I am a first time bird owner and trying my best to offer good care. I have two questions: whenever we are playing with him, he will make a purring noise. I think this is done out of agitation because his crest is down when he does it. WE try comforting him but are hoping this is a happy noise.  Is it? my second question pertains to having our new pet as a classroom pet. he has a wonderful home set up at school as well as home. IMPORTANT : I've heard that 'tiels are associated with a disease called Histoplasmosis. how safe is it to have around ten year olds (with proper supervision of course!) Thank you for providing such a wonderful service to nervous new 'tiel owners.

Steve

Steve,

We can't recall hearing a purring sound from our cockatiels. Sometimes when they appear on the verge of going to sleep, they do make a "clicking" sound and we interpret that as a sound of being content.

Histoplasmosis is generally associated with soils which there has been an accumulation of bird droppings over a long period. Disturbance of these soils may release infectious spores. Human infection occurs almost entirely through inhalation of airborne spore. Only under very poor management conditions do cage and aviary birds play a role in human infections.