Why so many cockatiels?

[Nerien]

Poking through craigslist and ebayclassifieds looking for cages, I see cockatiel after cockatiel up for adoption. Wondering why? Are they a problem in some way? Is it just because places like petco still sell them, and they're relatively cheap for a "parrot" so people buy them without a clue what they're doing? It's so sad to see so many unwanted birds up for grabs. Don't see even a quarter of the number of budgies offered for rehoming, just dozens of cockatiels. Just wondering why

[cindy]

Some breeders of hookbills follow a Fall and Spring breeding schedule. Set boxes up in September for Fall babies, let them have two clutches then rest them until boxes go back up in March/April.

They are also relatively inexpensive and can talk and be companion birds like the bigger more expensive hookbills.

[Snow-White]

I agree, this is a very sad situation. Very few people are responsible enough to truly adopt a bird in general. Most birds are forced to live in hellish conditions because of irresponsible people who just want a bird, without giving them what they truly need. And if people truly cared about them, they would not cage them in the first place. Birds, all birds, except the ones who are injured, deserve to be free. It breaks my heart to see my own 4 little birds caged but I can't release them. I took many away from hellish breeders and am trying to give them the best I can.

~Until EVERY cage is empty!~

[Nerien]

These aren't breeders. These are people selling off their bird/birds and cage and toys and everything, with a "please take this bird off our hands" attitude, take it and everything associated with it. Pictures show the birds and a cage full of toys sitting on a table or stand in the family room or dining room or bedroom. Definitely not breeders. It's so sad. How could so many people be making such a mistake?

[mayble]

It's so sad. How could so many people be making such a mistake?

I'm sure the people working in rescues and shelters all across the country ask themselves that same question every day.
Many people don't see the difference between a living creature and an inanimate possession, and feel free to discard them when they become inconvenient or simply when the thrill is gone. Others don't do any research or planning before acquiring a new pet on a whim, then realize it doesn't fit their lifestyle.
Yes, it is sad.

[lyzzyjayne]

I have noticed the same thing. African Greys also there are like 5 right now on our CL
=(

[wellingtoncdm]

I adopted a beautiful pair of cockatiels about 5 years ago. The male is white faced silver and the hen is a cinnamon pearl. They are in an outside aviary at work. Many people ask why I won't breed them. I tell them the same thing. There are too many cockatiels that need homes. I don't want to add to the problem.

[paul-inAZ]

There are at least 15 cockatiel ads listed in the Phoenix area.
Some youngsters, others free if you buy the cage or with a free cage if you buy the bird. Looks like a mix of breeders selling babies and other owners who want to bail out.
Also a half dozen african greys.

[cindy]

Unfortunately with the loss of jobs, cuts in pay, the economy often pets are the ones that usually find themselves rehomed along with dogs and cats. We are seeing more dogs coming into our breed specific rescue since massive job cuts and the failing economy.

People may not be able to afford the care and cost of pets including birds. I know of a few that lost jobs or had hours cut, they needed to rehome their pets...sadly, they were heartbroken.

So not everyone is just giving them up because of buying on a whim and the bird(s) not fitting into their life style anymore.

[Nerien]

There are 27 listed in my exact area, 41 in the one next to us, I live on a border. Only a very few are breeders selling babies. While these are big areas, the biggest "city" in the area is about 55,000 people, the rest are all small towns of anywhere from 25,000 down to 2,000 people.

These are not $20 budgies in $30 cages. When our local petco has them, they're $139 or more, and the cages being offered with these birds are bigger and expensive, too. Seems like an awful lot of money for an impulse buy.

There are a variety of other parrots and such also, but only one or two of any kind. But so many cockatiels! Just wondering what is it that makes them so unwanted, not as easy to ignore as that budgie now pushed into the corner? Active and noisy enough to make these people feel guilty about ignoring them?

[30 Seconds to Bob]

I think that many people don't realize just how noisy even a small hookbill can be before the purchase is made. If you value peace and quiet, these birds can certainly wear out their welcome in a short period of time. In a pet shop setting, birds are often very calm, subdued and quiet. Once home, they may not vocalize until settled in and comfortable.
Background bird noise has been present in my house "forever" to the point where a moderate amount is usually tolerated and ignored. When my elderly in-laws lived with us, my conures drove them absolutely crazy to the point where I had to find them new homes. It was sad, but sometimes people's mental well being has to come first. Upon family request, I recently "traded in" the majaroty of my beloved canaries for some quieter birds. We love birds but everyone here doesn't always love bird noises. Bob

[Finnie]

~Until EVERY cage is empty!~

Um, this seems like it could be quite an offensive statement, given that you are posting it on a forum made up of bird owners.

I don't think there is anyone here who wants their cages empty.

[cindy]

There are 27 listed in my exact area, 41 in the one next to us, I live on a border. Only a very few are breeders selling babies. While these are big areas, the biggest "city" in the area is about 55,000 people, the rest are all small towns of anywhere from 25,000 down to 2,000 people.

These are not $20 budgies in $30 cages. When our local petco has them, they're $139 or more, and the cages being offered with these birds are bigger and expensive, too. Seems like an awful lot of money for an impulse buy.

There are a variety of other parrots and such also, but only one or two of any kind. But so many cockatiels! Just wondering what is it that makes them so unwanted, not as easy to ignore as that budgie now pushed into the corner? Active and noisy enough to make these people feel guilty about ignoring them?

Cockatiels produce a lot of dander perhaps the breeders/owners developed health complications, breathing problems. It happens.

[wellingtoncdm]

I agree, this is a very sad situation. Very few people are responsible enough to truly adopt a bird in general. Most birds are forced to live in hellish conditions because of irresponsible people who just want a bird, without giving them what they truly need. And if people truly cared about them, they would not cage them in the first place. Birds, all birds, except the ones who are injured, deserve to be free. It breaks my heart to see my own 4 little birds caged but I can't release them. I took many away from hellish breeders and am trying to give them the best I can.

~Until EVERY cage is empty!~

I'm not sure I totally follow what you are saying. Did you release them?

[Snow-White]

wellingtoncdm:

I can't release the zebbies I "adopted" since they would not be able to fend for themselves. It was a very difficult decision for me to take them because it simply breaks my heart to see animals that are supposed to live in the wild -caged-. If I had not taken them away from that particular store, they would have died within a few weeks.

Most birds I've housed were nestlings or fledglings brought to me by park employees. I've released all of them except for one sparrow who had a broken leg. She deserves to live free but considering the high number of cats in the area and the fact that the bird became fairly tame, I decided to keep her. I still don't know whether this was the right decision.