Companion for cockatiel?

[CaptainBeaky]

Hi, I have had my cockatiel for five years now, he has lived in a cage all of his life but I am finally getting an aviary!
In about a year and a half I am going to uni (hopefully!) so Captain Beaky will stay at home in the aviary. He is going to need a pal as mum won't have the time to let him out every day and socialise him like I do.
I have been doing some research as I personally would like something different to a cockatiel, but I am aware that there may be aggression between different species? But surely there would be aggression between two male cockatiels too? (And a female is an absolute no no, we can't have chicks)
In particular I am looking at rosellas, there is a possibility of some being for sale near where I live. Is it advisable to mix a rosella and cockatiel? The rosella would be very young but Beaky is older and hasn't had much contact with birds for years, although he does like to call to them out of the window!
Any advice would be appreciated!
Charlotte

 

[SilverSage]

My advice is to buy a second male tiel, there should be no problem with them both being males since there will be no female around to cause problems. Introduce them both while they still live in the house, and do. It put either of them in the aviary until you put both in, after they are already friends. But be aware that there is no guarantee that cpt. Beaky will accept another bird at all. Cockatiels seem to be on the easier side of flock additions though.

Please start the process asap. No, I do NOT suggest buying another species, especially when you are leaving and a non bird person wil be the one caring for them. Mixing species is Ricky, it can be done but it can also go very wrong and you will not be there to keep an eye and react in time. Please stick with a cockatiel. Of you want a bit of variety, get a male cockatiel of a different mutation. Look around and find a really pretty one that looks different from yours, and buy that instead of a whole different species.