Hi,
I have a cockatiel, I'm pretty sure he's about 10 years old, based on his band. He was abandoned by a family in my neighborhood and he's been with me for 6 years. He is social and loves people in general. He's the most bonded to me for sure, but he does sometimes really take to random new people as well. About a year and a half ago I moved in with a partner who has dogs and that has changed the way I interact with him. I can't take him around the house very much now because I want to be very cautious. Currently, he is upstairs and the dogs are downstairs so they are very separated. I built Jeffrey a bird room so he can be out of his cage all day, but right now he still prefers his cage most of the time. (It recently got finished so I anticipate that will change).
Anyway, he is very anxious when I'm not around, and flock calls almost non-stop. I'm a graduate student so I'm gone a lot, and I try to study in the room with him when I'm home but I also have my dogs and partner to spend time with, so I feel like Jeffery is not getting adequate social time. Most days he gets at least 1-2 hours with me in the room working with him, but to be honest there are occasional busy days where I only check his food/water and he is in the room isolated all day. I've been thinking a lot about getting him a friend, and I think another cockatiel would be the best option. Would you agree? I know they may not like each other, and I worry about another male who also flocks calls and having double the noise without many benefits for my bird. (The noise isn't my biggest concern, but it can be a pain). I have heard females can be quieter, but then egg-laying and mating come into play. I'm not interested in breeding. How difficult is it to properly care for a male and female if the female starts lying? My plan and hope would be for them to sleep in separate cages (I have two large cages) and to be out together in the bird room during the day. I would obviously work up to that slowly and not leave them loose unattended initially.
I don't want to rehome him because we are both very attached to each other and I know he had several homes before making it to me. However, if you think rehoming is realistically the best option please be honest. I know the situation is not ideal and I want him to have the best life possible (I'm tearing up lol).
I have a cockatiel, I'm pretty sure he's about 10 years old, based on his band. He was abandoned by a family in my neighborhood and he's been with me for 6 years. He is social and loves people in general. He's the most bonded to me for sure, but he does sometimes really take to random new people as well. About a year and a half ago I moved in with a partner who has dogs and that has changed the way I interact with him. I can't take him around the house very much now because I want to be very cautious. Currently, he is upstairs and the dogs are downstairs so they are very separated. I built Jeffrey a bird room so he can be out of his cage all day, but right now he still prefers his cage most of the time. (It recently got finished so I anticipate that will change).
Anyway, he is very anxious when I'm not around, and flock calls almost non-stop. I'm a graduate student so I'm gone a lot, and I try to study in the room with him when I'm home but I also have my dogs and partner to spend time with, so I feel like Jeffery is not getting adequate social time. Most days he gets at least 1-2 hours with me in the room working with him, but to be honest there are occasional busy days where I only check his food/water and he is in the room isolated all day. I've been thinking a lot about getting him a friend, and I think another cockatiel would be the best option. Would you agree? I know they may not like each other, and I worry about another male who also flocks calls and having double the noise without many benefits for my bird. (The noise isn't my biggest concern, but it can be a pain). I have heard females can be quieter, but then egg-laying and mating come into play. I'm not interested in breeding. How difficult is it to properly care for a male and female if the female starts lying? My plan and hope would be for them to sleep in separate cages (I have two large cages) and to be out together in the bird room during the day. I would obviously work up to that slowly and not leave them loose unattended initially.
I don't want to rehome him because we are both very attached to each other and I know he had several homes before making it to me. However, if you think rehoming is realistically the best option please be honest. I know the situation is not ideal and I want him to have the best life possible (I'm tearing up lol).
I had something VERY similar happen ! I had one cockatiel and then decided to get him a friend and its been amazing. I also have a bird room and I feel comfterable leaving them un attended together in it. Don't expect them to be cuddly or anything like that but being able to mimic behaviors with another bird is vital to their mental health especially when they are isolated for portions of the day ( this is my humble opinion ) no matter what they will have a flock bond even if they get mad at each other when they get close ( My guys often do 
