Bink and Screech: Two Cockatiels Ensure This Nest is Never Empty
This Florida family shower affection on their pet birds, and have created a cosy nest just for two
Screech, on the left, is curious and more open to visitors than his brother is. Bink is a “mama’s boy,” says Coffey. “He really only likes to be picked up by me.”
The birds live in the same cage and squabble occasionally, but most of the time you’ll see them playing with or preening each other. “If I take only one of the brothers out of the cage, the other will scream until I put him back or take out the other,” Coffey says.
The birds live in the same cage and squabble occasionally, but most of the time you’ll see them playing with or preening each other. “If I take only one of the brothers out of the cage, the other will scream until I put him back or take out the other,” Coffey says.
Cage
The birds’ iron flight cage is 1500 millimetres high with a 900 x 600-millimetre base, which is more than enough room for the two of them, as Coffey says. The cage sits on the family’s large screened-in patio, which also houses a swimming pool. “We live in Florida, so it’s nearly year-round pleasant weather for the birds,” says Coffey.
For hurricanes or cold days, she has a smaller cage that she can bring inside.
Beginner’s Guide to Bird-Friendly Gardens
The birds’ iron flight cage is 1500 millimetres high with a 900 x 600-millimetre base, which is more than enough room for the two of them, as Coffey says. The cage sits on the family’s large screened-in patio, which also houses a swimming pool. “We live in Florida, so it’s nearly year-round pleasant weather for the birds,” says Coffey.
For hurricanes or cold days, she has a smaller cage that she can bring inside.
Beginner’s Guide to Bird-Friendly Gardens
Maintenance
Having the cage outside helps with maintenance, says Coffey, because her birds – and cockatiels in general – are dusty. They also poop a lot, she says. She regularly has to hose down the cage and change their bedding. “They luckily love water and bath time, so they enjoy cage cleaning day,” says Coffey.
The family also added a skimmer to the pool to collect any dust or feathers that land in the water.
To help keep things even tidier around the cage, Coffey keeps the birds’ food bowl in the middle of the cage so they don’t spill or toss food onto the ground.
“Overall, I think they are easy to care for,” she says, “especially since their dusty little bodies are outdoors.”
Having the cage outside helps with maintenance, says Coffey, because her birds – and cockatiels in general – are dusty. They also poop a lot, she says. She regularly has to hose down the cage and change their bedding. “They luckily love water and bath time, so they enjoy cage cleaning day,” says Coffey.
The family also added a skimmer to the pool to collect any dust or feathers that land in the water.
To help keep things even tidier around the cage, Coffey keeps the birds’ food bowl in the middle of the cage so they don’t spill or toss food onto the ground.
“Overall, I think they are easy to care for,” she says, “especially since their dusty little bodies are outdoors.”
She also feeds them later in the day before the sun sets. “I can take really beautiful photos of them,” she says, “and they are usually in a playful and cooperative mood by that time.”
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Home, sweet home
“I love having them and caring for them,” says Coffey. “I think I would be far more bored and lonely if I didn’t have them to care for and spend time with. I like hearing their cute noises and spending time with them.”
Your turn
Do you have a bird? Tell us what you’ve done to accommodate your bird and share a photo in the Comments. And if you enjoyed this story, like it, save it, save the photos and share your thoughts below. Join the conversation.
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“I love having them and caring for them,” says Coffey. “I think I would be far more bored and lonely if I didn’t have them to care for and spend time with. I like hearing their cute noises and spending time with them.”
Your turn
Do you have a bird? Tell us what you’ve done to accommodate your bird and share a photo in the Comments. And if you enjoyed this story, like it, save it, save the photos and share your thoughts below. Join the conversation.
More
Read more pet stories on Houzz
Pets at a Glance
Pets: Bink and Screech, two cockatiels
Age: 10
Location: Plantation, Florida, USA
Owner: Megan Coffey
Meet Bink and Screech
These two cockatiels have lived with Megan Coffey since they hatched more than 10 years ago when she was in high school.
Her sister picked the name Bink, aka Binkie, and she picked Screech. “I can’t remember why I picked Screech’s name, but it’s very fitting because he is the loudest of the two,” says Coffey.