New Cockatiel Owner

JimmyJax

Regular Member
Registered
Hey ✌

New cockatiel owner here 🙂

What thread would it be best to explain my little guy Jax's journey and some advice?

Cheers

Jimmy
 
Hi and welcome to the forum
We're uk based so the vast majority are currently asleep
We have a training section a behavioural one there's diet so feel free to jump in to whichever is most appropriate
 
Hi and welcome to the forum
We're uk based so the vast majority are currently asleep
We have a training section a behavioural one there's diet so feel free to jump in to whichever is most appropriate
Thank you 🙌
 
Ok so here goes....

I got a new cockatiel 8 days ago. I love him to bits already!! Image attached.

I got him from a pet shop in Broxburn, West Lothian.

They could not tell me his exact month age but said he was roughly 5 to 6 months old. He is not a hand tamed bird.

His introduction to the house was not the greatest. The box was too big and when I tried to get him into his cage he escaped from the box. This resulted in me panicking. I admit! Hands up. I spent the next 20 minutes trying to catch him with the box and then a blanket. He eventually flew himself tired and i got the blanket over him on the floor and into his cage. Not the best start.

He seemed to settle in ok and here are the current positive and negatives I am facing.

Positives -
He is eating and drinking. He also chirps away and when I leave the room he calls on me. When I say "Come see me" he comes down to the bottom of the cage and lets me get my face close to the cage without being scared. He is also letting me clap his tail when he is on his sleepy perch. He does occasional hiss but not a lot.
When i call his name he kind of shakes his head and the same with a few whistles that I have been doing reguarly. At first when changing food and water he would proper flap and panic however now he does not but only as long as i do not move hands towards him. He seems to get very excited with interaction and runs up and down the cage and along perches and does a strange little left to right and back dance along the perch.

Negatives -
He hisses if you try to touch him. I have been able to place my fingers near him on a perch but not enough to tickle or rub him. He seems to want to go to bed anytime from 6pm to 9pm and wakes up roughly about 8ish. He then takes a wee half hour to warm and wake up and then has a mad turn and chrips and calls a lot.

Obviously I know this is very early days. But are the above good or bad signs. I can handle the truth.

Few questions I also have are -
Are cockatiels one person birds?
Is it likely if not hand tamed he will ever trust me especially after his dodgy introduction?
If he is wanting to go to his bed, should I be vacating the livingroom where he stays?
How early should I be doing step up training, especially since he wont let me touch him?
He seems to stretch his wings to the side and then backwards. I feel it is because he needs exercise flying, but i dont feel i can risk this while he will not let me touch him and have the whole situation of trying to catch him all over again.
Should i be feeding him seed or not. He seems to love it. He is getting seed and some chop daily of veg and fruit.

Sorry i know its a lot to ask but really looking forward to some info.

Cheers

Jimmy
20210316_192702.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Hi there, I love cockatiels, lovely birds. My previous bird was a neglected one, he never really got used to my hands but he was very old, cage bound and couldnt fly. I just expected nothing from him and just tried to make his final year or so comfortable and safe, he did finally give in to my charm though and would cuddle under my chin, but still no hands.

Is this your first bird?

Ive never had a baby bird so im not sure any of my advice is valid, but I would say take your time with hands. It sounds like he is comfortable with you though, so thats great. If you are allowed near his cage, maybe try and feed him with good tasty food, his favourite seeds, a grape, chunk of apple etc. Let him learn that hand interactions generally mean nice things. Talk softly, be calm, read to him! etc etc, do not be a threat of course. Look out for signs of anxiety, you say he does a head shake at times, with my CAG that is often the first sign she will give me. Take baby steps to start and get the trust levels high.

Often, ive been asked by people how to introduce a bird and generally my advice is taken and the bird actually makes the big steps in the bond, which is great I suppose.

Also, for sleep, yep they say 10hrs minimum, my Enzo stays up late and sleeps 9hrs then takes a few naps during the day. She says 'ni-night' when she is ready and i pop her into her cage and cover her.
Enzo's cage is in the kitchen, so i dont interupt her sleep from my living room. I open the doors or take her out of the kitchen when i cook.


I Hope this helps a little.
 
Last edited:
Hi there, I love cockatiels, lovely birds. My previous bird was a neglected one, he never really got used to my hands but he was very old, cage bound and couldnt fly. I just expected nothing from him and just tried to make his final year or so comfortable and safe, he did finally give in to my charm though and would cuddle under my chin, but still no hands.

Is this your first bird?

Ive never had a baby bird so im not sure any of my advice is valid, but I would say take your time with hands. It sounds like he is comfortable with you though, so thats great. If you are allowed near his cage, maybe try and feed him with good tasty food, his favourite seeds, a grape, chunk of apple etc. Let him learn that hand interactions generally mean nice things. Talk softly, be calm, read to him! etc etc, do not be a threat of course. Look out for signs of anxiety, you say he does a head shake at times, with my CAG that is often the first sign she will give me. Take baby steps to start and get the trust levels high.

Often, ive been asked by people how to introduce a bird and generally my advice is taken and the bird actually makes the big steps in the bond, which is great I suppose.

Also, for sleep, yep they say 10hrs minimum, my Enzo stays up late and sleeps 9hrs then takes a few naps during the day. She says 'ni-night' when she is ready and i pop her into her cage and cover her.
Enzo's cage is in the kitchen, so i dont interupt her sleep from my living room. I open the doors or take her out of the kitchen when i cook.


I Hope this helps a little.
Thank you foe the advice mate. Really appreciate it 🙏🙏
 
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