels and they have always been together and so are bonded. Though they bicker like the siblings they are
They sit with me sometimes but more often sit on the back of the couch behind me instead of on me. My boy cockatiels couldn't care less about me. Dante will occasionally sit on my head but the other one isn't fond of humans at all. So my cockatiels don't require a lot of one on one and some none at all.
My female green cheek is very bonded to me but also likes the other green cheek in the house. So she will spend time with me everyday but sits with my male gcc just as much. My male gcc very rarely wants one on one attention. He likes hanging out but likes to watch the goings on more then sitting with me.
My other two are much more interactive. My sun loves to come out and play and cuddle but he knows how to entertain himself in his cage. I put two baskets full of foot toys in his cage to help keep him occupied. My other one Folger the cockatoo is brand new
I just adopted him from a rescue last Friday. He is my problem child and is a delicate balance so far of just enough attention to keep him happy but still satisfied being by himself. He has a lot of trust issues but chose me at the shelter. So far I take him out about 2 to 4 times a day in small intervals. He is a self mutilator and plucker so I don't want him to get used to coming out a lot or for a long time. Life surprises you and I don't want any issues to crop up if for some reason or another I can't take him out for a day or two. On that note I do have days where I take no one out at all. I believe it helps them realize the world isn't ending if I'm gone a day or two. I do have a lot for them to do in their cages!
So a lot of it is teaching them to self entertain. Everyone but Folger can come out at the same time so that also helps
Folger I don't trust with everyone else because he is so possessive of me. But everyone else has there own designated spot in the living room and when they want attention will come to me or go to one of my parents. Monkey my female gcc will usually follow me from room to room to keep tabs on me. My cockatiels sit on the back of the couch and hop up and down from there to my shoulder when they want something. My male gcc will struggle over to the couch from the play stand and sit on my legs when he wants to hang out. Loki usually rough houses on me for awhile and then passes out in my hoodie. Or if he is being a brat will go bother my parents when he needs to pick on someone
Care is actually pretty easy! They all eat the same thing pretty much. Folger likes a slightly different diet but not enough to be an issue. I have two different everyday dry mixes that I feed everyday. One for the cockatiels and the other for everyone else. Folger gets a couple different golden feast mixes on top of the other one. I have a fresh veggie mix that I make up and freeze in servings that everyone likes. I also feed sprouts and random things from the kitchen. Cage cleaning is a pain in the butt. I've tried to divide it into two different days but then I get the urge to clean the other ones.....so everyone gets done at the same time.
And wow this is a lot longer then I thought it would be....:54:
