Rue
01-28-2009, 04:42 PM
Yesterday my male cockatiel died. He was 25 years old.
I got him as an unwanted breeder from an aviary in 1986. He was approximatley 1.5 years old at the time.
He was never 'tame'. In fact, he was miserable! He was an evil bird for 18 years. Then he finally mellowed out. LOL...we actually had a relationship then. I was never able to handle him, but he actually came for 'conversations' with me during the day. Anyone with birds should know what I mean when I say 'kissy beak'...it's a beak wiggle accompanied by little chirps that 'tiels do when they're 'talking' with you.
He had 3 'wives', Abi (despite issues, she lived to be 15), Nike (found her dead one day, she was 5. I think she freaked and ended up breaking her neck), and Izzy (5 years old).
I never raised a cluch of eggs from him...I have no desire to breed birds, but I did let them 'sit' the eggs for a few weeks. He probably would've been a good Dad.
He travelled a lot! We purchased him in Ontario...he drove to Winnipeg when we moved. We spent a couple of days there before continuing on to Saskatchewan. And we've moved within the province too.
I was told - way back when - that birds wouldn't survive travelling. LOL...what a crock! There were no pet carriers back then, so I put a branch in an aquarium for them, put the seatbelt around it to hold it in place...and had it supported a bit higher (to provide stablility for the base) - they enjoyed looking out the window during the drive. Nights in motels didn't phase them either.:hmm3grin2orange:
I'm going to miss him. He's been a daily constant in my life for 23 years.
I got him as an unwanted breeder from an aviary in 1986. He was approximatley 1.5 years old at the time.
He was never 'tame'. In fact, he was miserable! He was an evil bird for 18 years. Then he finally mellowed out. LOL...we actually had a relationship then. I was never able to handle him, but he actually came for 'conversations' with me during the day. Anyone with birds should know what I mean when I say 'kissy beak'...it's a beak wiggle accompanied by little chirps that 'tiels do when they're 'talking' with you.
He had 3 'wives', Abi (despite issues, she lived to be 15), Nike (found her dead one day, she was 5. I think she freaked and ended up breaking her neck), and Izzy (5 years old).
I never raised a cluch of eggs from him...I have no desire to breed birds, but I did let them 'sit' the eggs for a few weeks. He probably would've been a good Dad.
He travelled a lot! We purchased him in Ontario...he drove to Winnipeg when we moved. We spent a couple of days there before continuing on to Saskatchewan. And we've moved within the province too.
I was told - way back when - that birds wouldn't survive travelling. LOL...what a crock! There were no pet carriers back then, so I put a branch in an aquarium for them, put the seatbelt around it to hold it in place...and had it supported a bit higher (to provide stablility for the base) - they enjoyed looking out the window during the drive. Nights in motels didn't phase them either.:hmm3grin2orange:
I'm going to miss him. He's been a daily constant in my life for 23 years.