Hello my stinky /an/ friends I was thinking of getting a bird

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Are there any weird things i need to know before thinking of getting one that not many people talk about? Because stuff like giving them cuttlefish bones and making them balance on tennis balls is weird and I didnt know these things

Cockatiels are some of the easiest companion birds to care for in my experience. They're not prone to being neurotic like some of their bigger cousins are so they're much more forgiving than something like a cockatoo or conure. They are definitely very friendly and social if they're hand-raised. If you have the space, resources, and time for one, I'd say go for it. They're top-tier pet birds in my opinion.

One downside I'd have to say about having a cockatiel though is the dust feathers they produce. Even having one cockatiel can produce enough dust feathers for it to be a bit noticeable. Having an air filter is a good idea but make sure it's birdsafe. The other downside is that the males can be noisy.

Male cockatiels can be weird and like feet. There are more than a few YouTube videos of them singing to feet.

>>2357179
All birds produce feather dust, including and especially chickens. Sweep your floors and use a medical mask if you're obsessive.

>>2357179
Thanks, this makes me a lot less worried!!
Can I keep the bird's cage in the same room where I sleep or will it make lots of noise?
And they like feet? How weird

>>2357182
I heard about the feather dust on different cockatiel care guides. It won't bother me that much because I lived almost my entire life with an annoying brother with a skin condition who would leave skin flakes all over my shit so I pretty much ignore dry residues on stuff.
As long as it's not sticky and it doesn't hurt the bird it won't bother me at all

Will these flakes cause allergies?

>>2357189
Yeah. It's called pigeon fancier's lung. You eventually sensitize to the allergens and it triggers alveolitis in the lungs which fucks up your breathing over time. Usually not a problem for the person who owns a single bird, as the name implies it typically occurs when people own 20+ birds in a loft environment.

>>2357173
>>2357173
My roommate's screams for 6-10 hours a day like an alarm. We've tried everything. No matter how much time he spends playing, eating etc he is screaming. Vet checks tell us nothing is wrong with him either. She went to a specialist and said he just likes to scream.

Get a docile one. Try adopting. Foster if you're unsure.

>>2357199
>screams for 6 hr + a day

welcome 2 parrots. why do people think taking walking atomic bombs into your house is a good thing nowadays?

>>2357189
If you keep the bird's cage in your room, the biggest concern is that you and the bird both get enough sleep. Cockatiels need around 10 to 12 hours of sleep so you can't stay up too late if you're in the same room as it is. They'll also wake up at the crack of dawn and tend to be noisiest at the time. Be prepared to change your sleep schedule a bit.

>>2357208
This. I used to be a night lark before i owned birds. Now it's 10PM-7AM every night and I have to tiptoe out of my room to not wake her.

>>2357194
Ok, great! I only really plan on getting one.

>>2357208
Ah... then i think I will have to keep it in another room... I don't sleep so much, around 6/7 hours per night...

Thanks for all the help guys, I feel a lot clamer about this!!

>>2357203
She felt bad because the owner didn't want him anymore (I wonder why) and told the apartment owner that "he's a therapy animal." (Yeah, right, he makes me want to blow my brains out.) So she's allowed to have him here, told me upon moving that I wouldn't even notice him.

I had a lovebird for a little while, fostering, and even he wasn't that loud. I hate all birds except doves. They're decently quiet and peaceful dudes.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9xd4kniHJqw

They are awesome and easy to care for birds anon.

My only suggestion is looking up proper diet (because they won't thrive on JUST generic bird seed, and can eat things like scrambled eggs/fruit), and maybe a birdie harness.

Definitely let it come chill with you outside the cage a lot.

>>2357175
>>2357173
be sure to keep them in a round cage. they get stuck in the corners of square ones and often need to have wings amputated because of their injuries.

They're easy but like all thing require effort.

With time you can let them chill out of the cage (but birdproof your room).

Don't be stingy when it comes to vet, cages, and toys.

Respect their 10 hour sleep cycle.

Mind the screeching. They'll do it often and for no reason.

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>>2357173
I heard they can get night terrors?

Off topic but since OP is asking about bird tips.
Are Parakeets just shit? Or am I just shit parakeet keeper? It's been maybe a fucking year and my parakeet is skiddish all the fucking time. Still isn't tame at all. I'm the only one in the house and it knows I'm the only thing allowing it to live. I can't even get next to his cage without him flipping his shit.

>>2357407
I asked a friend who is a bird expert and she said this isn't true, I also haven't read this anywhere else. Maybe you're getting confused with something else?

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>>2357494
I've had a cockatiel for about 2 years now. He used to have night terrors. Even bled from hitting his feathers all over the cage. So putting him in the cage so he could sleep safely... wasn't working. Now he sleeps with the cage open, on top of it. Free. Night terrors are gone, he probably feels a lot safer. Sometimes he'll freak out if an insect like cockroaches goes near the cage, but that doesn't happen often.

He's not very healthy though... Keeps having digestive issues one after another even though we give him top tier feeding. He probably has something vets haven't discovered yet. I'm right now waiting for a complete check-up's results.

Could have died already, but since he's very healthy in all other areas, he endure's his poop crysis like a champ. I love the little guy. :/

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>>2357600
He's also bitey and hates being touched but... Also very loveable when he wants to. Hates being alone and wants to stay by your side or on you all day. Great companion desu. I think it's worth it.

Mind if I hijack the thread quick?

The s/o got a cockatiel from a family member and he doesn't want it, but he doesn't want to give it away. I am currently away for school so I can't take care of it. I wanted to make up basically a quick rundown for shit he should have/do/know. I've been looking at websites but god damn there seems to be so little information out there for them. I remember looking for guinea pig information and there would be several websites that have just info on guinea pig care. I'm lucky if I can find even a full page of info for these birds.

TL;DR what should bird noobs know?

Also, s/o says his bird isn't tame at all. How long could it take to tame it? Is it possible it could be like a feral cat, where it will never be tamable? How do you get him out of the cage if that is the case? He also makes what the owner says is a sort of warning call often, but I can't find any fucking information on the different sounds cockatiels make to confirm if it's an alarm call or not. Anyways, how do we make that stop?

>>2357173
Get a female cockatiel. In my experience males will tweet constantly until your mum opens the cage door and then tells you it "flew off," the girls only call out when you get home or they hear other birds.

>>2357666
This guy >>2357600
Isn't noisy. He's only noisy after a while in the cage because it gets boring. He's in the cage for a few hours twice a day so we can actually do things in the house, like cleaning (mostly because he's obsessed with cloths and towels of any kind). He quietly tweets all day to show affection or to confirm our presence. Noisy birds tend to be bored or stressed, but I guess there could be exceptions.

Heck, I wish he would whistle/sing more, he's too quiet. Never managed to teach him anything, all he vocalizes are things he decided to mimic by himself, like words and speech patterns. Towels are always "cuuute aah cute cute keekee".

>>2357608
Well... The issue is there's lots of misinfo about birds in general, and people with behaviour guides that contradict each other. All I know comes from different sources, like youtube channels, bird forums, vets, random webpages, and is tested against my own experiences. I got no easy answer to that.

They can all be tamed. It's just harder if it's not from birth, and will require patience and most important, the will to do so. Since constant research and observation of the bird will be necessary so it doesn't kill itself out of stress, I'd say it's not a good idea to keep it if he doesn't want it. It requires personal investment.