From: nmr1248@venus.lerc.nasa.gov (NANCY RABEL (KC4IYD))
Subject: Re: Baby Cockatiel
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: NASA Lewis Research Center
Date:  8 Apr 1992 08:58 EDT  

In article <1992Apr06.222455.24096@microsoft.com>, a-amberf@microsoft.com (Amber Foruria) writes...
> 
>	Well, I brought Shandy home this weekend!  She/he is wonderful.
>I know most of you probably aren't interested in the gushings of newe
>bird owners, but I've read your gushings....hee hee
> 
>	When I get home in the evenings she screams until I take her out
>of her cage...

My cockatiel Noulli is going to be 4 months old soon and is the same 
way. She can tell when I am coming home. The lock on my door is not very
quiet so she can hear me as I unlock the door. Then she screams and 
squawks. I used to come to her immediately and let her out but a lot of
people mentioned that I was letting the bird control me. So, now when I
come home and she screams, I call back to her saying something like 
"Hi Noulli, I'm home". She loves that. Then I put my coat away and 
get into more comfortable clothes before I let her out. She is used to 
that and usually will stop screaming and will wait for me to take her
out.

>           well, she MUST be on my shoulder or else she will fly from
>where ever I have placed her to my shoulder.  

I have my cockatiel's wings clipped so I don't have that problem.

>                                                Also, she is continuously
>falling from her desired perches.  She has quite got the grace or technique
>to climb around so she falls off the sides of her cage, her food "bowl" 
>where she is sleeping.  Then, to make matters worse, when she picks a 
>place to perch it isn't an easy place....for example, the curved top of
>her cuttlebone or the top of a toy....strange bird!  But I love her....

Noulli used to do the same thing! After moving her perches around I 
found out that she likes to perch on the highest spot she can find. So,
if the curved top of the cuttlebone was the highest spot in her cage she 
would perch there. In fact she slept there a few times. I was afraid 
that she would fall off.

>Thanks for letting me gush!
> 
No problems, we are all proud of our new addition to our family and 
love telling people about them.

>	Now for some questions......
> 
>The guy I bought the bird from put a bedding of sorts on the bottom of 
>the cage.....has anyone else heard of this?  It seems resonable except
>he also scattered some food on the bottom.  Next, does anyone out there
>know of a good avian vet in the Seattle area.  I would prefer one on the
>east side, but Shandy's health is the most important thing.  
> 
>She hasn't shown any problems like "nightfright"
> 
Neither did mine when I got her. I cover Noulli's cage when I go to 
bed. She does have some toys in her cage and a few times I think she
brushed again them while she was asleep and it scared her (ie. she
started to squawk and flap her wings in her cage). Its only happened
twice but I think I might take the toys out if it happens too often.

>But I have NEVER seen her drink any water.  I have a small bowl on the
>bottom of her cage, for her to drink out of.
>
>One more thing.  I saw a cockatiel who was crazy for brass....would
>it be okay for me to by a shallow brass pot for her to play with and
>use as a bath?  Also, I love the idea of her taking showers with me
>but I don't want to scare her.  how would I go  about finding out
>if that is something she would enjoy?
> 

I haven't gottem Noulli in the shower yet. I have a spray bottle and 
I am trying to get her used to that first.

>Thanks in advance.  You guys have given me more info than I ever dreamed.
>As a result I feel confidant in caring for Shandy.  Your advice has already
>begun to prove invaluable!
> 
>Amber
> 
Good Luck Amber and congratulations on getting Shandy. I enjoy this 
group also.

  Nancy Rabel     .... ..  KC4IYD     *   I don't procrastinate,
  nmr1248@venus.lerc.nasa.gov         *    I just spontaneously
          ^^^^^ or mars or ariel      *    re-organize my time!

Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds