Rhonda

We have a 2 yr old gray cockatiel named Snickers or Miss Snick which is perfect for her because she thinks she runs our house! If she hears you flush the stool she starts screaming for attention and won't quit til you talk to her. She has a whistle that sounds exactly like come here and another that is right now!!

She has learned to talk all on her own. She can say Pretty Girl that are clearly words and not just whistle. She uses it to call me to come to her. When she wants my attention she will say it over and over! She used to say Good Girl but haven't heard it lately.

I have had birds off and on since I was really little. I grew up with parakeets and have had several cockatiels over the years and parakeets too.

I talked a lady into giving me her Myna Bird when I met her at the Vets. She was going to have him put down as she couldn't keep him. She had taught him to say 17 differant things. His name was Charlie. He was such a hoot!! The kids would set up dominoes under the chairs at the dining table and Charlie would sit off to the side and wait til they were done. Then he would run over and tap the first dominoe and as they fell into each other in a pattern he would laugh loud and long!! So funny!!
He could bark like a big dog or yip like a little dog. He had two differant meows. He said Charlie is a poopoo bird!(which my kids thought was hilarious!) He answered the phone when it rang(not really just acted like it!) He had two differant Hellos one went Hellllloooooooah! He was a blast. But unfortunately one of our outside cats snuck into the house and had gotten upstairs(the birdcage sat downstairs to the left of the stair door) and the cat came streaking down the stairs and ran outside and scared Charlie and he fell down dead. I do miss him but that has been many years ago now!!

We had a cockatiel get loose one time and the people in the neighborhood who saw him called me. They had gotten together as a group and with a sheet had caught him. The birds were attacking him and they took pity on him. So I figured he was gone for good but we got him back which was a miracle!!

So who had birds and what stories do you have to tell?

QBeth

Always wished I could have a bird but its one of those allergies that shots cannot handle. I can't even sleep in a room with a feather pillow! Love your story about Charlie; so sorry he passed away. Looking forward to more bird stories!

Jingle

I had a cockatiel, Sophie I taught how to talk and she had lots of words she could say, and would turn phrases around, Vet. told me there is only about 5% chance female birds that can be taught to talk. I had taught her several whistles also. I had her 5 yr.s and she loved to dance. For some reason her legs got paralyzed and Vet. and bird specialist did not know why. I had to have her put down, about killed me, she was still very alert and not sick. I love ineracting with the birds. Really easier than dogs or cats. She was a very smart bird.
I have a male cockatiel now, Suky and I haven't heard him talk in a long time. He said a few words, in a very soft voice. When he is uncovered in the mornings he hollars for me to watch him dance. He is so happy. I have tried getting him to talk, to no avail. Maybe when I retire in June.
My bird have to stay in a cage as I have 4 housecats and 2 toy poodles, who would go after him in a New York minute if given half a chance.

craftybear

no, don't have a bird but would like to some day

mamahippychicky

We have a cockatiel called Ollie and he is like a 'watch bird'. I always know when someone is coming to the house, and he can tell dh's car from any others. He also lets me know when I get home if there have been any visitors or phonecalls as he has yet another 'voice' for that.
He spends most of the time in the cage, but comes out every night for a few hours of play and snuggles with us. If I am hand quilting or knitting he has to inspect every stitch.

Rhonda

they are so much fun aren't they? Snick will only come out at certain times of the day. If I try to get her to come out any other time she refuses! Her cage is her territory! I get her out in the evenings sometimes and she loves to sit on my shoulder and touch her beak to my cheek and we have to whistle. She has decided I do the first half of the wolf whistle and she does the second half over and over and over and over and over! LOL I counted one time and she did this 80 times til I got tired of whistling the first part!!

We used to have a cockatiel DH called Pete(only about the 5th one over the years named Pete!) and she liked to dance to Yakkety Sax!! If you put country on she would scream blue murder!! It had to be Boots Randall's version of Yakkety Sax and she would dance up a storm! Bobbing and gyrating!

mamahippychicky

We got our first cockatiel when we lived in Australia for a couple of years. Unfortunately when we moved back to NZ we couldn't bring him with us due to some silly laws!! Felix had a great personality and would love to sing and dance.

feline fanatic

I don't have one but my mom has a large Moluccan cockatoo, they are also known as salmon crested cockatoo. That bird is a hoot and I lover her to pieces. For years we thought it was a boy till it laid an egg! She is a very cool bird but can get very loud and obnoxious. She likes to screech "I'm a wreck, I'm a wreck" can mimic my mom's laugh exactly and also says "I'm a pretty bird". She is very sweet and likes to groom you when you take her out. I suspect that bird will be mine someday because they have a lifespan of like 70 years and she is probably only about 15 years old now.

raptureready

I'm with you about the feather pillows and allergies but it's okay with me as far as birds are concerned, I'm TERRIFIED of them. I think they're beautiful as long as they're caged or far away. I really do have a serious phobia when it comes to birds.

Seanette

I have a ringneck dove named Ava, who gets along quite well with our cat (they pretty much ignore each other a lot).