Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!apple!agate!riacs!shelby!lindy!news
From: AS.RLS@forsythe.stanford.edu (Rosemary Switzer)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: INDOOR : So how well do parakeets and cockatiels mix?
Message-ID: <10521@lindy.Stanford.EDU>
Date: 19 Jul 90 23:41:03 GMT
Sender: news@lindy.Stanford.EDU (News Service)
Lines: 26


  I'm begging some information from all you folks who have
more than one species of birds as pets.  I have a mated pair of
cockatiels, Rikki (15 years old) and Ariel (13 years old).
Rikki and Ariel are 'people trained', though Ariel does
tend to get jealous if Rikki spends too much time with a
human.  :)    Anyway, I've inherited a 7 year old parakeet
named Russell.   Russell is very skittish and scared of
everything.  He has been an only bird, and his previous owner
did not spend a lot of time with him.  He was frantic upon
coming to my home last week, but has calmed down quite a bit.
I've been talking to him a lot, and he is entranced with
Rikki and Ariel (probably the first time since fledging that
he's seen other birds!).  I've placed his cage 1 foot
away from Rikki and Ariel's, and he has forsaken his mirror
for them (good sign?).  Rikki and Ariel, who are out a lot,
haven't paid him a bit of attention.
   Does anyone have any advice on what's the best approach to
making Russell acclimated and happy in his new home?  I would
like to socialize him, but do not want to stress him out (is
it true that parakeets can die of fright?).  Neither do I want
to impose my fantasy of Rikki, Ariel and Russell becoming buddies,
if that is unnatural for them all.  Any and all advice is most
welcome.  Thanks!

Rosemary Switzer