Pretty birds are a lot of company

 

Last updated 11/12/2014 at 10:32am

Peggy Sandgren holds one of her five cockatiels, about twice the size of a parakeet. You can teach them to speak, if you have the patience and keep repeating what you want them to pick up.

When a cockatiel says "pretty bird" it isn't because it has a super large ego, it's just a fact.

Cockatiels, while a bit messy, are beautiful and a lot smarter than you would think.

Peggy Sandgren, of Delano, got a pair just over a year ago, and now has five. She is trying to sell two.

While cockatiels don't have a large vocabulary, they can be taught a few words; not enough to carry on a conversation. Males speak more than females, and even can learn to whistle.

But if you work with them, they can pick up a few words or phrases. Sandgren's birds say things like "pretty bird" and "love you" and "cookie." You just have to keep at it, and the birds will slowly pick up a few words.

They can be good alarm clocks, also. Early in the morning, when dark starts turning towards daylight, they make what Sandgren calls a "terrible squawk."

Later in the day, the cockatiels make a mild chirp, a rather pleasant sound.

"They are a lot of company," Sandgren says.

The Delano resident said she is asking a modest price for the two cockatiels. "I am just trying to recover some of my feed bills," she said. Prices on birdsnow.com ranged from $60-$130 Monday, depending on several factors.

The two are about three months old, brightly colored with a top notch. Cockatiels are about twice the size of parakeets, and need a good size cage so they can move around.

The birds are native to Australia, and are said to have "sunny personalities."

When tamed, they easily can become "best friends."

In fact, in a poll, Bird Talk magazine found cockatiels got the honor of being named "best bird of all time."

Now, that might be challenged if you resent having to clean up after them. They are "messy" eaters, Sandgren admits. But they fill in a void and become household pals.

Cockatiels love to spend time with people, have their heads scratched, and some like to ride along perched on their master's shoulder.

Cockatiels have a lifespan similar to cats and dogs, maybe a bit longer at 20 years. Some have been known to live to 30 years.

Most cockatiel owners can vouch that the birds like to nip at you and will do so until you get them to settle down.

Two questions to ask in considering whether to get one are, are you right for a cockatiel, and is a cockatiel right for you.

Peggy Sandgren holds one of her five cockatiels, about twice the size of a parakeet. You can teach them to speak, if you have the patience and keep repeating what you want them to pick up. Sandgren got two cockatiels about a year ago on a whim, taking them to help out a friend. Now they are household pets. - Scott Hunter photo

 

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