[Keet1976]

How much out of cage time a day is needed for a cockatiel?

My schedule varies so much from day to day so before getting a tiel I want to make sure I can provide it with what it needs. I can give it for sure an hour a day, but some days more.

I have had a parakeet (RIP) (we are gonna get two more the end of this month). The keet did good with the amount of out of cage time it got. So does a tiel need more out time than a keet?

My keet stayed on its cage when let out unless one of the kids took it off and played with it. Will the tiel stay on its cage or will it try to go all over. This is more of a personality question I guess so I am just sort of polling to see what is most likely to do.

Do tiels bond with only one person or will they bond with the entire family?

 

[Laura]

Hi there tiels need as much out of cage time as possible an hour a day is not enough for them when we are home mine have free reign of the house unless of course its not safe for them to be out for example if I am cooking there in there cages for safety reasons.

Tiels do require alot of attention they are very affectionate and prefer to be with people more so then budgies do, it might stay on its cage for abit but they most likely will go where you are when out of the cage ours like to be on us or they like to sit and play on there gym rarely do they stay on there cage, only one of mine will do that

Tiels do sometimes bond with one person but so far I have been lucky I have 4 of them and am with them most of the day alone but during the evening when everyone is home they will go to anyone thats available including my kids.

 

[Keet1976]

I think most of the time they would have more than one hour....more like most of the day....every other week I work 2 8 hour days so those days they would be limited, but in the evening when I am home they would be allowed out. So the other weeks I work 4 4 hour days so they could be out in the morning and then in the evening. Then of course I don't stay home all the time when I am not working, there are school things, grocery shopping, ect, but that is normal stuff. Does that sound good.

I am curious as to whether anyone here with a tiel works away from the house 5 days a week 8 hour days. I think that would be hard for the tiel. Luckily I am only 16 hours a week!

 

[Laura]

That sounds like plenty of time there are lots of people on here that go to school or work away from home for 8 hrs most of them have other tiels though to keep each other company but many are fine on there own as long as they have toys to play with and they get lots of out of cage time when there owners are home

 

[Aly]

HI...sorry about your last little birdie. As far as out of cage time, I work full time 5days/8hrs (just not at the moment). It's ok, you just have to make sure that when you get home you have time for your tiel. To me tiels get more attatched to the owner and they need more attention then budgies/keets (I have 2 tiels and 8 budgies). I use to work at night, wake up open the cages for everyone..get ready, put them back, come home, let them out for a long time...then finnally go back to bed again. Now that I'm home their cages are open the whole day with the exception of when I'm out or cooking. I think since you have more people in the household, it can work out for you. Just remember, noane likes to be alone in a cage for most of the time.

 

[Tiki]

A bird needs AT LEAST one hour out of the cage. 2-3 hours would be best.

 

[Mossybird]

Sunny gets a lot of time out of her cage...about 4 hours, depending on whats going on. Since I go to school and my parents go to work and Sunny is left alone for 8 hours every day, I am trying to talk my parents into getting another cockatiel.
Its actually easy to give Sunny the hours she needs. As soon as I get home from school I open Sunny's cage door and out she comes. When I surf the net I bring Sunny with me. When I do my chores, Sunny tags along on my shoulder. When I do my homework, sunny hops around on my bed. Its now kinda hard-wired into my brain;I just bring Sunny were ever I go.
Just let the cockatiel hangout with you and get to know you. Its best a new cockatiel is left alone the first few days to get used to its enviroment and feeding time. Then you just have to slowly get it used to you. Cockatiels are great company--they love to explore desks and tables.

 

[Laura]

Its best a new cockatiel is left alone the first few days to get used to its enviroment and feeding time. Then you just have to slowly get it used to you. Cockatiels are great company--they love to explore desks and tables.

With cockatiels its best to get them use to you before they get use to there cage, all of mine came home and right onto me before they even saw there cage

 

[Aly]

Its best a new cockatiel is left alone the first few days to get used to its enviroment and feeding time. Then you just have to slowly get it used to you. Cockatiels are great company--they love to explore desks and tables.

I always did it backwards, same as Laura. I hang out with them atleast half an hour before I introduce them to their open cage. Then they ussually take a short nap and then start exploring their new cage.

 

[xxxSpikexxx]

At least three hours is good for a cockatiel. I work really odd hours and sometimes I will let Spike stay up a bit later to have extra time with him. You will love having a cockatiel they are great birds Here are two links that might help you with your research http://www.birdchannel.com/ and http://www.cockatielcottage.net/

 

[Keet1976]

Thanx for the info. I think I should have no problem getting it enough out time especially in the evenings, but I think day hours should be easy too.

My husband finally agreed to let me get one. At the end of this month my boys will be getting their budgies, they are picked out and on reserve in the store. Right now the stores breeding tiels have four babies, no feathers, so when they get feathers I can pick mine out and then when it is ready to come home I can take it. I am not sure how long that will be, but I think the budgies will come home first and then the cockatiel.

 

[Aly]

They should be weaned and ready to come home anywhere between 8-12 weeks the latest.

 

[Keet1976]

I think the end of February is around 8 weeks!!!

 

[Boomberry]

I work 5 days a week and am out of the house 10 hours a day. I have 5 tiels, 10 budgies and a Congo African Grey and I make sure they all get at least 3 hours out a day at the very least. I do get up at the crack of dawn to be able to provide this however but thats a small sacrifice for the happiness they bring me

 

[Sophia]

I would say minimum of 1 hour, and maximum, hours and hours I have 1 cockatiel & 1 budgie and they come out every day.

 

[Keet1976]

Oh yeah I never thought of letting them out in the morning while I am getting dressed and ready to go....Can you tell I am not a morning person, LOL!

How long does it take for their feathers to come in?