A Cockatiel Relationship: It's a Love/Hate Thing

Our oldest family members are a pair of cockatiels who have been in our home almost 10 years. It has been an interesting journey to see their relationship grow and develop over the past year and a half. What use to be pure hatred for one another has turned into hidden moments of affection. While they still pick at each other, it has turned into a love/hate relationship. You could say they act like an old married couple now.

When we first brought Charlie (Yellow) home, he was very young. As soon as we put him in the cage with Peck (Grey), he instantly looked to her in somewhat of a motherly form- which she was less than thrilled about. She couldn't get far enough away from him and all he wanted was to be right next to her. When we would let her out of the cage, Charlie would have serious attacks of separation anxiety. He endured a couple weeks of torture from her until he finally stood up for himself.

Their first fight was a bad one. We were laying in bed one night and heard them going at it. We think he tried to sneak up next to her while she was sleeping. Both ended up bloody and hurt so we separated them for a few days. Oddly, after a couple days, they seemed to miss each other and seemed rather happy to return to one cage.

After their spat, things began changing between the two. Peck seemed to become more tolerable of him but only when it was convenient for her. She was more than willing to lay her head on his chest while he nibbled her feathers, but when he tried to lay his head on her chest, she would instantly pluck a feather from him. This was how they were for many years, but now that Charlie has gotten older, things have really changed between them.

Peck doesn't not seem to be the head honcho of the cage anymore, instead, they seem to have formed a nice balance. He has learned how to stay on her good side and even what pushed her buttons. Charlie seems to have a sense of humor for a bird and never passes up an opportunity to annoy her. I figure he's making up for those months of being picked on and used for free head scratches.

If she's on a perch above him, he won't hesitate to pull her tail feathers so she falls off. If she's on a perch below him, he will hang upside down and tug on her head feathers. Some days, when I think he gets really bored because he will just follow her every where she goes until she gets irritated enough to bite him.

Despite the obvious acts of torment from Charlie, they have also developed a very close relationship. At night you can catch hidden moments as they "flirt" with each other in quiet little chirps. And, if you're really lucky, you'll catch her actually scratching his head for once. If you wake up early, you can even find them snuggled together on the same perch; however, some mornings you can tell he has been banished to the other side of the cage.

They have definitely developed a love/hate relationship, but I think they would both be lost without each other. I worry about the day something happens to one of them and the other is left alone. Luckily, they are only about a year apart in age, so hopefully they will live a long and happy life together--that is, if Charlie doesn't push his luck too far with her.

Do you have multiple birds? Have they developed a bond with one another?

Introducing Your Dog to a New Baby

Bringing home a new baby is an exciting and joyous moment, but it can also be a worrisome experience if you own a dog because you don't how your pet will react. Even the most trustworthy of dog can react poorly towards a new member of the family. Luckily, there are many things you can do to make the transition easier on your dog.

Before Baby Comes Home

Prior to bringing home your new baby, you want your pet to become familiar with the baby's scent. There are two ways you can do this. Before the baby is born, apply baby powder or baby lotion to your skin. This will allow your dog to become accustom to the baby smell around the home.

After the baby is born and before the baby comes home, have your spouse or friend bring home a piece of clothing from the baby. Allow the pet to smell the clothes to become familiar with the baby's smell. This will make it less of a shock for your pet if they are use to the smell already.

Greeting Your Pet

If you have been in the hospital for a while, chances are your pet is going to be excited to see you when you arrive home. It's important to have someone else take the baby into another room when you first arrive so you can greet your pet. Give your pet this one-on-one attention when you first come home so they don't feel left out or jealous. Plus, they will be excited and you don't want them to jump on the baby. You want them to calm down and be relaxed when you make the introduction.

Meeting the Baby

The most important thing to remember when your pet meets the new baby is it has to be a positive experience. Have your pet sit next to you while you hold the baby in a calm environment. Encourage positive reactions from your pet by rewarding them with treats and praise. Don't yell or make your pet feel anxious when they first meet the new baby.

Adjusting to the New Baby

As with children, pets thrive when they are involved with some form of routine. Start a routine as soon as possible to keep your pet feeling safe and secure. Make sure your routine includes daily one-on-one time with your pet.

Even with these tips, not all pets do well with children. Here are a few more tips to make life with a dog and new baby easier and more successful:

• Spay or neuter your pet. Pets that have been fixed are less likely to bite.


• Keep your pets nails trimmed to reduce accidental injury to the baby.


• Obedience train your pet-- hopefully before the baby comes home.


• Discourage your dog from jumping.

What are some methods you've used to introduce a dog to a new baby?

Learn More about the ASPCA

Founded in 1866, the ASPCA was created to provide the tools and knowledge needed to prevent animal cruelty throughout the United States. The ASPCA was the first animal cruelty foundation established within the United States.

The ASPCA foundation strives to prevent animal cruelty and to provide animals with safe and loving homes. The ASPCA is mainly recognized for creating a legal authority authorized to investigate crimes made against animals. These authorities have the right to arrest those believed to cause harm to animals. There are many programs available through the ASPCA, including tools needed to care for pets correctly, providing positive outcomes for at risk animals, and serving the animals who have been a victim to animal crimes.

How Can You Help?
There are many ways everyday people can become involved with the ASPCA and provide animals with a more promising life. You can report cases of suspected animal cruelty for the ASPCA to investigate and even become one of the authorities who investigates these reports.

The ASPCA strives to find suitable and loving families for the pets they rescue. Many cats and dogs are available for adoption through the ASPCA. The ASPCA works in combination with many partners who host "adoption days" at many locations throughout the United States.

Due to the fact the ASPCA is a non-profit organization, they are always seeking donations to keep providing these services to animals and society. You can help the ASPCA by making a donation or by becoming an ASPCA member.

Pets for for people who can't have pets

Before we owned our own home, our pets came in tanks and cages. We really wanted to have a dog or cat, but at the time, it just wasn't possible. I felt bad telling my kids that we couldn't have four-legged pets, so we compromised.

Although my living room was running out of space, our small animals became part of the family. I was a little worried at first because I didn't think the kids would really enjoy animals that they couldn't necessarily be played with, but each animal had a unique personality and the kids loved them. They became the ideal pets for people who can't have pets.

Naturally, we started out with small birds, rabbits, and fish, but over the years, and now as home owners, our zoo has grown tremendously. Throughout the years prior to being able to have pets, we even had fiddler crabs, which are so much fun to watch.

For people who can't have pets, these really are great animals to have. Although they are small, their personalities are mighty and the kids love them. The only downside is the loss of space from the cages and aquariums, but the loss of space was well worth the sacrifice. You simply can't have a childhood without pets, and I'm glad my kids didn't have to miss out.

Now, years later, we have quite the zoo. We have a huge German Shepard named Duke, 2 cockatiels, a foster cockatiel, 2 Indian Ring Necks, 1 parakeet, 1 chunky little hamster, a Day Gekco, a tarantula, a green fish named Mickey, and a tank of sharks.

If you're financially stable, you're living situation doesn't necessarily mean you can't own a pet. Sometimes, you just need to get a little creative about what type of pet you'll bring home to love.

What are some other pets for people who can't have furry critters?