fleming@acsu.buffalo.edu (christine m fleming) (05/12/91)
In article <15822@life.ai.mit.edu> Timothy Buck (timbuck@gnu.ai.mit.edu) writes: >I have a cockatiel and a parakeet who share a cage and I was just wondering >if this is unusual. > >Tim <> timbuck@gnu.ai.mit.edu or jbuck@vtssi.vt.edu It probably IS unusual...:) My parakeets and my cockatiel do not really share a cage, but, they have gotten along just fine being IN any cage together, and being outside on the couch together. This is, until late. It used to be that the female parakeet had more interest in the cockatiel. She would try to groom him and would sit near him. He never liked the attention that much, but, once he figured out that she wasn't going to eat him, he chilled out. Now, the male has taken a really weird interest in the cockatiel. He sings him songs, and follows him around when the cockatiel is on the couch. (This is strange, 'cause before the male 'keet used to be 'fraid of the 'tiel..) As you can tell, we BELIEVE the cockatiel is a male. However, he's not old enough to sex. (He is a lutino, and i have heard that i can sex the cockatiel by his primaries when he is mature...) As for behaviour typing, his breeder believes that he is a male from begging attitudes and certain physical characteristics thrown to male offspring of his parents. The male parakeet acts (as well as i can figure) as if he is courting the cockatiel. But, i am not sure. He follows him around and sings little songs to the bigger bird. He also swoops down and makes landings that are too close for comfort. (And once he actually got a toe or two on the cockatiel's back before the cockatiel jumped and they both got scared and jumped....) He has not regurgitated for the cockatiel, nor has he attempted to mate with him as far as i can tell. AND, to make the story more interesting, the female parakeet has started moping. She is less talkative (sings less) and she seems a little depressed. She spends a lot more time by herself, and the male (who used to follow her EVERYWHERE) is less attentive. I have never observed them mating, but, i have only had them for the last year or year and 1/2. [The male is probably 3 or a little older, she is probably 2 or a little older. This is from information from the former owner, and from physical characterstics...] SO, do i have a love-sick female parakeet? Is she being jilted for a new lover by her husband? Is my cockatiel a female? Does the male parakeet need glasses? Is my male parakeet trying to fulfill his lusts with the unrequiting cockatiel? ...;) Anyone have a clue as to what is up with this relationship? I am wondering if i should give the parakeets a nest box, but, i will be moving in a week or so and i wouldn't want to start something now. Will this pass when summer wanes, or does this sound serious? I have never heard of this happening, but, then again, soap opera romance among birds isn't necessarily a big topic...:) Help? ...jones (fleming@sun.acsu.buffalo.edu)
plemmons@nsf1.mth.msu.edu (Steve Plemmons) (05/15/91)
In article <76108@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU> fleming@acsu.buffalo.edu (christine m fleming) writes: > >Now, the male has taken a really weird interest in the cockatiel. He >sings him songs, and follows him around when the cockatiel is on the >couch. (This is strange, 'cause before the male 'keet used to be >'fraid of the 'tiel..) > >The male parakeet acts (as well as i can figure) as if he is courting >the cockatiel. But, i am not sure. He follows him around and sings >little songs to the bigger bird. He also swoops down and makes > >SO, do i have a love-sick female parakeet? Is she being jilted for a >new lover by her husband? Is my cockatiel a female? Does the male >parakeet need glasses? Is my male parakeet trying to fulfill his lusts >with the unrequiting cockatiel? ...;) > >...jones >(fleming@sun.acsu.buffalo.edu) Maybe your keet is a faggot. Maybe you should have him tested for aids. Steve