Thread: Tell me about Cockatiels :)

I was given 2 cockatatiels a couple of days ago by the family of one of my daughters friends.
The birds have had at least 2 previous owners and both weren't very nice to them.

I've always wanted birds but have never owned any, so this is completely foreign territory for me.
I looked up some things on google and YouTube, but has anyone here ever owned birds such as these?

I was given their cage with them and it didn't smell and their food was just dumped into it so I didn't want to clean it right away. I wanted the birds to get used to me for a few days first. But last night, before going to sleep, I saw a tiny roach crawling on the plastic "dresser" they're sitting on. I killed it When I woke this morning, I was going to spray paint my room and was taking them out of the room. I looked inside their cage and saw more tiny roaches *shudder*

I promptly took them into the bathroom and though I hated doing it, but the birds wouldn't budge, so I reached in and grabbed them. They squacked like they were being killed. One bit me but I could cope with it. The other bit me and drew blood several times.
THeir wings were clipped so I just set them in the shower, then started removing the clamps to lift the top of the cage from the bottom. An easy 20 roaches fell the floor and I smooched all of them.

I was gentle and spoke to them the whole time. They were so cute. The more gentle one stood on the edge of the walk-in shower and watched me the whole time.
I emptied the cage, wiped it out and took it to the bathtub to wash and the other bird went inside the top part of his cage and stood on a perch I made for them.

After I took everything out, it was very hard to tell how long it had been since their cage was last cleaned


From what I read, they both appear to be males (yellow faces, bright orange and large spots on their cheeks). But I have no idea how old they are.
There are no vets in my Country town that will treat birds. I'm on my own.

The more gentle bird is missing some feathers under its wings. It doesn't look "mangy" but as if it's been plucking itself too much. Maybe anxiety? I know of at least instance where the birds were shaken (in their cage?).

They're very sweet as long as you don't go near them. I respect their space and I'm giving them all the time they need to adjust. They whistle and chirp and like some of the words I say (especially "Doodie Head" roflol- my kids don't like the birds and call them evil, and I told the birds not to listen to them because they're a bunch of doodie heads )

I cover them at night and remove it after sunrise. They stay in my tiny room with me, so they're still exposed to noise (Netflix, games etc) at all hours.
The noise doesn't seem to both them, but should I try to find some place else for them after dark?

If you read all of this, thank you

I'd greatly appreciate any tips.