Thanks for the replies ..

As for a new cage - I do go to second hand stores, haven't seen one but I definetely would if I saw it. I don't intend on separating them. They've been together for years and they would become extremely loud and upset I'm sure if I took them apart.

pcb .. you said "Cockatiels ARE very friendly and social by nature, but when people don't know how to deal with them properly, they don't learn how to deal with humans either."

So what IS the proper way to deal with them? This is what I don't get. I'll tell you what I'm doing now. I'm not putting my hands near the cage unless I'm A) Refilling their bowls or B) Giving them some treats like Millet or crackers.

I'm leaving their cage door open for most of the day, so they are free to climb out. So far Chip comes out a lot, he's even walked around the carpet.. BUT I don't put my hands near him because he runs away or goes to bite.

Everynow and then he flies around and gets stuck in a high place, so then I try to take him down. This happened today .. he flew up and clung onto a towel hanging from our wall. He stayed there for over an HOUR. I tried everything - put my hand there and he bit, hissed and sqealed at it and wouldn't cooperate, put a perch next to him, no dice. So eventually I just took the towel down with him on it and put him back in the cage.

I talk to them various times throughout the day, and I'm working right across from their cage all day.

When they get too noisy I put a white blanket over their cage and they usually go to sleep/sit on eggs.


Am I doing things right for the time being or is there more I should be doing?

Thanks