Kinda wanting a 3rd tiel, male of female?

[Smerft85]

Some of you may be familiar with branch and poppy, and they are a match made in heaven. I know cockatiels are far from a solitary bird, and I'm considering adding one more. Already having a male and female pair, and I'm positive they are bonded, should i be looking at males, females, or does it not matter much? I like how cuddly poppy is, as well as the singing and mimicking from branch, so I'm having a bit of trouble deciding. Would a second male start fights over one female, or should I double up females for one male? The cage they are currently in is large enough to add two if i wanted to, but one more would be plenty! Thanks in advance!

 

[bug_n_flock]

Well first off, the new one should have its own cage either way. For quarantine, and then also to not intrude on your bonded pair's relationship. I know I wouldn't want a room mate to move in with my husband and I. Male OR female, and we're "social" animals too.


Why do you want a 3rd? For you or for the other birds? Sounds like you want it for you, to me. Which is a good thing, I assure you.


Have you considered just keeping #3 in its own cage and having it be YOUR little buddy? Cockatiels are just the BEST.



But to answer you(sortov, since all are individuals): I have a 17 and a half year old grumpy old man cockatiel, and only just recently brought home a younger bonded pair. They are still in quarantine in the other room, but the male in the pair loves talking to my Alex bird. Mostly Alex is talking to me and the other bird trying to butt into the conversation, but Alex has had a few "chats" with the other male thru the house via contact calls. None seem upset about the others.


Sorry I can't give more advice. Other than a short period many years ago where I fostered another Cockatiel for a couple weeks, Alex has always been the only tiel in the house. I used to take him to work with me sometimes at the parrot shop(before I knew better), but the tiels there were all babies(lol, my boss scolded me even. "Why are you bringing a beautifully feathered adult cockatiel here? Makes all the babies look especially ratty", baby tiels are ever so good at messing up their feathers as they putter around).


From phone, sorry for poorness of reply

 

[Smerft85]

Quarantine would be for sure, mainly I'm wanting another for myself, but the extra cage being permanent would be an issue and eventually if all 3 got along well move them together. My male is roughly a year, and my female is almost 6 months old, so both are young enough that they may accept a third young bird, maybe. My female is bonded to my male and me at the same time and a total sweetheart, her behavior actually settled my male a ton, he wasn't handleable at all when I got him, and now he is almost 100% tame.

As breeding is far from my main priority, and I wouldn't ever introduce a box while the three would be housed together, if that ever even happens. I guess the idea behind it would be a bird for me, but one that would also be a good intro to the "flock", and would definitely be another hand raised/tamed baby like I did with poppy, hopefully boosting the chance they would accept the new bird. I know I have budgies in my flock of 6 that have paired off and they are all fine without a nesting box, which they will probably never see, but I've read the females will kill the young and possibly the other female, but I don't know if the same goes for cockatiels.

Everything is still in the "what ifs" stage and I'm not even sure I'll go for a third, but if I do find that special one I'd like to get the gender for the best possibility of a good relationship.