Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!rutgers!rochester!pt.cs.cmu.edu!andrew.cmu.edu!lw0y+ From: lw0y+@andrew.cmu.edu (Laurie Walz) Newsgroups: rec.birds Subject: Re: Pet Birds? Message-ID: Date: 24 May 89 15:33:06 GMT Organization: School of Urban and Public Affairs, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA Lines: 35 Dear Robert: I suggest that you look into getting a baby hand-fed cockatiel. You'll pay about $65-100. They make wonderful pets -- are very affectionate and gregarious and will adore interacting with you, and they are easy to care for -- just keep it warm, clean, well fed, (seeds, fruits, veggies, etc) and give it lots of attention. They can learn to talk in cute raspy voices and whistle, but "naturally" they kind of "cheep cheep" -- not really noisy. My cockatiels are easily as affectionate and companionable as my cockatoos, without the disadvantages of the larger birds (noisiness in many individuals, expense). I think you'll find most people on the net will agree with this assessment. Many bird keepers think that cockatiels are the best pet of all birds, regardless of expense. Be sure to get a hand-fed baby, though, and also be sure you will be able to give it lots of attention, because a cockatiel is a very intelligent bird which requires companionship and a stimulating environment. I would also recommend you deal with a breeder and not a regular pet shop. There is an excellent magazine available called Bird Talk which has the names of breeders across the country in its back pages -- good place to start. The "regular" breed, grey with white patches on face, with bright orange cheeks are most readily available and least expenseive, but a wide variety of mutations -- white ones, yellow ones, grey ones with lacey markings -- are also widely available, though you pay more for these. Be sure to get a bird that is already sweet and tame. Given proper care, it will be your best buddy for the next 20 years. Good luck, and let us know what you decide! LW