Anyway, I had my little Spiky for 4 years and when he died a couple of years ago (story for another time), Pokey was left alone in the cage and he grieved and cried a pitiful crying sound endlessly...I didn't want another cockatiel and Pokey eventually returned to a new normal. Not perky or singing as much, not active at all, but not keening anymore either...
Enter Klinger and Trapper, 2 male cockatiels that were given to me almost a week ago. I had concerns that they, who'd been together for about 6½ years, wouldn't include him, but at least Pokey would have somebirdy else that spoke his language.
I needn't have worried. They fly all over the house, but continually come back to their cagetops (the 2 cages are up against each other) where Pokey waits, to spend time with him; in fact, they spend most of their time with Pokey. He calls to them when they're gone, and they always return. They will share a millet spray together, and Pokey has become a different bird. He's once again trying to fly, is singing, and active again like I haven't seen him in 2 years.
To help him build up muscle for flying again, I slide my hand under him from behind, so his poor old feet are resting on my fingertips, his body is laying on my fingers which I move to make a furrow to support him on the sides as well, and my thumb holds down his tail feathers at the base. (He's never been one to like being handled; this way he can't bite me but I can keep him from falling.) Then we move through the air and he flaps his little heart out until he starts to tire, then we stop. Even if he doesn't regain his ability to fly (I worry about him landing on those poor feet also), he's shown an interest in life and seems to be enjoying the exercise.
And God knows that he's enjoying having pointy-headed friends again! He's a very special old man and I love him dearly. It's quite gratifying to see him come to life again after all this time.