What do you think?

[Mare]

I use to keep little Chip, the cockatiel, in the living room, day and night. When the weather started to get so cold that the fire had to be stoked a couple times a night to keep that area warm enough for him, I moved him into the bird room with Sassy and Amigo where they have an even temp, always.

When Chip was in the living room area, he was very vocal, lots of cockatiel loud chirps. Once I moved him into the bird room he became not so vocal. He still whistles and seems happy but isn't doing his loud, I want to say, call. I was thinking that he may have been calling for the other birds? I'm not sure if he was calling for other birds or was he just enjoying life?

He's allowed full run of the room during the day and I lock him in towards evening when he goes in to eat. About a half hour before I close down the room, the cockatoos get VERY loud! Do you think this would be disturbing to Chip? I know it makes my ears ring, they are so loud. I want to do what's best for him. Should I move him out of their room? What do you guys think? Thanks!

[Honesty]

You could always try moving Chip out again and see if he goes back to his normal self. If he does, then you will know he doesn't like being in with Sassy and Amigo!

[Mare]

Chip's a very sweet bird but hands off, he won't let you touch him which is fine with me. When he was in the living room, while the others were in the bird room, he yelled loudly, A LOT! This made me think that maybe he wanted to be with them and once I put him back there, he was more quiet but the cockatoos can be VERY LOUD, at times. Do you think this hurts his ears? He seems content but when they get going it gets pretty wild! At times we have six dogs and when Amigo gets with it, they all start howling along! :). I just don't know how much a cockatiel can take, with this type of environment, maybe that's what I'm trying to ask..

[Honesty]

I don't think it would hurt Chips ears, but, I am not 100% sure on this. Does he seem stressed when they all start?

[spiritbird]

Tough situation. If it were me I would keep on trying different options until Chip seems more content. Spring is coming and Cockatiels usually are looking for a mate. could it be that?

[Mare]

No, he doesn't act stressed, Wendy, it does get his attention, though. It hurts my ears, their voice is strong! I pulled his cage out to it's original place, today, and he's fine here. I think I'll let him be for a few days and see how it goes :). I just want him happy. Compared to my cockatoos he is such a low maintenance bird and I want to make sure I'm doing good by him. Thanks.

[jules]

mmm, have you spoken to your vet about this, i wonder what he thinks? maybe just keep chip with the toos at night? :)

[Mare]

That's a good thought, Julie!! I could ask my vet,,,but..I have a son going to university that's known for their veterinary school!! One of his room mates, a good friend of his, just entered the veterinarian part of her education. She is being exposed to some of the best knowledge in vet medicine! Let's see what they have to say! :th_biggrin: I'll keep you posted!!!

[Honesty]

I hope he will be okay. Let us know how he goes now you have moved him!

[Mare]

Well, Chip is doing well in the living room but he does do his Call in the morning and certain times during the day. When I put Amigo outside, I bring Sassy into the living room area, so the days are great! It's when they are all in the bird room in the evening that has me concerned about Chip's well being. I spoke with my son and he is going to ask his friend, to question her instructors about possible harm to Chip, having to deal with the noise level.

[Honesty]

Let us know what he says about it!

[Turquoise]

Mare this is just my personal experience with my birds I have now and ones I have had in the past. When one is kept in a separate room from the rest of the flock and they can hear the others and know they are there, they will call for them even if they don't get along with them in any way. It is the flock making sure the rest of their buddies are ok and have not been eaten by predators. Since parrots are very flock oriented, they tend to not like being in an area that they can't at least see the other flock members.

Now of course not all birds are going to follow that idea of needing to be close to the rest of the flock. Mine need to know each of the other members of the flock are still there and doing fine, but they don't want to be right with them. When my GCC, my Peta girl was alive I kept her cage between the kitchen area and our computer tv area. She was able to see and definitely hear the big kids in the other end of the living room and she was fine with that. Her concern was to be able to see us more than the rest of the flock which was why I kept her in the area we spend the most of our waking hours.

I have never noticed any of my smaller birds having problems with the loud screams of the macaws. And those boys can scream in a big way! (I mention the boys mainly since Ruby Jewel doesn't scream as often with as much zealous as they do) I would venture a guess they can rival a Cockatoo with loudness and continuance of screams. :) I'm not a vet and I haven't read the pros & cons of the real damage a bird endures listening to other louder parrots to their hearing. I can only go by my personal birds and their non concern attitude when my flock belts out their rainforest sonatas.

[Mare]

I would bet you are right, De'Andrea. Even little Chip can belt out some ear piercing screams. Our bird room is a kid's vacant bedroom, not that big. When the cockatoos get revved up I open the windows to let the noise go somewhere! I can imagine a macaw might even be louder than a U2 but only if the macaw had the attitude of a U2 :)

Oh, again, I think your correct in thinking that Chip may like hanging with the flock (such as it is). Even though Sassy would rather him not be alive, he has a crush on her :)