I've already told you the story of Jubilee's death . After being released from the rehabilitation unit after knee reconstruction surgery, I began making plans to acquire a second male cockatiel. Liberty spent much of his time just sitting and sleeping. I took this to be depression and was feeling really sorry for him. Therefore, I got my approval for a 2nd pet (just part of the red tape required by the townehouses when we get pets-limit of 2 per townehouse). Just after receiving my permission, a friend called me to tell me her daughter's family wanted to give up their male cockatiel because they had no time for him. He was offered to me because my friend knew how much I missed Jubilee. Of course, I said "Yes". What a mistake!

POLLO COMES TO LIVE WITH US

Pollo is the Spanish word for "chicken" thanks to a teenage boy! He was not used to being out of his cage most of the day. He and Liberty spent two weeks happily flying around the townehouse. Liberty's behavior was increasingly wild acting because he tends to follow another bird rather than being a leader himself.

Two weeks after Pollo came to me, I noticed that his poops were really watery. I took him to the vet's the day after Father's day. Pollo tested positive for having liver problems. He was given a prescription that I had to administer twice a day for two weeks much to HIS DISMAY!

At the end of those two weeks, Pollo was terrified of my hands. He had used every trick in the books to keep from getting his medication. His poop also had not cleared up. I ordered some Aloe Vera Detox to try to treat him homeopathically.

LIBERTY DRAWS BLOOD ON POLLO

Pollo was biting my hands whenever I went near him. Liberty followed his behavior and "forgot" how to step up nicely, etc. They were now staying in the same cage and seemed to be getting along well. I left for some medical tests and came back to find that Pollo had blood on his face. I couldn't locate a serious injury but I knew he and Liberty couldn't share the same cage. Pollo actually acted afraid of Liberty.

I called another girlfriend that had been acquainted with Pollo since he went to live with our other friend's family. She agreed to take him. I simply didn't want two male cockatiels that were fighting each other and continuously drawing blood on my hands when I needed to interact with them.

Whenever Pollo heard Margaret's voice on the telephone, he would run over and start saying "HI POLLO" repeatedly to her. He loved to whistle with her. It was obvious when she visited that Pollo strongly preferred her company. He was absolutely delighted to go home with her after Liberty attacked him. In fact, she tells me he sang all the way home while on the bus much to the driver's delight.

WHAT I LEARNED THE HARD WAY

1. Trying to combine a male cockatiel that was used to being king of his castle with another male that wanted to sit feather-to-feather is not a good idea.
2. Allowing the birds to share the same flight cage even after several weeks was not enough evidence that they would continue to get along if you are not present to supervise.
3. Pollo simply didn't have enough time to get used to me before I learned he was ill and had to administer medication. This basically turned a bird that was willing to perch on me and even sleep on my shoulder to one that attacked me whenever possible.
4. Some cockatiels simply can't get along. Although I don't know exactly what happened that fateful day, I do know Pollo didn't like Liberty although Liberty LOVES any other bird and wants to be next to them all the time.

PURCHASING A BIRD

I've learned another lesson through this saga with Pollo. You have to know where a bird was purchased. I've learned that birds coming from a particular store in my city tend to be socialized to humans instead of other birds AND humans. I've had experience now with two birds from this store and both preferred me over the other bird at the start. Jubilee never changed-she wanted me for her mate and was irritated by Liberty's constant attention. Pollo was already demonstrating the same behavior she did-preferring my company to Liberty. I will never purchase an apparently tame bird again without questioning the seller on how the bird was socialized.

If you are an owner of a single cockatiel, please read this article carefully and be prepared for possible problems if you try to bring another cockatiel into your home to eventually share the same cage. Be prepared for some serious problems including the possibility of one bird attacking the other.

I strongly believe that if "Pollo" had been a bright yellow female already to mate and raise a family, things would have gone quite differently. Combining two male cockatiels that were used to being the ONLY bird in their respective homes simply resulted in territorial battles. My nephew mentioned that maybe doing this during the winter (darker days, non-breeding season) might have worked better. I don't know but I do know that in my living circumstances, my birds need to be able to share a flight cage without fighting.

Return to Living With Pet Birds Index
Return to Cockatiel Index