Should I get a second cockatiel? What gender or age is best?

I think if the new bird would feel comfortable with a companion in his cage then it would be beneficial in helping to tame him. However, if the new bird acts stressed with a cage mate it would be better to leave them separated. Be patient and go slow with the new bird, using lots of treats to help coax him into feeding comfortable with you. It will also help if the new bird watches you interact with your other bird. Best of luck! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for reaching out about Koko. A female would be preferred. All new birds should be quarantined in a different room for at least 30 days. Diagnostics tests can be performed to ascertain health. Good luck.

If your are unsure of your bird's genders you can have them tested at your local vet (blood test) to determine if you have a male and female or two males/females. Same-sex birds can attempt to mate with each other, especially if it is mating season for them. If one of the birds seems stressed out by this, then separating the two for a period of time is best to avoid increasing stress or causing injury to one of the birds. If you are interested in breeding your birds and have a male and female, adding in more protein and calcium to their diet, as well as increasing the amount of daylight they get may help encourage egg laying and raising a clutch.

Hello Chanel and congratulations on your new pet. Here are some links with helpful information: https://www.petcoach.co/article/cockatiels-nymphicus-hollandicus-species-profile-coloration/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/basic-bird-care/ https://www.petsmart.com/learning-center/bird-care/cockatiel-care-guide/A0065.html https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/cockatiels---general-information A single bird is more likely to bond with it's owner BUT you MUST devote a lot of attention to it every day or it could become lonely. These are very smart birds and they need stimulation or they can develop depression and other neurosis. Two birds are more likely to bond with each other but that's not to say they won't bond with you as well. They still need stimulation but will keep each other company. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

That many birds should get along fine as long as you have enough space for them. Four birds would need a very large flight cage or even an aviary to ensure they all have the right amount of space and room to move around. You will also need many perches, multiple food and water dishes, toys, etc, to keep them from fighting. As training and care are very in-depth questions outside the scope of a single answer here, I'm pointing you toward some helpful articles! https://www.petcoach.co/article/cockatiels-nymphicus-hollandicus-species-profile-coloration/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/basic-bird-care/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/selecting-perches-for-caged-birds-materials-measurement-mai/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/basic-bird-training-how-to-train-your-bird-to-step-up/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/cost-of-owning-a-bird-setup-supplies-and-veterinary-care/

There are ways to determine a cockatiel's gender. The link below outlines several. https://www.cockatiel.com/malefemale.html The definitive method to determine gender is to have them sexed via DNA testing. This is done using blood or feather samples. Male cockatiels do not lay eggs. Female cockatiels may lay eggs even in the absence of a male. If you have 2 females, the eggs will be infertile and will not hatch. Fertilized eggs hatch after about 3 weeks of incubation. She may lay one egg every 24-48 hours until she has a clutch of up to 8 eggs. Do not remove any of the eggs. This will cause her to continue laying which can be dangerous. If you have a confirmed pair, I would suggest getting in touch with an experienced avian veterinarian or breeder to guide you if you plan on keeping the chicks.

Due to the large size difference between both birds I would not recommend attempting to house them together in a cage or small aviary as your larger bird could easily pick on or kill your smaller bird.