How to Get Two Cockatiels to Fall in Love With Each Other

Cockatiels are friendly, social birds.

About 6 million households in the United States have a pet bird. Next to parrots, cockatiels are the most popular type of pet bird. Cockatiels are smart, social birds that will flock naturally. Pairing these birds is not difficult. Males and females socialize well together, and males often become chummy.

Things You'll Need

• Play stand

Instructions

1. Sex your birds. If you want your cockatiels to fall in love so they will mate, you need to find out their sex. Sexing cockatiels visually is difficult. While some general physical attributes may show gender, the only 100 percent accurate method is a DNA blood test at your veterinarian. Another test requires feeling the pelvic bones of your bird. The pelvic bones of a male cockatiel are close together and sharp; a female's pelvic bones are further apart and more flexible. Generally, males tend to be more vocal and may learn to sing and talk earlier than females. However, a small percentage of females sing and talk early, too. Males also have distinct body language, such as pulling their wings back while whistling.

2. Introduce two cockatiels by placing their cages next to one another. This gives them time to get to know each other while feeling safe in their established territory.

3. Look for bonding or mating behavior before letting cockatiels out of their cage at the same time. Bonding behavior includes perching, eating and preening at the same time. Do not put them into the same cage until you know they get along.

4. Open their cage doors and allow the birds to play and exercise at the same time. Place a play stand on a neutral surface outside the cages for the birds to get familiar. If they like each other, they will visit each other's cage.

5. Look for courting displays. A male will tap his beak to get the female's attention. Male cockatiels will strut, bow their head and hop for a female with which they want to mate. Males will also whistle at the female and scream or screech at her.

Tips & Warnings

• If one bird is a bully, ignores the other or exhibits threatening behavior, it's likely they will never become friends.

• Signs of incompatible birds include hissing, biting, tail bending, feather pulling and lunging.

• If your female bird seems intolerant of the male during mating, you may want to clip the male bird's toenails. A female will not tolerate the male on her back for long if his toenails are causing discomfort.

• Same-sex cockatiels, unlike other birds, will become friends.

• You can cause serious injury to your bird by sexing it if you are inexperienced.

• When bringing a new pet bird into your home, you should quarantine it for a minimum of 30 days. During this time, each bird should have separate water troughs, feeders, toys and cages. Wash your hands between handling each bird.

• Even if your cockatiels are very good friends, there's no reason to force them to share a cage. They will be just as happy in their own cages next to each other.

References

• American Pet Products Association: Industry Statistics and Trends
• Steve Dale Pet World: Pet Numbers Still Growing, But May Finally be at their Glass Ceiling
• Cockatiel Cottage: Is My Bird Male or Female?
• Bluequaker.com: Cockatiels, Advice From a Breeder
• Cockatiel Foundation: Introducing a Second Cockatiel as a Companion