[Pepito]

In a few weeks I'll be buying a Cockatiel and was wondering would it be better to buy a hand raised Cockatiel or just a 'normal' one? I visited a few pet shops the other day but there was only one hand raised Cockatiel I could find and it looked really thin...
Also, would there be many baby Cockatiel around at the moment? Summer is almost over in Australia. Oh, and if I were to purchase a normal Cockatiel would it take a long time for it to be as friendly as a hand raised?
Thanks.

 

[Bea]

You'll find it a lot more enjoyable to buy a hand reared baby. If you were to look on www.petlink.com.au and post a wanted ad i'm sure some breeders near you would have some babies still. They're much cheaper and friendlier from breeders (rather than pet shops which i don't like much at all) which is a bonus.

 

[Pepito]

Also, I have to do my art course during weekdays from 9:00am - 3:30pm and I was wondering would he get distressed from being lonely? I'd leave the radio on during the day and when I come home I'd play with him for the rest of the day and take his cage outside supervised. Would this be alright or not?
My mum would be home from work at 2:00pm and sometimes <1:00pm and on Monday I don't start my course till 12:30pm so I would be able play with him during the mornings and my mum doesn't work on a Wednesday and I have the weekend off as I don't work.
I just don't want him to be lonely and distressed..
Thanks.

 

[allen]

i have to agree with bea hand raised tiels are way better and i personally would get a hand raised one i got my first one the end of september and he is such a sweety sits on my shoulder if i,m laying on the couch sits on my foot also with petstore tiels you don,t no where they got them from they may say from a breeder but in my expierence it is not always true

 

[Avalon_Princess]

I got a hand raised one, I'm so glad I did, I've only had Echo a week and he's absolutely wonderful. Echo is left home alone from 8 to 4 every day and doesn't seem to mind, he can hear the wild birds outside and lives in a room with other animals so theres always something to watch. He spends his entire time when I'm at home out of his cage to make up for it as well.

 

[Bea]

A lot of people have single birds and work/study during the day. Just make sure he has the radio or tv on to give him something to listen to and then be sure to give him lots of time out when you're home. My guys are out for 2-3 hours on school days, longer on weekends.

 

[Laura]

I agree with Bea they are pretty good at adapting to our schedules there are lots of people who only have one and go to work school etc... as long as s/he is getting lots of love and attention when you are home s/he will be fine just make sure you provide plenty of toy's in the cage so that s/he doesn't get bored and having a radio or t.v on helps.

 

[xxxSpikexxx]

Just get a nice sized cage, the bigger the better and lots of toys and he should be fine. Spike is my first hand raised bird and he is great Don't believe the myth that hand raised birds bite more, I don't believe they do Good luck and keep us updated.

 

[Sophia]

Hand-raised are better, but if they are in an aviary and are still young 6-7 weeks and younger, they can still be really friendly.

Because my Earl was 6 weeks when we got him, and he was in an aviary, and his is so soft, he loves a tickle and is very tame, and friendly to everyone!

Good Luck on getting your tiel !!

 

[Rosie]

To be honest I haven't experienced a parent raised tiel as a pet. If you were to get a parent raised one you would have to go as young as possible, and it would take time for them to start trusting you. And you do want them to trust you straight away to form some kind of bond between you. I would purchase a hand reared tiel, basically bacause they are a perfect package! Sweet, cuddly, silly tame, and a joy to have! You never know what problems you can have whilst trying to tame a parent raised one. But it can be done.

And about leaving him/her when you're a the art class...I wouldn't have thought that would be a problem, especially as your mum is back sometimes 2 hours before. Like the others said, I would leave the radio or tv on for a bit of background noise so s/he does not feel totally in silence. If you're tiel does not get on well on his/her own (which I can't really see a problem with) then you might want to think about getting another small bird for company such as a budgie, or even another tiel. But I'm sure they would be fine.

Good Luck and keep us informed!

 

[tinkerbell]

Does anyone know where to get a hand raised teil in england?

 

[Aly]

Although a handraised one is normally very tame, you shouldn't rule out any parent raised pet store birds. I got 9/10 birds from a petstore and they are all super tame right now.