New feather babies

[dollface]

Just before Christmas we got two cockatiel given to us. They are between 5-6 or 7-8 years old and their names are mortimor who has pink feet and Cheeko who has grey feet. They are both all grey with some white on their wings, yellow faces with orange cheeks. Cheeko will not sit on your finger but you can grab him and give him a cuddle. Mortimor will sit on your finger and you can pet and cuddle him they will both nibble your finger but they don't bite which is nice, Mortimor really likes to mimimic your whistling and very vocal. I never realized how noisy they can be but are very nice to listen to when they start singing, they are very beautiful birds. In the morning they sound like robbins singing, when they want out they sure let you know. My dogs seem to really like them, I have let them fly around with the dogs out and I think they like to tease the dogs cause they fly around more and kinda dive at them. The dog just watch them, its a site to see.

I was wondering if their is any type of harness' they sell for cockatiels? I know you can get them for cockatoo's but not sure if you can for them.
Just thought I would share our knew feather babies that have come to join our zoo.

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

Aww, they sound adorable....when do we get to see pics?

I know I've seen a bird harness but for the life of me I can't remember where and I'm not sure they were for smaller birds. Sorry can't help there.

[Kelly]

Feather teathers...http://www.theoldpetshop.com/feathertether.htm

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

Ha, feather tether.....cute name. lol

[sheltiepups]

cute! I love birds!

[Pugdawg1]

Feather Tether LOL Cute. Congrats on your new additions! We had a cockatiel for years.. he died last year, he was in his teens - named him Bubba. Very good bird. I'd love to see pictures

[Pinscher Mum]

Awee Cute congrats on your new pets.

[ChiChi]

i love the teils! i would say that i have one but unfortunately it flew away last summer.... i miss him sooo bad, i only hope that he found a family that will take care of him.......

[PitBullie09]

Awe I bet they are adorable!

[Carrie]

Congrats on your new babies. They sound adorable. I use to always keep parakeets and canaries and enjoyed them a lot. I don't know about harnesses though.

I would caution about the dogs. They may be watching them fly and swoop, appearing passive, but a dog's prey drive can get the better of them and they just might jump up one day and grab one of those precious birds.

Do you have pictures?

Have fun.

[ChiChi]

the harness didnt work to well with my feathered friend, he bit me evry time i tried to put it on.... i hope it works better for you...

[Kelly]

I have a pink one for Dusty and she was fine with it on...I used to take her to the park with it.

Be sure to find an avian vet who clips wings. It is one of the MOST important aspects of owning a bird. I do my birds myself, but I suggest you have a vet do it until you are sure you can.

So many lost birds each year can be prevented by trimming wings, it doesn't hurt and is not emotionally damaging at all.

[dollface]

Thanks for the site

I'll see if I can get my camera to work, it just hasn't been down loading the pics but I'll give it another try. maybe it just me...

Yup I do keep a close eye on the dogs when the birds are out, I keep the dogs close to me and when they start to fly I put them all in a down.

For cutting the wings I won't do that at all. I have budgies who just got their flight feathers back but are still getting use to flying. My cockatiels are very good flyers and don't fly into anything. I love seeing them being able to fly. I feel so sorry for my budgies cause well they bang into walls I don't think I would have any trouble putting a harness on them they only nibble very lightly, but the only one I would put it on is Mortimor because he's the one that will sit on your finger and have a cuddle. I'm trying to get him to sit on my shoulder as I walk around but that will take time. They seem to like women more them, but are slowely warming up to my hubby.

Edit: I got a pick up, not the best but I'll get more pics again

[Kelly]

Well, I'm sorry to hear that you won't trim their wings, the poor birds. I hope your windows aren't too clean b/c if them slam into them, it can cause severe brain damage and death, same thing if they fly into walls, I've seen it many a time, I've been working with and learning about birds since I was a freshman in High School.
They will not be as well trained now because they'll always have dominance over you, being able to fly = dominance, actually in the bird world, being anywhere above you = dominance.
I hope no-one ever leaves a door or window open (it happens no matter HOW careful you are) Which reminds me...Story time! My friend's brother left the door open for a second and her tiel flew out, luckilly he was VERY tame and VERY attatched to her, he always came back to her, always. He was on his way back down to her, about 6 feet away when he got snatched up in mid-air and eaten by a hawk on the closest tree branch, she watched as her baby got ripped to shreds, he was screaming while the hawk ate him and all she could do was cry and wish she had kept his wings trimmed, she told us later that NEVER EVER again would she have a bird with full flight.


*sigh*

Please take a look at this site: http://www.mickaboo.com/wingtrim.html , I hope it will change your mind and help you do the right thing by trimming wings and keeping your new birds safe.
Keep in mind this site is a rescue site, they only want what's best for birds, they have seen the damages that can happen (and so have I) by letting your birds have full flight, it's not fair to the birds.

PS - I hope I don't come off as overbearing, but it's an issue close to my heart. I've seen so many damaged birds and birds killed because the owners "enjoyed watching them fly", but why risk safety for a little amusement? I just wish the best for every animal. That's all.

[dollface]

These birds have never ever had their flight feathers trimmed as far as I know. they are still very very friendly being as old as they are. As for my windows they have blinds on them so no chance of them flying into them. I have other animals so the doors are never left open at any given time, if they are then all animals are caged up because that means I cannot keep and eye on them and they are much safer in their cages/kennels. The only time my birds are let out is when we are not busy and able to give them 100% of our time, and that is in the evening. Birds will not fly where it is dark so our living room is the only place with a light on this avoids them going into the kitchen or upstairs. They have never flown into a wall, but my budgies who have had their flight feathers clipped can not fly properly and they fly into walls so I don't let them out much because Iam scared they will get hurt. They are slowely learning but not there yet. A bird can still get flight even tho their flight feathers have been cut they just can't fly too well and they can harm themselves. They do recomend clipping wings to better train your bird, but they also recomend one bird cause they will bond with each other. the whole point is to make you their soul companion no toys, mirrors so the bird bonds to you. I don't think I have to worry with these guys they have such a fantastic temperment and I always pull them out just to hold them and cuddle them and then back in the cage they go, I usually do this every morning and every night, sometimes more they don't seem to mind. I also think if I clipped them now they may even become depressed because they have had the enjoyment of flying as well I don't think their wings were ever clipped according to the poeple I got them from. In their case I would be cruel doing it to them. Plus I have dog and if in any case it is a good idea that they can fly, the do reccomend the wings to be kept in place incase they may need to fly away. http://www.wctropicalbird.com/bird%2...g_clipping.htm
http://www.ckcbirds.co.uk/new_page_2.htm

It does not make me a cruel person or put my birds in danger just because I don't trim their wings, I think they would be in more danger because I do have dogs and since they can fly they can still exercise and stay up high without a worry of my dogs. I do watch my dogs and they do listen very good, but its still good to know that they birds can still fly out of reach so to speak. People have different views on this, even a bird breeder I know. She raises budgies and when I bought my yellow budgie from her she asked me to give her a week or two to get settled into her knew home then to bring her back and trim her wings if I wished because it does help with training.

I do appreciate your opinion/view on this, I can tell that you have a love for birds.