Odd pair these two.
This is Tatty and Sprout.
Tatty from the noises he makes, Sprout because he's green, round and small.
They were both born around Jan 2022. From their behaviour and colouration, the budgie, Sprout, was too young to be in a pet shop, and they were inseparable.
From what I know of Cockatiels, Tatty's paternal instinct had taken over, and he must have raised Sprout as his son.
They've been inseparable since.
I did have them in individual cages, but they pine for each other when separated.
The reason I know about the paternal side of Cockatiels, is past experience, and also that Sprout has a taste for Cockatiel food.
Says to me he's been fed on hacked up Cockatiel food when he was young from Tatty's gullet.
Amazing really when nature and nurture take their turns.
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Once I'd got them hand tamed to the point I can control them, I put them back into the same cage, and they've been great since.
Not as friendly as Shitbox (RIP), but at least tame to an extent.
6 months ago when they were 6 months old, and today when they are 1 year old.
This has been my project for the past year
Never thought I'd love another bird after Shitbox.
I had him for 12 years, a third of my life. There's a couple vids in this thread of him somewhere, including a vid of when he died.
Tatty at 6 months ago at 6 months ago:
Sprout 6 months ago at 6 months old:
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Tatty today, at 1 year old:
Sprout today, at 1 year old: