Ask Lafeber

Cockatiel Kisses

I have a 3 year old female that I got when she was 3 months. She likes to be near me and follows me around but she doesn’t like kisses. I don’t know why.

Congratulations on your cockatiel friend! She sounds quite tame and enjoys your company. As with people, birds are individuals and have individual preferences. Some birds enjoy kisses and some don’t—you might never know why. It will minimize any possible stress if you respect her boundaries. It sounds like she’s bonded to you quite well in other ways. Best wishes for a long life together!