Book recommendation for cockatiel fans: Chicken Thoughts
Anyone who likes parrots will love this book. It’s funny, authentic and I can fully relate. I have photos to prove it.
Take a look at the large photo at the top of the page. If you have a cockatiel, you’re probably already grinning. N’awwww.
For everyone else, let me explain the photo to you: many cockatiels are silly and like to misuse their bells as hats. They put the metal cap on their heads and sing their little hearts out. Why, you ask? Probably because it echoes so beautifully inside the bell. And then the singing sounds (even) louder.
Since parrots are quite the entertainers, author Sarah Wymer has published a whole book about the amusing peculiarities of cockatiels and the like: Chicken Thoughts: A Comic About Birds.
I love this tiny book because it’s taken from (bird) life. My everyday life with Rio, Cookie and Pebbles is often just like in the comic. And it’s hilarious. But see for yourself.
Scratch me! No, you first!
Let’s start with my favourite comic by Sarah Wymer: the scratch dilemma.
Cockatiels show each other affection by preening the feathers on each other’s heads. The only thing is, who starts?
Source: Chicken Thoughts
It’s similar at home: Cookie usually holds his head out and signals to Rio that he needs a scratch. Then Rio remembers he’d like a cuddle and also tilts his crown – leaving the two of them head to head for minutes on end. Until one of them has had enough and leaves…
Source: Anika Schulz
Human delivery service
In Chicken Thoughts, the cockatiel orders food by phone, after which he’s carried to the bowl. After all, flying is overrated.
Source: Chicken Thoughts
Rio, Cookie and Pebbles aren’t as advanced. But my pet supplies shop has also noticed that I, as a cockatiel mom, am the delivery service and has printed a corresponding slogan on it’s bags.
Source: Anika Schulz
Photobombing? I can do that
Another classic from life with cockatiels. You want to take a photo or video of your favourite feathered friend and they promptly push themselves into the spotlight.
Source: Chicken Thoughts
I once wanted to take a photo of Rio nibbling on his ball. But just as I pressed the shutter button, Cookie slipped into the picture.
Source: Anika Schulz
My camera roll is flooded
Sarah Wymer’s phone memory is almost exclusively full with photos and videos of her little birds.
Source: Chicken Thoughts
I’m guilty of it too.
Source: Anika Schulz
The wisdom of the ancient cockatoo
I can’t exactly match this story in the comic because I don’t have a big cockatoo, but there’s still a lot of truth to it. Cockatiels are as clever as two-year-old children, yet they don’t recognise themselves in the mirror. In the comic, an 80-year-old yellow-crested cockatoo passes on the wisdom «the bird in the mirror was always you» to his younger (and dumber) relatives. Their jaws and beaks drop.
Source: Chicken Thoughts
My cockatiel Rio is also blessed with little intelligence in this respect. He’s been entranced by his water bowl lately, staring at it for ages. There’s another parakeet «living» in the brightly polished stainless steel. (Unfortunately I’ve not been able to capture the moment yet. Rio’s probably a little embarrassed.)
I’ve explained in this article why, as a cockatiel mom or dad, you definitely shouldn’t give your pet a mirror.
By the way, the book’s been a real insider tip within the bird community for some time. Wymer’s comics have 217,000 followers on Instagram, almost 41,000 members follow the author on Reddit and another 218,000 followers on Facebook. She shares additional material there that’s not in the book, if you’re interested.
Do your animals get up to all sorts of nonsense? Let the Community know in the comments!
Header image: Chicken Thoughts
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Anika Schulz
Teamleader Editorial
Anika.Schulz@galaxus.deAs a child, I was socialised with Mario Kart on SNES before ending up in journalism after graduating from high school. As a team leader at Galaxus, I'm responsible for news. I'm also a trekkie and an engineer.
