Having a Pet Cockatiel is One of the Best Parts of Life

About seven years ago, my mother bought a beautiful Lutino cockatiel. My mom, who is very adept at stating the obvious when it comes to pets, named her Sunshine. This couldn't be more accurate. Sunny is just that; full of sunshine and love.

When my parents moved away, first my friend, then my husband and I, gained custody of my mom's treasured little friend, along with two other small birds. It has been an experience to say the least. I don't think I would change a thing about having my little friend here with us, though. We love her as much as she loves us, and we have a deeper bound with her, than some people have with their own children. It sounds ridiculous, but it's true.

Having a Cockatiel is no different from having any other kind of pet. You have to take care of her by feeding her, cleaning her cage, and helping her get plenty of exercise. Of course, you also have to be prepared to clean up after your little friend when she starts molting her old feathers. This is one of the drawbacks, I suppose, of having a bird.

Most birds tend to molt about twice a year and it seems like the entire floor will end up covered in feathers. This causes you to have to do a lot of vacuuming and cage cleaning, but, in the end, it's worth it to see the shiny new feathers that your friend is now sporting. Of course, it's also fun to watch the birds preen themselves much like a teenager does every morning. She wants to look pretty, so she takes care of herself.

Of course, birds have their own unique personality. Sunny is easily annoyed when someone she is sitting with does something she doesn't want them to do, like move! She gives an indignant squawk, and will usually start boxing my husband's ears or fingers, depending on where she's sitting. She is also quite the beggar bird, as my husband likes to call her. We say this because when I make Blueberry muffins she flies into the kitchen, lands on my husband, and proceeds to make shrill demands for her share!

Having Sunny has been a very interesting and rewarding experience. We wouldn't change a thing. My husband has her completely trained to call for whichever one of us is not in the room. This makes it quite fun to walk in the house after working all day to hear her shrill cry for me or her "papa," as I call my husband. It makes her like one of our kids.

Of course, the fun never stops when she's around. Especially, if one of us is trying to sleep, then she becomes our very own custom alarm clock. Of course, it's cheaper to have her in that role, as she doesn't need electricity to run!

The best part of having a Cockatiel is that they become like one of the family. They are faithful companions and are always there to spend time with you. They relish the attention and fuss, much like a child, when they don't get their way. In the end, though, it makes no difference. They will brighten up your life and your home.

I hope that when you are making a decision about what kind of pet to get, you consider a Cockatiel. Thanks for reading!