Cockatiel

????? asked: "I have a parakeet and a cockatiel, and a huge cage.Is it possible to seperate the top part and the bottom part , and put the cockatiel on the top , and the parakeet on the bottom?Kind of like a 2 story cage.
Well , there is no room for 2 cages in my small room. (apartment) That is true , they the cockatiel would poop on the parakeet! I didn't even think about that!"

A1: LadyTazzy replied: "What would you use to separate it? You wouldn't want the cockatiel going to the bathroom on the parakeet. If you have a way to separate them without the parakeet getting the worst of it, I guess there shouldn't be a problem."

A2: Niki replied: "Is it possible? Yes, I suppose it is. But I would rather buy two separate cages for them to be in, than go to all the trouble of customizing a cage.

You might be able to separate it with plywood, or a large cage separator (can't buy as an accessory). The problem would be finding another tray, to hold newspaper, the same size of your cage (and then you need to cut the cage so the tray can slide in and out).

Question is, why do you need to separate it? Is there no room for 2 cages?
Try shopping around for double Decker cages, this one is on sale, but you don't need 4 cages!

Good Luck in your endeaver!"

marlu asked: "For personal reasons we are putting our Canary in a school aviary along with a Cockatiel for a while.I am just wondering if they will be alright together/The Cockatiel is not ours."

A1: tocrunkforu2004 replied: "yes unless they fight"

A2: michele w replied: "I see no problem with it."

A3: HorsesRDbomb replied: "They will probably be alright."

A4: delsolarie replied: "Yup! I have an aviary with cockatiels, budgies, linnies, canaries, finch and doves. None of these birds are overly territorial and will generally stick to their own species. However, being that the cockatiel is alone - it may be curious about the canary so do be cautious about an introduction."

A5: RowanSilverSkye replied: "You have to introduce them slowly and see.Many people,including me,have made the mistake of just placing them together only to discover them fighting for food,or just being territorial,or jealous.A Cockateil can inflict some damage if he wants to ,especially to a smaller Bird,so I would adopt a wait and see attitude about it."

Nipivy asked: "My older cockatiel is 11 months. My vet told me to get another cockatiel as a playmate for her. My older cockatiel is a runt, the baby actually weighs more. My vet said my older cockatiel would try to display dominance...but I do not know what this entails. I don't want my older cockatiel hurting the baby, or the baby hurting the older cockatiel!

They of course have separate cages. I just want to introduce them as "playmates" during the day. Thanks."

A1: viper77321 replied: "Leave their separate cages right next to eachother for about a week. Then put them in one together."

A2: Interest capitalise replied: "Just dim the lights, put on some James Brown, make some dry martinis served it a drinking container, and then wait for some magic to happen..That is what you meant right?"

A3: Sphinx Rising replied: "Set the two cages close to each other so the two birds can interact without the risk of them hurting each other."

A4: Simplyme replied: "aww i have cockatiels!
well i think you should put both in seperate cages, near to each other and pretty close.
thats what i think..idk though =)
mine both get along fairly well, but i have to say there the whole age
♥"

A5: Cisco B replied: "u should just try it for 30min and see what happens if there playin "violent" then just dont put em together"

Bayz asked: "I bought a new pied cockatiel today, he is about 8 weeks old, still a baby, and he will not really do anything. He will just sit there in the cage, and when I try to pet him, he will hiss at me and fly all over the cage. I haven't seen him eat, but I just got him a few hours ago, I just want to know the best way to make my new pet feel at home. I have another 7 year old boy cockatiel, which I thought would help the bird feel better. What else can I do?"

A1: hummersathome replied: "Since you have had him for a few hours, give him time. He has to become adjusted to his new environment. Talk to him in a sweet manner and whistle at him. Don't try to touch him yet. If you are able to leave the cage door open and still keep him safe, do it. Since he is a baby, you have a wonderful opportunity to train him and teach him new things. Good luck to you."

A2: cantrellpets replied: "Leave him alone to adapt to his new surroundings, he's frightened to death right now. Put a cover over the cage at night for a while too. Time will bring him around. Pestering him will only make him more anxious."

A3: chefgrille replied: "My husband says to have patience. Leave him in the cage for a week or two, cover the cage every night. Every day talk to it, change food and water every day, then after a week start leaving the cage door open, then walk away. After about 2 weeks start the finger-training but use a glove!

Young birds need lots and lots of attention, and buy that bird a mirror, all birds he's had have had a mirror for a companion. And some toys. Good luck with the new bird!"

A4: snagelfritz replied: "First clip his wings. This easy to do. Wear gloves, I just let them Bite me, more personal. Spread the Wing Out and with scissor just cut the ends off the Wing Feathers, do not cut too much or they bleed. I cut enough for them to fly about 5 feet. You cut a little and release them and see how far they go, then cut more if necessary. Mainly this for their protection. Then leave the cage door open so he can feel some Independence. When you approach just talk in a calm voice and then take your index finger and start at his feet, slowly raise your finger toward the chest and where the leg at the body, push him backwards like you going to push him down, he will in time step up on your finger to keep from falling backwards. He may want off at first, let him. But, in time he Willl stay and you can walk him around the house so he get a Tour. He wil enjoy this and in time want you to walk him more. With the wings clipped if he does scare he not fly far and easy to catch, so, he not get hurt. Until he know the house. A bedroom a good place to start this Bond, as you can close the door and it helps him be contained to one room. My Cocktiel knows the house, even the ceiling fan, which she not knock herself in the head, but, learned to land and ride around Whistling at everyone. Hope this helps and Good Luck, they really are fun Birds. In time I never clip their wings. Many opinons on this, this just mine and it does work. If you want to know a lot more write. Mine loves Bacon and Eggs and we always have Breakfast together."

A5: Tinkerbell replied: "Well I would just comfort her/him and make him feel at home and get some play toys that maybe he/she might like to put in his cage...he might just need awhile to get ajusted"

A6: Jen replied: "OH, this sounds like me 3 weeks ago! It took my 8 week old pied about 2 days to fit in. I have been able to get her on a pellet diet, and about 2 weeks ago she realized she loves her little head petted. My advise to you give give him time to settle in. Then give both of your birds ample time to get used to each-other. (about a month before they share a cage) The lovely woman I bought my cockatiel from gave me one piece of advise. Simply, if I get a companion for my bird make sure they are the same age. Don't know if its true but she has 30+ years of bird raising."

A7: LadyCockatiel replied: "Give him time to get used to your new home and his for about 2 weeks and you will see the difference in him soon. If your bird isnt hand tamed already, it is highly likely that it will take you months maybe even yrs to get it tamed down IF IT WANTS TO BE TAMED. If the birds arent hand tamed leave them in the cage together to have each other to love and trust. They will love you more if you dont reach your hand out to them. It is not important that your bird be petted to be a pet. It is important that your bird be allowed to be a bird and remain wild if it wants to."

wrack 'n' ruin asked: "My daughter's cockatiel died a week after being moved from her bedroom to the basement. It's an improved basement, but the air is damp and musty down there, especially compared to her room on the second floor of the house. Could that have killed the bird?"

A1: KityKity replied: "It could be. Birds are very sensitive to drafts. It's important to keep them warm at all times.

Sorry for your loss."

A2: HuskyNoof replied: "Birds are super sensitive to changes in the air around them. I once lit an incense too close to my bird cage and killed my finches, I did not know at the time how sensitive their lungs were. The changes in moisture could have very well killed them. Sorry, better luck next time."

A3: ChefMel replied: "Birds have extremely sensitive respiratory systems and need a ton of fresh air. It is very likely that your bird got an infection from the air down there and that is what killed it."

A4: E_ddie56 replied: "Yes it could've been. Cockatiel lungs are very sensitive. Mine unfortunately died because I used cooking spray. That's how sensitive they are. Sorry about the loss. The bird needed to stay somewhere where the air is fresh and clean."

A5: Kashmir C replied: "Aspergillosis is a fungal disease that cause a type of pneumonia. It can be found in damp wet basements. So if your bird showed signs of respiratory distress. Then Asper is a possibility. However, there is no way of knowing what the bird died from without a necropsy."

A6: Denise L replied: "Yes, it could have had mold, chemical smells like from remodeling or a furnace, or just lack of fresh air. I would never put a bird in the basement."

Cutie Pie asked: "My friend has a cockatiel chick 3 weeks old. It has most of the
pin feathers,but no Wing feathers. Is there a cause for this?
What can she do."

A1: Guinnan Bixby replied: "The chick is 3 weeks old, it's still very very young. It just need to simply grow up and let the feathers grow in. Think of it as peach fuzz when you are a little baby."

A2: MamaSmurf replied: "Wing feathers will grow later. Give it some time, all will be good"

Nathan B asked: "I'm considering getting a cockatiel (from a breeder) sometime in the next 3-4 months. I was wondering what people thought were some advantages of a cockatiel and disadvantages of having a cockatiel compared to other birds. Are they friendly and easy to tame? Also should I start off with one bird and after a few months move to a second bird if I were to get 2, or should I get two right away?
I've heard the its impossible to determine the sex of a cockatiel when its very young. Is this true?"

A1: Jesus freak! replied: "well i have one and she is so fun and sweet! there really aren't that many disadvantages that i can think of... besides they can bite. but if you get a young one and hold it alot and it gets used to ppl then it shouldn't bite! if you get one then you shouldn't get another one later or they will fight so you should get 2 at a time. read alot about them and how to care for them and you should me fine!"

A2: ms_melaniac replied: "Cockatiels are great. I have 16 of them. They're messy, but so are all birds. They are easy to tame. and some are pretty good talkers They do well by themselves as long as you can provide them with attention every day. Sometimes when there are 2 or more, they are more interested in each other more than they are in you. Sometimes having more than one you'll find they also might not talk. Males are the better talkers and whistlers. They also will eat alot of the same foods that you do. I would definately recommend one especially to first time bird owners."

A3: Tinarra replied: "they are the best first time birds, they are easily tamed, friendly, playful and easy to care for (i taught mine to poop on a tissue and not on the floor or me)
males are the better talkers (mines says "what you doing?" and "want a cuppa?") some people just let them live on a seeded diet but i recomend fruits and veg aswell. a cockatiel will always want to spend time with you and if you leave his/her cage open he/she will come and find you! (my tiel is always out of his cage and wen he wants me he just waddles out and whissles like he is calling a puppy so that you know his is coming) they are smarter than most people think.

disadvantages, you cant buy one and get another later (unless kept apart and in separate cages) if you dont get them young they tent to stay nippy and if you do get 2 together they will bond more to each other and will most likely not talk as much.

well hope this helps a bit and goodluck"

A4: Canan replied: "They are the funniest pets you can have, I think. They're very smart and affective. However, they need to have daily social interaction. If you're working full-time at odd times and can't spend time with your tiel on a daily basis, it would be cruel to the bird. Also, they don't realy like young children (who are too rough with them, and tiels are too aware of the danger as to get over it). They can get 'noisy' if they're lonely or unhappy or hear other birds outside (that sound like tiels).

With proper care, they can live well into their 20's. They get very attached and consequently traumatized if you'd give them away after they got used to you.

You should read a few books about tiels before making that great commitment."

A5: toastparadise replied: "I'm planning on buying one next weekend! Can't wait!"

tj12697 asked: "I have a 1 year old male cockatiel and will be getting a 10 week old cockatiel. I have read you can not tell the sex of the cockatiel till age 6months. I was also told if the cockatiel turns out to be a female, she shouldn't be put in the cage with him till 18months. Any thoughts would be appreciated."

A1: Hayley N replied: "i wouldnt put them together because he may attack her and seriously hurt the baby."

A2: *LIZ* replied: "There is nothing wrong by putting your baby cockatiel together
with the othe.

The only thing if she turns to be a female its not good for her to
have babys because is not in the age.


Normaly babys cockatiel are not good parents, and they
might not take care of the babys well.

Good luck!"

A3: lady_nebica replied: "either get separate cages...just for a short amount of time so the baby can mature a week or so more. then introduce them...keep very very close eye...the first time, hold the baby in one hand and the older one in your other. then put the baby back into the separate cage, do that again the next day...perhaps more than once....then if they get along nicely...wait a day then put the baby in the cage and keep the door open...stand right there and watch carefully. if one gets violent..separate them.wait another day then try the same thing in the babies cage. if they get along. have them do that for a few days...you watching everytime they are together...if i doesn't work...try again more...sometimes holding them...then just keep at it...once they know eachother more they will probly be more friendly...start leaving them in the cage longer and longer...always watch...when you are fully sure they are safe together...leave them for a night and see how they do..continue until they are used to eachother. when you believe FULLY that they are ready, and safe...sharing food, water, sleeping, everything, then you can move them in together...it's a process but it's for the safety of them both especially the baby"

A4: jeff replied: "I don't think that would be a good idea because most likely the older bird will pick on the younger bird."

A5: la_princessa15 replied: "First of all. You shouldn't put them in the same cage immediatly. The new bird needs to be seperate just in case it could be sick. Leave the new bird in a cage within view of your male. After about 20-30 days you can put them together.

Also another thing, cockatiels bond for life. Just because you put her in there doesn't mean they are going to have babies. they might not even like each other. Birds are just like humans, you wouldn't just have a baby with someone you dont know or dont love right? Well its the same thing.

Everythng should be fine, and you actually can tell the sex of a cockatiel before age 6months. Just pay attention to behaviors, and even certain colors."

A6: frog_h replied: "I would not put them in the same cage together. I would keep them in separate cages next to each other but not close enough they could touch. So that if one accidentally sticks a wing or a foot out of the cage the other couldn't bite it. After A couple of months then I would slowly introduce them outside of the cage and make sure they get along well before putting them in a cage together. Have gloves ready in case a fight ensues you can quickly separate them with out getting bitten."

A7: Dave Womach replied: "Here is more info on sexing cockatiels;

It is not a good idea to put such a young cockatiel with an older cockatiel. Keep them separate so the younger one doesn't get hurt.

More on cockatiels;"

Save Darfur asked: "I've finished quarantining the latest addition to my family, our quaker parrot, so how should I formally introduce him to my cockatiel? They're both still pretty young. The cockatiel is about four months old, and the quaker is three, incase that has anything to do with the situation...

P.S. They've crossed each other's paths before, and lets just say, they're not too fond of each other!"

A1: peacewithin replied: "I would be very very careful. Cockatiels are very docile and usually get preyed on by other birds and get toes bitten and hurt.

If they already had an altercation, i would keep them seperate with seperate play time and outside time. It can go quickly for someone to get hurt and more than likely, it would be the cockatiel."

A2: Bird lady replied: "I dont know if these 2 will get along. Quakers are not usually fond of cockatiels. I would use extreme caution if you put these 2 together. I know of a 3 month old Quaker who bit off the toe of a baby cockatiel.It happened very quickly, and no one expected it. I am not saying this to scare you, just to warn you. Never take your eyes off them or leave them alone. Good luck!"

Tav asked: "I'm planning on selling my cockatiel. But i'm not sure how much..I don't want to get cheated out on it."

A1: Haley replied: "i got mine for about $50.00 at a pet shop"

A2: curious replied: "In my area the average price for a young cockatiel is around a hundred dollars. If you're selling the cage and accessories with your bird, I think 75 to 80 dollars would be a fair asking price."

A3: ffantasy1984 replied: "Cockatiels run about $80 in most stores but the worth can vary on how old they are. If they are old enough to breed they can be worth more or if they were hand fed as babies they can be worth more."

A4: One replied: "If you just want to sell it quickly, $50. Check with your local petstore for the comparison, but understand that a bird is not like any other property. You would want to sell this bird to someone that cares about it."

A5: Joyce C replied: "His weight in birdseed?"

A6: Featherman replied: "In South Africa - R35 to R50 .
The White /Albino ones are more expensive than the normal grey ones."

A7: awnery replied: "Pet stores usually sell them for around $40"

A8: kyle the cool man replied: "20.00 here in nc"

A9: yankabilly46 replied: "I would start at 40.00 bird only add more if all white more if hand tame more if real frendly"

A10: popdop replied: "If your cockatiel is only a few years old, it is worth about $50. If is is hand-reared you could fetch up to $100, especially if is only a few years old. However, it is more important you find the most caring buyer than argue over a few dollars."

A11: Jules replied: "I would say between 50-75 especially if he's a few years old."

A12: ughanda replied: "he would be better off in a rescue where they screen potential owners to see if they are good enough to own a bird... who cares if you 'get cheated out on it' if the bird ends up in a happy, loving home?"

A13: bunnygirlbaby replied: "I got my Cockatiel for $70"

A14: anand p replied: "do nt sell it at any thing less than 30 $"

punjabi15 asked: "I have a young cockatiel, and she feels comfortable when I pet her head, but she gets really scared when I put my finger near her feet. I want her to perch on my finger."

A1: Jamie C replied: "I have 2 cockatiels. One 1 got as a baby and had 2 'bottle' feed her and the other at 6 months. My baby is now 4 yrs old and shes wonderful! I just kept holding her on my finger and let her sit there while holding her. Eventually she caught on. Hold her alot. They need alot of love or they don't show much affection back. If that don't work after time, get a small dowel rod (you can get these at any craft store or alot of hardware stores and are less than $1) and see if you can get her to perch on that. After she gets the hang of that, try your finger again. My 6 month old took a year before he would even get on the dowel rod I was holding. I purchased him at that age. He didn't have alot of human contact. They learn better at a very young age. Also if you have more than 1 in the same cage, they start to bond more with each other than with you. Hope this helps!"

A2: Niki replied: "I had the same problem with the cockatiel I 'm fostering a few weeks back. But I was hit with a double whammy because she's partly blind in both eyes.

I tried several of my own methods, but once I Incorporated a treat into it teaching the step up was a piece of cake! I used safflower seed to train her, but any fave item, like millet spray, can be used. (Note: because safflower was her main diet I first converted her to pellets, the younger the bird the easier it will be to convert)

For you, I would first touch the bird's foot just a little,(If that's not possible just place your finger near her and inch it closer) then verbally praise and reward with the treat (P&R). Do this several times and try to keep the bird comfroable during the process. If he gets annoyed, stop. Wait for another time in the day to start again. Sessions should be no longer than 15min, perferably 10 or less for a first time tiel.

It will be very slow for the first several sessions, but once he doesn't mind his feet being touched slip your finger under his foot so that one foot rests on it, P&R. Now you can add in the "step up" command and pretty soon he'll be on your finger.

TIP: to encourage a bird to lift it's other foot onto you, push backwards and up, this helps to lift the foot off it's perch.

As a side note, ALWAYS have a cool head and perky attitude during training. You'll be amazed at what a difference it makes in your bird's attitude."

A3: Grace B replied: "You should definitly start training her to step on your finger soon because once she is older, it will be hard for her to learn. To make my cockatiel step on my finger, I gently and slowly moved my finger over to her belly. Then I nuged at her feet to encourage her to step onto my hand. Then I said "step up" I just repeated this routine, and now my bird steps onto my finger with no problem. Good luck with your new bird!"

A4: Dave Womach replied: "Try target training her onto your hand;

More on training cockatiels here;"

Maddie asked: "I have a male cockatiel, now about 5 years old. I really want a budgie. Should I get a male or female? Would it be a goo choice? And can you give me a link to what size the cage should be? Is there any other bird that would be better with a cockatiel other then another cockatiel? Is there anything I should know before buying a budgie and putting it in a cage with a cockatiel? Thanks for your help!"

A1: Madafaka replied: "Only if they fight"

A2: tropicalswirlzz replied: "If you want a budgie (they're so cute! ^-^ I have 2 but REALLYY want a cockatiel.) you have to house them separately. But they can play together outside of the cage. Most likely the cockatiel will be scared of the budgies lol because cockatiels are peaceful creatures while budgies can be quiet aggressive. ;D A male one would be best, they're kinder, don't bite as hard, and are less stubborn than females. If you're going to get a budgie, lisashea.com will be your survival kit site lol. There is SO much information! It also has a forum where you can ask questions. My user name there is Seafoam, hope to see ya there! =]"

A3: Bouncybelle replied: "No,please do not put them in same cage, they will Not get on, and maybe bigger bird will kill it. Never Mix Breeds, they have different food, and ways,Love,Jo,xx"

A4: Poodlelover2you replied: "Budgies can be bullies some times and can even kill a cockatiel. The cockatiels are usually shy, so the cockatiel will only be severely hurt. It's not a good idea to house them separately."

A5: conwaycallum replied: "no thats abad idea they could kill each other"

A6: Melon-Collie replied: "I keep 3 tiels and 4 budgies in the same cage with no problems.

All my birds have been hand raised though, so not sure if that is why they all get along.

Never had a single injury or serious fight other than the occasional sqwaking match and wing fluttering.

I also have a "bonded" tiel and budgie. The always have to be touching each other and won't go anywhere without the other."

charlotte bobcats asked: "When I tried to just let my cockatiel out, i thought it would just stay on my hand and it would come back on my hand. But i was very wrong for it flew everywhere and i eventually had to grab it, causing a little harm to it. How do I make it not fly everywhere?"

A1: PASO replied: "You will have to start trying to tame it. You will then teach it the step up command which is the command you would use for it to step on to your finger.

Start by giving it treats and talkign softly too it. See if it will allow you to scratch the top it its head.

Nancy Daniels
Parrot Adopt Southern Ontario"

A2: Stinkfinger replied: "Gorilla Glue!"

A3: Stephen C replied: "when i got my cockatiels (i have three) as baby's they couldent fly so i got there wings clipped so they could only fly a little distance. now the ol' keep the bird on your finger. its best to start young bit all you should is every day (when the wings are clipped) keep putting him on your finger for a while and when he flies off put him on again, this wont work till his wings are clipped!!!

(go to your local vet because there are 2 or 3 specific feathers to clip and if you clip too high on the feather you will make the bird bleed)!!!!"

candycorn0911 asked: "I am a new owner of a 10yr old male cockatiel. I have had him for two months an sence day one he has biten us. He also land on our head and pulls our hair. We dont force him out of his cage or make him go anywhere. He come to us and just bites, he hasn't broke skin yet but he keeps biting harder. He dose know how to step up, but will bite the entire he is on you r hand. We have gotten to the point that we only use a perch to put him in his cage. We cant use treats to reward good behavoir because he wont eat anything but seed, evrything esle he throws out of his bowl. What can we do? I would really like to live peacefully with him,but we can't handle his biting, I dont want to get rid of him."

A1: Cliffieduckie replied: "Do you react when he bites? If you put him back, take him out less, or make a noise when he bites, you're rewarding him and he'll keep biting. Ignore the biting and it should stop. If it doesn't, pinch his beak (the sides), look him in the eye and say "no biting" but don't put him back in his cage. Also, if he's only eating seeds, this needs to change or he'll die soon! Do "timed feedings" where you leave pellets in his dish all day long, but no seeds. Every 3-4 hours, give him a bowl of seeds and let him eat for 10 minutes, and take away the seeds. Soon he'll get hungry enough that he'll eat the pellets, but he wont starve in the meantime because he still gets to eat his old food. Good luck, and check out"

A2: letterstoheather replied: "the bird is 10 years old and probably set in his ways... sometimes we can't "teach an old dog, new tricks".

there is one trick i always used with young birds i was taming, and that was:

when the bird bites, quickly raise your free hand with index finger pointed out above his head and say "don't bite!" firmly but you don't have to yell.

your finger will distract the bird and he will likely stop biting for the moment. just keep doing this when when he bites.

that's my best advice.

about diet -- they need more than seed alone, but if this bird was raised on just seeds it might be difficult to get him to try new things. dark green leafy vegetables such as endive, romaine lettuce are very good for the bird (regular lettuce has little nutritional value). shredded carrots and other vegetables in small amounts are good too -- keep offering him different things (in very small portions, after all he's not that big..).

my birds liked eggs too -- small bits of cooled scrambled eggs, hard boiled too. and they liked chicken and turkey, believe it or not.

you can give him the "people food" first thing every day and don't offer seeds for an hour or two. maybe this will encourage him to try something new? but sometimes, you can't get them to try anything, especially at his age.

if you offer these things to your bird, and he doesn't eat them in a few hours, remove them from the cage so they don't attract flies, or go sour...

i wish you all the best."

A3: sherry c replied: "You CAN teach an old dog new tricks and that is the same for birds. First question is, are you keeping him above eye level? If the cage or bird is above eye level, he feels as if he's the dominate one and will be aggressive and will eventually get you under control instead of the other way around. When you want him out of the cage, you be the aggresser and put your finger to his chest and say "step up". When he's out of the cage, 'always' keep him under eye level, do not lift him up high. When he starts to bite, put your forefinger out (as if to punish a puppy) and say "no bite"! but be calm and firm, do not raise your voice or show excitement, they can read you better than a dog you just can't read their faces like a dog to know what their thinking. Be assertive with your finger against his chest and don't let him back away from you, he will eventually get on your finger and show some respect. But remember, always keep him chest level and lower so he doesn't feel so powerful and dominate, that is your job-good luck! I have an adopted cockatiel also and he was the same way, now he is my buddy and even recogonizes my car when i pass the window."

A4: Jessica L replied: "cockatiels are really one person birds, and if you got him at this age, it is possible that he will never really bond with any of you, or be friendly, for that matter. Keep him in his cage unless you are taking him out yourself, and keep his wings clipped. this will encourage his dependancy on you and might make him a little more friendly. For now, i suggest that only one person interacts with him, and when he is more well behaved, add other people to his social contact list."

erin1ynn asked: "I've googled the heck out of Cockatiels.
I'll be a 1st time bird owner.
I would like to get a well rounded book, loaded with information, preferably written by a reputable writer to read before getting a cockatiel and to have on hand. Can anyone suggest a fantastic cockatiel book?"

A1: Phalanx replied: "yes, The Cockatiel Handbook is excellent! I have many different books on birds, and the most informative tiel one I have is The Cockatiel Handbook. It is in a series of bird Handbooks--they have The Lovebird Handbook, the Parakeet Handbook, etcetera. You can find them at any store, and they cost around $15-17"

A2: rtperry2 replied: "Barron's puts out an excellent series of books about psittacine birds; their book on parrot behavior and training is top-rate. The books "for Dummies" are also quite good, if you don't mind the derogatory titling :-)

Good for you, getting so much information before you get the bird; it's always the best way to go about getting a new pet. May you and your pet have a long and happy relationship!"

A3: Ajaxnl replied: "what the poster above said
barrons has real good books and i have birds for dummies which is also good for any bird owner"

A4: Dawna S replied: ""Birds for Dummies" and "Cockatiels for Dummies". Both of my copies of these books are very dogeared and well read. They're worth every penny and very helpful as I picked them up with my first bird."

squigle_pop asked: "My cockatiel is 9 weeks old and all he/she makes is squeaks, squaks, and chirps. How can I teach him to whistle? I whistle to him whenever i see him or play with him he dosnt wistle yet though?"

A1: Amanda M replied: "It does take time, the more you whistle at him the more he will pick it up. I know with my gramma's cockatiel when you flutter a Kleenex over the cage he tends to speak, they learn from much repetition"

A2: feline replied: "cockatiels are very good learners,, 1st of all, the room that the bird is in needs to be quiet, get close to him and keep whistling, u will notice that hes listening,,keep whistling the same sound and eventually he will pick it up. my cocktiel whistles,talks sounds like the telephone,microwave,alarmclock,etc. he will get the hang of it just have a little patience..good luck"

A3: heidehoe replied: "I had cockatiels for many years. The male birds are easier to train to talk (yes, they can talk) and whistle tunes. You have to be consistent and very repetative. I know there are tapes/cd's you can get that you can play for them. It does take quite a while, but it will work for you. Good luck!"

A4: intrepidess replied: "The male cockatiels start whistling at about 5 months old. I have never heard a female whistle. Whether a cockatiel is taught or not, if it is male it will whistle when older."

A5: *AstrosChick* replied: "It takes a little while. My cockatiel whistles all the time. They pick it up pretty quickly. Also, if you want it to talk, teach it that first. If it learns to whistle first, it won't speak. -- I know that from experience!

Mine is a female and she whistles!"

A6: splintercell_stealth replied: "if u whistle enough in front of it will whistle mine whistles all the time"

A7: juan s replied: "practise practise and even more practice"

A8: Ron R replied: "You will have to spend alot of time with the bird. It will mimic you in time. My girlfriend and I have hand raised birds and I worked with most of them everyday. It does take a little while but you can do it."

A9: dianna l replied: "He might actually be a She. Females usually do the squawking, while the males usually do the whistling, but he probably hasn't really learned to whistle yet.
I do, however, have a female cockatiel that does whistle. It is only one note, but it is loud. She does this whenever she wants to give me kisses."

A10: Amber S replied: "Whistle to him all the time. Soon he will mimick you!"

kirstkluyts asked: "My cockatiel is 16 years old and is really overweight with massive health problems. She has never eaten anything other than: toast and seed. The vet says her health will only improve if she eats fruit and vegetables. But she refuses to do so. Any suggestions on how I can get her to eat fruit and vegetables? Please help. I'm desperate!"

A1: keevelish replied: "At this age it will be exceedingly difficult to get her to eat anything other than what she is used to. The best thing you can do is offer fruits and veggies in her regular food dish as a replacement for what she normally gets in the morning. Hunger MAY spur her to try them.

However, birds will hold out for their preferred food and can starve very quickly, so if she hasn't tried any of the new food within two hours, give her her seeds and toast. Keep another dish with fruit in it all day.

You can also entice her interest by threading fruit and veggies amongst the wires of her cage. Some birds like eating it that way.

Don't let the fresh food stay in until it spoils though."

A2: Ruth S replied: "Try pomegranate, birds love it. You could try and get her to take some pure fruit (juiced, smoothie, baby food) from a syringe, they usually love being babied if you had them from a chick. Be careful about sugar content in juice though. Maybe if you have her out with you, you could eat some apple or raw carrot and she may want what you're eating.
Best of luck with her :)"

A3: randomgrlonplanetearth replied: "Starve it and place nothing before him/her but fruits and veggies."

A4: bill g replied: "i give my cockatiel the end of a raw carrot every time i cut them up for tea ( at least 5 days ofthe week ) the fruit side i don't worry so much because i buy a quality cockatiel mix but i also take the bottom off his cage and let him munch on the garden bed .
to answer your problem however DO NOT GIVE THE BIRD ANY MORE TOAST !!!
she'll come good eventualy ( although sulk cos her favorite goodies are not there ) .
in a nutshell you'll kill her if you don't put restrictions on her diet --- you may otherwise kill with kindness . good luck
p.s my cockatiel is nineteen ."

A5: Intersexual replied: "Only give it fruit and veg, mine used to be used to an unsuitable diet, but then i only offered suitable food."

A6: John P replied: "Many Cockateils will turn up their beaks at fresh fruits and veggies. So try changing the form. Give them veggies and fruits that are dried canned, or cooked.

Dried fruits can be easy to find. Raisins, dates, prunes, as well as dried cherries, bananas, cranberries, mango, apricots , and figs can usually be found at a grocery store, although a health food store will have better quality foods with fewer additives such as sulfates. Dried veggies are a bit harder to find although some stores will carry sun dried tomatoes. Dried crushed hot peppers can be found in the spice section ,and your bird should love them.
If you get your own dehydrator you can dry your own foods at a fraction of the cost. I routinely dry green peppers, tomatoes, apples, pears, hot peppers, carrots, cucumbers, and more.
Be sure to cut up the dried foods into small birdie bite sized pieces, since they birds will not thy to bite chunnks out of a huge piece of leathery dried fruit. Then just add the small bites to his food.

Try substituting grains for seeds. My Cockateils adore whole oats which can ge found at any farm supply store. Scratch grains may also be liked. You can also try chicken feed from the same farm supply store, which is basically birdie pellets that are simply natural colored and not formed into fancy shapes and dyed different colors. A good whole grain low sugar cereal is acceptible, such as Cherrios.
Grains are not the same as seeds, which tend to have such a high oil content, and grains at a farm store are *Very* inexpensive. Whole oats will cost roughly $10 for 50 pounds! Try storing the excess, as well as your batches of premade food, in empty 5 gallon food buckets. You can often get these for FREE at a bakery where they are used as packaging for premade frosting. Bakeries often are happy to give them away.
For variety, vary the types of fruits and veggies in each batch. Also try adding some crushed egg shell, coconut, or oyster crackers.

Canned or cooked food may be a bit lower in vitamins, but they will still have some of these nutrients. Try offerring canned or cooked corn, peas, or green beans.

The bird may sulk, but it should eventually accept these items.

E-mail me if you have more questions.

Good luck"

A7: summer_butterfly replied: "oviouslty, dont give her sny toast or bread again. EVER.
try placing a small amount of cut apple in her cage, my tiels love apple!"

A8: weirdchick500 replied: "First off stop feeding the thing toast."

A9: shocktreat9 replied: "Birds will rarely accept new foods right off the bat. Expect this process of conversion to take well over months in order to see your bird even TASTE the food. But I do have some suggestions:
-If your bird is very bonded to you, put on a show of eating these frutis & veggies (or pretending to) and make it seem SO good- Birds always want what they can't have, so make it a tease type thing.
-If you have another bird or pet that will eat these foods, feed them to that pet in front of your Tiel. Parrots also learn well from model-rival training methods. Monkey see, monkey do.
-Give him a small plate of the fruits & veggies EVERY DAY for a month, and I can guarantee you with 97% accuracy that by the end of that month, or sooner, you bird will begin eating the foods, or show mild interest in them.
-Try hanging the foods from a skewer in the cage, this makes it more natural for them than sitting in a dish and drives their foraging instinct


*NOTE: You should also try converting him to a Live sprout seed diet. Live sprout seeds are very fresh seeds, whereas typical Tiel/Budgie seed mixes have no nutrient value. Live sprout seeds need to be soaked for 6-8 hours before being fed to activate the nutrition, and provide for your bird much more than fat & carbs in their diet."

A10: Johan S replied: "Sometimes its very hard to change older birds diet. From what I've experienced most cockatiels don't crave fresh vegetables if they are not exposed to it at an early age. This doesn't mean you can't change your cockatiels diet. It will take time and patience. Give your cockatiel fresh veggies and fruits in its bowl, no seeds at all, every day , hence expose your bird to the food. Little by little your cockatiel should start eating the food. Now remember you can't leave fresh food out for more than two hours, bacteria will form then your cockatiel's health will worsen. After that two hour time frame you can give the cockatiel it's pellet and seed mix for the rest of the day."

JMarie_23 asked: "I recently inherited my grandma's cockatiel. Every time I leave the room, he begins screaming. Will this go away when he gets used to his new home or can I train it to stop?"

A1: thequiqui replied: "cover his cage with a heavy blanket everytime he does it"

A2: K.c replied: "Try
Putting a blanket over his cage
Bird always fall asleep when is dark and wakes up when its light out

Hope it works"

A3: Tira A replied: "Wow, I feel for ya, cuz I know that they can screech. Check with your vet, or with a person who specializes in exotic birds. They will be able to guide you better then anyone. Exotic birds require special care, and have certain needs that must be met, or their helath will be comprimised. Go directly to an expert for this.
Good luck....LOL I feel for you, I really do.
Tho covering the cage might help, it really isn't fair to the bird. Covering is best kept to a schedule as the amount of light they get dictates their breeding cycle.
You do not mention if the bird is male or female...so careful w/ the covering."

A4: margecutter replied: "Cockatiels usually scream to get attention. He is in a new house, with new people, and missing your grandma. He needs help to get over his grief for her, and to get used to his new home and family. Place his cage in an area where he can see everyone and be a part of things. Let him watch the television. Take him out of the cage (if he is trained, and his wings are clipped) and play with him, cuddle him, let him know he is loved. Make sure there are lots of toys in his cage for him to play with, so he doesn't get bored. He'll quiet down after he settles in and stops grieving for his former owner."

A5: Ashleigh replied: "Covering his cage every time he begins to scream will take time and patience but it will eventually give him the message. He wants your attention, so you have to show him that screaming will only get him ignored. Make sure you spend time with him and talk to him, praise him when he's not screaming."

A6: Sionysus replied: "Either teach him the word shut up or have him for breakfast. Your grandma probably didn't enjoy him that much either. Oh and he will see her in heaven too, so don't feel bad!"

A7: mushroom replied: "ccover him up when you leave the room, and pay attenion to him as much as you can place in in an area he can see evrtythin posible."

A8: chelseaonfireforgodwithpj replied: "my grandma gave me her cocketial once.... he did the same thing, i got my advice from her, cuz it was her bird and she knew what it liked.... she told me to open his cage and let him run around on top of it....
i opened it, he climbed out and started singing to his shadow lol... just give him more and more attention, hes prolly very nervous about whats going on.... just show him love and attention... also... every day around 2 or 3pm we would cover him for a nap.... so he knew WHENEVER that blanket was on the cage, that he needed to be quet.... so once u put the blanket on ignore all his sounds and attemps for your attention, he will eventually stop the racket once he knows ur not listening, or he might even think ur not there lol....
hope i helped!
=)"

A9: Bobbie F replied: "Birds are flock animals. They NEED to feel part of the flock.
YOU are now the flock. You might call back to him, letting him know you are within ear shot.

There are many non-cruel things you can do to minimize this calling (it is NOT screaming although it sounds like it to us)
but it is their nature. Hard to change nature. Sorry you took in a bird way beyond your experience. Can he be in the room where most activity happens? Be sure to cover him at night with a dark sheet and if you want him quiet when he is naturally calling - you can put the sheet over him."

A10: Denise L replied: "No he misses your grandma and now needs you to spend time with him. Try to take him out as much as you can. He may calm down some but he needs love as he is missing his last owner. If that is a problem you can get him a friend but get a different cage. Does he have toys? They need lots of toys to be happy, chew toys, ones with bells and lots of colors."

A11: thundermg1swife replied: "He's not screaming, he's contact calling. It's his way of trying to either get you to come back or calling to make sure you're ok. All 6 of my tiels start in when I go out of the room. Best thing to do is to either call back to him (use his name and tell him what you're doing, ie, "I'm Fine, You're fine, I'm just cleaning the bathroom, I'll be right back" and then after a minute or two of saying you'll "be right back" pop your head around the corner so he can see you. Once he catches on that "be right back" = you being in sight, he will only call once or twice each time you leave. Don't stress, he likes you and is worried about where you are. Consider yourself lucky. Our Amazon screams WHAT DOIN!!! when we leave and when we tell what we're DOIN' you hear her mutter "fine" in the same voice our 13 year old daughter uses when we tell her to clean her room.
I do NOT recommend covering a bird that is just contact calling. That is a serious punishment and covering should only be for bedtime. Punishment for a bad behavior should be "exclusion from the flock" which is where he goes in his cage with the door shut and you stand nearby with your back to him for a minute or five, depending on the severity of the behavior (like if he takes a chunk out of your finger for some reason). Then, forgive it all and make up and give lots of love. He will catch on fast to what is acceptable and what is not acceptable and you will see a much happier bird before long."

kslli1535 asked: "A friend of mine just had 2 cockatiel eggs hatch and wants to give the babies to me when they're ready. We're not sure how long they need to stay with there parents. Any suggestions on when they are ready?"

A1: Phalanx replied: "When they are weaned--usually a few weeks, up to 6 or 7."

A2: silver2sea replied: "When hand feeding, a baby should be weaned at 8 - 10 weeks; I assume it is the same with parent-raised birds as well.

My Green Cheek Conure was parent-raised and, IMO, parent-raised birds are better than handfed. Again IMO, handfed birds tend to be more needy of humans and parent raised birds are more independent and sure of themselves.

Silver2sea"

A3: Bird lady replied: "Are these going to be parent raised birds? If so you should begin handling them after about 2 weeks and keep handling them so they become tame and used to humans.After about
4 weeks you can put some food in the nest box for them to try and pick on. Cooked rice, corn ,carrots, etc cut into little pieces so they can try them.You can also put in some pellets made for finches ( Zupreem puts out a good 1 ) as the pieces are really small and easy for them to try.It all depends on the bird, some wean faster than others.Good Luck."

A4: OG LOC285 replied: "Probably after you stop hand feeding it and it eats out of a bowl."

A5: ash replied: "are you going to handfeed them? If so you should take them when they are about 2 weeks old. If you wait until they are 3 weeks they will be unrulely and will have already established themselves as birds. If your friend is going to hand feed them then you waited until they are eating normal seeds."

A6: sum4182girl replied: "It's better to take the chicks out as soon as they're born to start hand feeding it yourself so that they become tame. Parent raised birds are very aggressive and hard to tame."

A7: Renny replied: "When the parents stop feeding them, and they are eating seed on their own. However, you may want to research and learn how to hand raise the babies. This is a tricky thing though for they can easily aspirate(when food or water gets in the lungs) and die. Hand feeding can start at about two weeks. If you choose to let the parents feed them (which i recommend unless you really know what you are doing) I would have as much interaction with the babies a possible. Not so much hands on at this young age. Wait till they start to get some feathers, then maybe handle them some. I think you will have better luck with this. Good Luck. Next best thing would be to get a book or google a lot!
Ps. Yeah watch out for the parents, they may become aggressive if you try to touch the babies. It may not happen, but sometimes it does."

A8: budgie breeder 101 replied: "once they come out of the box and start eating on their own, they can be given away. Happy birdy raising!"

Blossom Bliss asked: "When my cockatiel is out of the cage, whenever I put my hand up to scratch my head, she opens her beak wide and and leans forward, as if she's going to bite me. She does this all the time, and I dont know how to get her to stop. When I do actually put my hand a little close to her, she lashes out and tries to bite."

A1: Christie D replied: "She is telling you that she is afraid. I would keep her off of shoulders for a while. She has learned that bluffing and biting gets hands away, you will have to retrain her. Tiel bites rarely do more than pierce the skin, so don't be afraid."

A2: wwjd2day replied: "it may sound unusual for a bird , but when i get a time of them biting..... i give them a "time-out" by putting them back in their cage awhile and then later i"ll go over and if they come out on my finger w/out biting they come out again.
i think sometimes they get overexcited and just need a break."

Laura V asked: "My cockatiel got excited for some reason and started to fly. Even though my living room isn't that big, I couldn't find her and that was because she was behind the Christmas tree. There aren't any decorations on it yet, but when I found her she was chewing on a leaf, or pine needle I guess, of of the tree. I was wondering if it was bad for her. I don't want her to get sick or anything. Thankyou!"

A1: Countrymanbigandrich replied: "probably not.............animals have stronger stomach acids than we do"

A2: gym_princess101 replied: "Well it probably wont hurt ur dog but keep an eye on him/her for a wile to cheack how he is doing plus it was only 1 not enough to do something really bad."

A3: Lucy ♫ replied: "No, if it's a real Christmas tree, take her away from it now. The tree has preservatives to help it stay alive longer. Those are very harmful to your bird. There are a lot of chemicals coating the tree."

A4: cockatiel lover! replied: "It probably isn't bad for her, just try to make sure it doesn't happen to her again. To me, it sounds like she probably didn't get ahold of a lot of the tree, so, she will most likely be fine! Also, it was real life tree, right? Not a plastic one? Because, if it was a plastic one, I would be worried. If it was a plastic tree, I would suggest that you call your vet, just to make sure your bird is ok.

I hope that I helped! Thanks,

~ Cockatiel Lover!"

A5: millypeed replied: "As Lucy said, Christmas trees are toxic to birds, I normally have a real tree, but this year I have had to go for artificial because I have now got an African Grey and I am not willing to take the risk. I don't want to risk his health for the sake of a tree that is going to used for at the most two weeks."

jane asked: "I had purchased an Marzanitan perch for my cockatiel two weeks ago and she has not got on it since. I had set her up there daily for her to get use to it, but she jumps right off and sits on her food cup throughout the remainder of the day.

I don't know what else to do. I am considering taking it back to the pet store for a refund but before I do that, I want to know could you give me any tips on how I can get her use to her new stick? Thanks."

A1: FBI26 replied: "Birds hate change, but it could also be a foot condition, make suire that the perch isn't too rough for your birds feet. The Sand Paper type of perches can cause foot injuries so avoid those. Once you determine it isn't a foot condition I would place the perch in the cage, then I would place a hanging treat that you know she like over the perch to where she would have to stand on it to reach the treat."

A2: Gidgit replied: "I think you are talking about a Manzanita perch? Give the bird choices. Keep the Manzanita perch in there, but add a wooden perch, maybe a rope perch, a ladder going horizontally across the cage, maybe a happy hut or sleepy tee pee. Different birds prefer different perches. Birds are often afraid of anything new in their cage so it's important not to make too many changes all at once. What was she using as a perch before you put the Manzanita perch with her? If you took the previous perch out, maybe you need to put it back while she adjusts to the new perch. I hope that helps!"

Sunday asked: "I have a 2 year old female cockatiel. She has been antsy and "screaming" for the past 3 days. I have tried everything I can to calm her and keep her quiet. Her being in heat is the only thing I can think of that could be causing this. ????"

A1: babs_seh replied: "birds don't go into heat!!"

A2: zenithxana replied: "birds DO NOT go into heat.
Check her food bowl.
check her water dish.
open her door and play with her
she is probably lonely"

Glowfox asked: "A week ago I got a cockatiel, I feel thats she has warmed up to the enviorment a bit. But I feel sad for her always being in the cage and she seems so inquisitive and contempt. I really do think though that she should come out and play and interact a bit for us to develop a better relationship (she accepts my presence but not my touch) and for her to know the place better. She is 7 weeks old. And has been clipped. How do I get her to come out and explore?"

A1: Joanne A. W replied: "Tie the door open and leave it that way.

If she is clipped, she cannot fly.

She will poop as she flies around your room/house.

Once she is out, you will have to let her go back to the cage on her own. Don't try to catch her.

It would be best to leave her in the cage. They are born in cages and that is all they know.

By the way, if she was with several other birds when you bought her, she will probably pine herself to death for the other birds. You might want to get another to keep her company. Ask the clerk at the shop."

A2: Shiawo replied: "Put Your Hand In The Cage, Grab The Bird With Your Hand, Then Pull It Out."

A3: zprface replied: "You will need to reach in and take her out of her cage. It will be best to take her into a small room like a bathroom to work with her. Be sure to close the lid on the toilet. The first thing that she needs to be trained to do is step up on command. You can research this on the internet and get a lot of valuable information. You should also get a good book. Cockatiels are great starter birds. They can live for quite a long time (my sister's is 17 years old). We have 23 birds ranging from finches to a Greenwing macaw. I have had birds for the past 25 years. Be patient and talk to someone at a reputable bird shop."

A4: para k replied: "i can hold her on my finger but can't touch her and rub her. she wont let me carry her out of the cage so i put my hand in and chase her around. then she'll fly out herself. when she gets out, she'll let me pick her up."

A5: mockingbird replied: "if she has been clipped and is this young, just put your hand under the bird and move the hand up to make her step up on your hand. say "step up" and give her a seed -- this is "step up" training. she will need to learn to do this on comand.

then take her out and put her on a playstand or your shoulder or something. they poop everywhere, but they can be trained not to.

read
or any other cockatiel book, they will make things clear with pictures and answer questions you don't know you need to ask."

lex asked: "I have a yellow female cockatiel and I think she's pregnant but I don't know so I want to know signs if she's pregnant."

A1: ShoCh replied: "Didn't you wear a condom?"

A2: dave h replied: "when a baby version of it comes out"

A3: Wuzhi H replied: "heres some advice go onto google and look up your questions, thats what i always do and it always gives me answers.


You might also want to look at your question, since it doesn't make sense."

A4: Tanner M replied: "it eats more than usual and gets fater"

A5: Rainman replied: "Birds lay eggs"

A6: rachfig93 replied: "She'll be kind've wrestless and she'll try to find discarded pieces of paper etc. to start preparing for her egg."

A7: dumpsterdd90 replied: "Frequent urination, large meals, large amounts of water consumed, weird calls. For more info contact your vetrenarian, he will be able to tell you for sure."

A8: pounder replied: "I had a dark wood box on the side of the cage she could go in. Id put news paper on the botton of the cage she make a nest in there. it's neat"

A9: ShizStix replied: "I don't know the signs of pregnancy, maybe when her belly gets bigger and she kinda flutters instead of flying around rapidly? Cuz carrying a baby is hard work! lol Anyway I did scoop up some advice for you from, wikipedia.com here it is!

To prevent laying, one can keep the cockatiel in more darkness per day by covering it earlier in the evening and leaving the cage covered longer in the morning. Like all parrots, cockatiels of either gender can grow to see their owner or a toy as a mate, engage in courtship and mating behavior including territoriality, and females may lay infertile eggs.[10]

It has been suggested by some breeders that petting the back of the female cockatiel may inadvertently sexually stimulate the hen, promoting egg-laying, and that owners seeking to avoid egg-laying should avoid this particular form of bonding."

Jennifer J asked: "I just got a cockatiel and I want to gain his trust. I'm not sure how to go about getting him to come out of his cage. He definitely wants to bite and I don't want to traumatize him. I also know I should not try to grab him. I need advice on how to gain his trust and to be able to get him out of his cage for interaction and exercise."

A1: Islanders freek replied: "if its a little yellow cocktiel just don't panic simple place your finger in front of it's legs it will get on it self. Now if its a big White parrot cocktiel. you have to stick train it first. place a thick enough stick in from of its legs now it will back away. keep putting it closer. if possible rub it little against its chest or front legs. it will slowly start putting one foot on and getting scared. it will take some time. when its out feed it grapes and preferably almonds or peanuts in the shell. let it hang outside in your living room. I hav experienced it with my African Grey Parrots"

A2: ladycockatiel_on_myspace replied: "Leave him alone, if you just got him. Do not take him out of the cage for like a week. If you want to win his trust you have to leave him alone for a while until he gets used to being there. Plus if he is wild then you probly wont have much luck taming him anyhow. Take my word for it they don't NEED to be outside the cage or excersize if they are wild, plus it will stress the bird if you don't give it time to get to used to the new home before trying to handle him.

Don't make handleing him so important to you that your feelings get hurt if he never does tame up. You have got to learn to enjoy him from across the room and respect the space."

A3: Joshua H replied: "if you just leave the cage door open he will come out on his own just be sure the room door is closed so when you need to put him away you are not chasing him around the house.if you can't catch me to put him away put a treat in his food dish he will go in and get it."

A4: rockin' karima replied: "In the very beginning, very slowly and gradually get him used to your hand in the cage. start by holding a stick for him to perch on. in time, put away the stick and use only your finger. don't move your hand while he investigates it from a distance, then learns he can trust it. take it in really tiny steps and he'll begin to see you are safe.

talk gently, whistle softly whether you are doing things in the cage and even when you're in the room. it's worth all the patience, they are awesome pets!

I left the door to the cage open and sat in a chair in the room so he could just come out when he was ready and he could figure out that he could trust me. Heartley used to sit on my shoulder and preen my hair or nibble at my earrings. He could be very gentle, but he still bit sometimes. I think he just didn't know he hurt when he bit.

Finger taming your cockatiel:

Taming your bird:"

A5: MamaSmurf replied: "Let him chill out for a few days to a week. He needs to get used to his new surroundings. Right now he is very stressed out. Just hang around the cage and talk softly to him. After about a week, you can try to get him up on your finger. Keep his wings clipped so he doesn't fly away when you try to train him. It will also keep him from flying inside the house and getting hurt from flying into things. They can get very serious injury and broken necks from flying into walls, mirrors, windows, and ceiling fans."

A6: Dave Womach replied: "Most people say to leave a new bird alone to let it get used to its new surroundings. Sometimes that works, but in my professional opinion, I believe it's better to start working and interacting with a new bird almost right away.

This way, you become the safe spot and not their cage.

Here are some different training methods you can use to tame your bird enough to get him out of his cage;

The power pause;
Target training;"

A7: diddod3 replied: "Try the website cockatielcottage.net. It has a lot of helpful information"

A8: ILoVeMyTiel replied: "if u just got him u have to let him get use to his new home so leaving him alone but talking to him softly though out the day i would give that a couple days then when ur ready i would tie cage door open sit around there talking to him maybe u could have a treat cup w him as he makes his way to the door i would slowly offer him ur finger w treat bowl in hand as u offer ur finger to get on keeping ur finger about chest leavel tell him step up.. may take few time just have patients w with him..


good luck with ur new friend"

gingerldk asked: "I adopted a 20 year old cockatiel and i am trying to tame it. He is hostile and everytime i try to touch it, he hisses. He's just unapproachable."

A1: stargazer 100 replied: "WAS he abused? Give him time he dont know you. AT 20 years old he is set in his ways too. Good luck. BUT TIME, patients, and love will help."

A2: heauser1965 replied: "turn him into boots, wallet and a belt"

A3: Sweetseraph replied: "You'd be lucky to get a wallet, never mind boots and a belt! Honestly.

The first thing you might try is to change your attitude that he is hostile. Cockatiels hiss when they are scared. It might also help to realize that he may never become what you might consider tame. Change your expectations and you'll take the pressure off your relationship with him.

Once you've done that, yup, it's gonna take some time. Just talk to him each time you feed him or walk by his cage (I "accidentally" taught mine to say "yummy, yummy!" by saying this each time I fed him!). Sit near his cage and just read or whatever, not necessarily looking at him or anything. If you stick your hand in his cage, he's gonna hiss; cockatiels tend to be cage protective. He may be a totally different bird away from his cage. You could remove him from his cage and take him to another room, but getting him out could be an issue. Once you've had him for a bit and if you feel comfortable doing so and the room is bird proofed, you could let him out for a fly. He will probably eventually come to investigate you. My cockatiel is not handtame, but whenever I let him out, he usually flies straight on to my head. He likes me, but he won't sit on my finger or let me touch him...and I'm fine with that. He will also come and chew on my paper or nibble on my earrings (aka bird toys). He eventually goes back into his cage by himself.

If you can accept your bird for what he is, not what you want him to be, you can still have a happy relationship with him. He may also become tame given time."

A4: ndorna replied: "clip his feather and give him some time out from cage, let him discover his surroundings...so he won't be scared anymore.
talk to him with a calming voice. and DON'T pressure him to be friendly. it takes lots of time and Patience. GOOD LUCK :)"

A5: pandoraice replied: "I had the exact same problem!
We got our cockatiel from a friend that got it from a friend that had kids that used to poke it and bother it all the time so it was mean. Hissing is completely normal, my cockatiel still hisses when it is dark and he can't see anything. What we did with ours is, actually reached in and grabbed him (don't be scared!) and held him and talked to him, and after we did this for days and days and days, he realized we weren't going to hurt him- the clincher was he discovered he LOVES to be petted, especially on his orange cheeks (where his ears are) and now he begs to be petted. Do not be scared of him- he can sense this and will feel like he has some power over you, be the boss.
Cockatiels are always a little bit standoffish but you must show them that you are the boss, so you MUST clip their wings, that will teach them to depend on you. Also, try hand feeding him things that he will like- my bird loves these little round seed balls that you can get at the pet store, has a seed mix and peanut butter in it."

A6: Erin replied: "You can start by interacting with him with gloves so when he bites you don't feel it. He will then realize that biting is futile. Then eventually he will realize that when you take him out and pet him and play with him and give him treats that you are not trying to hurt him."

macey asked: "I got a pet cockatiel, and i have no idea how to take him out of his cage! I have never done it before, and people keep telling me different ways. I don't want to scare him!"

A1: A. Roman replied: "just make sure the wings are properly clipped so he won't fly away.

I leaned from an experience, who knew that those things are so hard to catch."

A2: Elia M replied: "maybe you can just leave the door open and let him come out by himself and dont go to him to quickly

<:)"

A3: sara replied: "How long have you had this bird? Has it ever been handled before?
Start slow. Let the bird get use to you. Put a chair close to the cage and talk to it regularly. Talk to it every time you walk past. If you want your bird to bond to you than you will have to spend a lot of time working with it. Try petting it through the cage while your talking to it. Just don't rush it because if you make it scared of you then you'll have to start all over again. It takes time and patience but you'll learn to read your birds body language and you'll know when you can hold it."

A4: Ali replied: "If you are trying to tame him so he comes onto your finger and out of the cage it's simple but it'll need a lot of patience. Open the cage and hold your finger in front of him but not to close for him to bite you. Just keep your finger their and don't move it. After about 5 min. take your hand out. Try that for a week everyday seeing if he does anything. Then after he's used to seeing your finger there move it closer to him. If he gets on your finger move him around the cage slowly for a couple days before taking him out. Remember don't make any sudden movements or noises when trying to do this."

A5: mockingbird replied: "what you do depends on if the bird has clipped wings and if it was hand-fed / or is hand-tame.

if you don't know this, you probably don't know how to pet one either, or the body language, or anything. so i think you need to read this book
which will teach you a LOT about cockatiel, and will probably save your cockatiel from becomeing a biting, screaming nightmare of even dying on you.

this book has plenty of picutres and you can turn to the chapter you need to start with.

my cockatiel does not have clipped wings, and i just let her out, and she goes back in her cage whenever she gets huntry or thirsty, and then i close her. i do NOT recomend this to you, because it is much harder to keep a flying bird safe. birds cannot see glass, and they will kill themselves by trying to fly through glass or a mirror. And you cannot cook or do anything else of that sort with a flying bird in the room.

also when first letting a cockatiel out, the bird may not KNOW how to fly and fly into the ceileing and into walls and the bird will become terrified and freak out, which is not fun. so it's always a good idea to start with clipped wings.

if you have a hand-tamed bird with clipped wings, taking the bird out is easy -- just put your finger under the bird and "make" the bird step-up! This will NOT work with a wild bird because a wild bird will be terrified of you and might try to bite you.

PLEASE I BEG YOU read the book
or ANY OTHER BOOK about cockatiels. they should have insisted that you buy one at the pet store you got it from, if it iwas a good pet store."

Randi asked: "Sugar is my new cockatiel and she has a toe with gangrene. My mom (who has worked with human gangrene) says she will bite it off. It's hanging on by a little tendon and I think Sugar hurts all the time. I bought some anti-biotics for her at the pet store because theres no way she can get to the vet, but what can I do to make her feel safe and loved?"

A1: cockatiel lover! replied: "The best thing for you to do now, is to read the back of the anto-biotics and provide what is says. Then, the best thing that you can do, is make sure she has a clean cage, clean water, fresh food, and leave her in a room with the TV on, or even a radio, since cockatiels can't stand a quiet room. Try not to play with her for now, just so that she can kinda be on her own for now.

I hope that I helped! Thanks, and good luck,

~ Cockatiel Lover!"

A2: The First Dragon replied: "Take good care of the gangrene, but avoid handling her unnecessarily for a few days. Then clip her wings, so she is more dependent on you, and handle her daily. Carry her around the house on your finger, once she will stay there, and hold her high. This makes her feel more confident. Talk to her and whistle or make kissing noises. Cockatiels like to communicate this way. It's true they like to listen to the radio, especially classical music. They are flocking birds, and they like to feel like they have company, even when they don't. Kinda like people.
If convenient, keep her in the room where you eat. It will make her feel more a part of the "flock." They like to see people eat.
With a new bird, I like to pin a spray of millet on my shoulder, so the bird can eat while on my shoulder. Birds associate food with love, so this helps tame them."

ycantibhappy asked: "I have a young cockatiel that I cannot keep because of allergies. I would like to sell her with her cage. I purchased the bird and cage for approximately $200.00 and have had her for 8 months."

A1: Stevo H replied: "i would sell it around $180 to $170"

A2: christine_balliet replied: "Theres some things that will affect this answer. Is the bird tame? What color(s) are the bird? How big is the cage? Does it come with any toys or the food you have left? If you have had the bird 8 months, chances are the bird is close to a year old. Was the bird handfed? Did you get her from the pet store or a breeder?"

A3: D.J. BIGE replied: "try to sell it for what you got it for and if not try to sell it for $150.00"

A4: Cuba and Cucuy replied: "if you knew you had allergies, why would you get a bird?? poor thing, having to readjust so many times. dont sell the bird for more than $60- thats how much everyone charges. the cage cost depends on how nice/big it is.."