Sara Ford's Weblog

Looking for a good home for my 2 cockatiels

Update 1/24/2005

Snowflake and Sunshine went to a great home last night.  They were picked up by someone who runs a local bird rescue.  She said that she was going to keep the birds as her own, rather then passing them along to another home.  I know Sunshine will be very happy to be around other cockatiels.  The albino just doesn't want to be bothered, but Sunshine keeps trying to make friends with her.  And the albino will enjoy having more humans to interact with.

I didn't realize how upset i was (although the throwing-up that afternoon before they were picked up should have been a clear-cut sign) until I tried to get Sunshine to step-up to give to her new owner.  The bird realized how nervous i was (my hand was shaking so badly) and didn't want to leave the toys above her cage because she knew something was up.  Later that night, after they were gone, I realized that the last time i tried to do a trick with Sunshine, she was too afraid to do anything, and i finally broke down crying for the first time about giving up the birds.  I was once told that the saddest people in the world are those who want to cry, but can't.  Lord knows I fall into this category.  But i feel so relieved now (although still very sad) that they are at a better place and will have a much better quality of life.

End update

I’m hoping that there’s a blog reader out there who is either looking to get a couple of birds, or knows someone who is shopping around the Puget Sound area for a couple of birds.

Snowflake and Sunshine

We just haven’t been able to find the right balance between time for the dog and time for the birds in the past 6 months.  We were told Shelties were supposed to be a little bit on the timid side, but Graham is anything but the sort.  If Graham were to ever get a hold of one of the birds, it’s game over (I’ve had really bad nightmares about this scenario, once I realized that Graham wasn’t the typical Sheltie).  Also, no one gave us a heads-up how loud Shelties can be.  The barking stresses out the birds.  Between a puppy who wants constant attention and 2 cockatiels who are use to being the apple in our eye, something had to give, and unfortunately, it’s been the cockatiels as of recent.

I’ve never had to give up a pet before, so I’m in unfamiliar territory, both logistically (do I sell the birds or give away for free?; how do I make sure I get them a good home?; etc) and emotionally.  Snowflake, my albino, was the first (and only) pet I ever had all by myself, when I lived all by myself.  I purchased her during my first month in Seattle (my husband still had a year to go in the Air Force), and I honestly thought I would have her until the very end.  I’m one of those people who once I’ve committed myself to something, I’m absolutely committed.  So, I’m beating myself up extra hard right now.

Okay, enough Sara bashing, I think you get the point this isn’t an easy decision for me.  But the fact is that I can no longer provide an adequate home for my birds.  So, I need to find them a better one.

We purchased both Snowflake and Sunshine from Pet Professionals in Redmond, WA.  Pet Professionals offers free nail and wing clippings for birds purchased from their store (but once you learn, it is so much easier and faster to just do it yourself at home.)  Pet Professionals also offers boarding for a fee for any birds purchased from their store.  This was wonderful when we lost power for a good several nights, and when we went on an impromptu weekend get-away.

The criteria for purchasing Snowflake and Sunshine is (and, as I said before, I’m new to the logistics of selling a pet, so bear with me)

• You will be able to let them out of their cages at least once a day for at least 30 minutes (preferable longer).  Their old routine was 15 minutes in morning; 30 minutes - 3 hours at night.  Before the dog, whenever we were home, they were out of their cages.
• You don’t mind vacuuming at least once a week around their cages
• You don’t mind cleaning their cages at least once every 2 weeks
• You don’t own any dogs or cats. 

Note: I say “sell” because I feel if I just said, “Hey, free cockatiels,” people might not take them as seriously as if people had to put some sort of financial investment into them.  But, as long as they are going to a good home, we can work anything out.  Anyways, we have tons and tons of toys, 2 cages, a traveling cage, a jungle gym, toys that go on top of cages (what I call “cockatiel-utopia”), first aid, and so forth.

Info on Snowflake

• 3.5 year old Female albino
• Very timid, but given time, will adapt to new surroundings, toys, etc
• Just started “Baby-talk” when wanting to get head scratched.  Before birds make words, they mumble.  We think she’s trying to say “hello”
• Knows “Step-up” and “Show me your wings” tricks

Info on Sunshine

• 1.5 year old Pied (yellow with bright orange cheeks)
• 80% Female
• Very outgoing and social.  Loves to play on the floor with her toys or the dog’s toys
• Knows “Step-up” and does a “flip” trick (i.e. tolerates being held upside-down).  Something small birds don’t do well.  It was the beginning to the “dead-bird” trick…

 Here are some tips for first time bird owners of small birds (cockatiel or smaller).  My husband and I had parakeets in Mississippi for well over a year (and were able to find a home easily and quickly when he got out of the service and moved home – there was no way we were going to subject the parakeets to a x-country trip in a car).

• Birds only eat the seed contained within the bird seed shell.  You have to use a spoon to remove the empty seeds from the top of the container.  There are numerous stories of how birds have died because the owners / bird sitters didn’t know this.
• Always carry some sort of birdie first aid that will stop bleeding, especially if you do your own nail trimming. 
• Always cover up the bird’s face when trimming nails.  It makes it easier for all parties involved.  The best way to learn is to have someone show you how it is done.
• Teach “step-up” as soon as possible.  It doesn’t take very long to learn, but it is imperative for your bird to know when it flies somewhere it shouldn’t be… inside a guitar, behind the TV, on top a lamp shade, and so forth.
• Keep flight feathers trimmed.  Flight feathers grow back amazingly fast, so it is a good idea to keep an eye out on your bird, in case it starts flying a little too well.  After the 3rd year with Snowflake and the 1st year with Sunshine, we started letting them be flighted.  Snowflake is very reserved and doesn’t leave the top of the cage often.  Sunshine however would fly into the shower if the door was left open.  She had her own perch in the bathroom and would take baths in the sink.
• Cockatiels and parakeets are afraid of everything, new food, new toys, new surroundings, you name it.  Whenever introducing new toys, make sure you play with them for a while, and leave them outside the cage for the first few days.  Slowly introduce the toy to the bird.  Same with food.  Be extremely patient when giving the birds new foods (when I say food, I’m talking about additions to a bird’s regular diet)
• If you must change the bird’s diet (regular food), you need to do it slowly, but mixing the two new foods together.  If the change is too rapid, the bird could become afraid of the new food and simply refuse to eat, or simply not like it and refuse to eat.  There’s a lot of patience required when dealing with birds.
• Birds need a light shower every 2-3 days, if not more depending on climate.  A small mist spray with water does wonders for the small bird