10 pnts. best. should i try and finger hold my cockatiel? and also.....

Question

well i just adopted a 4 1/2 yr old cockatiel grey..male. from a family who is having a baby and cannot keep him. i just got him a day ago and at first he was really shy. hes alot more open now singing and talking..but today when i tried to get him on my finger (because he was very attached to his old owener) he freakedout extremely. he calmed down alot after that and now is still singing and talking. but sometimes he just randomly starts screaming... i dont know what to do when he screams except rush in. should i try to have him geton my finger in a few days? and also tomorrow i am taking him to get his wings clipped ect. will it traumatize him enough to set me back a few days to hold him??? 10 points best answer. thank you soooo much

Answer 1

I've had many cockatiels and parakeets (as well as many other domestic birds). I dont know any bird that enjoys having its wings clipped. Some try to bite the hand that holds them still while they are clipped. I clipped my birds wings myself, I researched the issue and once I started doing it I realized how easy it was so I had no need to go to my vets and get charged to get them simply clipped which is as simple as a hair cut. Anyhow, as I said it does usually upset them, and after the process I'd leave them alone the rest of the day just to let them cool off from being violated as Im sure they felt. I only think if anything he'd be upset for a few hours after the experience but be fine if anything by the next day. As for the screaming, sounds like just a bird being a bird. He's probably calling out to you like "hey where'd ya go!?". Birds get really attached to people, but being that he was attached to this other person, it may take him a while to fully accept you as his new owner, but he will promise ya! Especially that hes a single caged bird, he will soon bond with you (or anyone that spends most of their time working with him). Be persistant if you really want a good friend out of your bird, take time away from your day everyday to talk with him, befriend him with treats and scratches behind the neck (they love this once they can trust you). Birds naturally lift a foot up if a finger or perch is placed infront of their chest and lightly pushed up and towards them at the same time, it's the birds way to ballance. Some birds if not used to it will jump away and flap around the cage to avoid it, but ones that are calm (owners) and slightly persistant you will soon be able to get your bird over this fear and on to your finger.

I suggest if your cage is hanging, to bring the cage down to the ground with you. Have you and your bird in a room with no opened windows, and no predators (cats etc) and no clear glass. Even a bird with clipped wings can still (if they hop and are up high) can get some "air" and flutter before falling and can seriously injure themselves by hitting glass thinking it's an escape route.

By sitting down near the cage with the bird you dont seem *as big* to the bird if you were to be standing. Talk to the bird calmly, anything you'd liek to say to the bird is fine, just be friendly about it, maybe even whistle at it if it whistles. Offer your finger to it and if it responds by putting up one foot on your finger lift your hand lightly up and it should easily put it's second foot on your finger, then slowly and calmly bring the bird out of its cage.

The first few times you take it out this way, dont do anything more than talk to your bird, if it c***s its head at you, it's being curious and listening. If it's beathing heavy and looks distressed make the "training session" not very long and as calmly as you brought him out put him away.

Make the experience a positive one, and soon you'll have a bird that wants to be out with you, enjoys pets, grooming and may even be fine with wing clippings when needed.

I would go to youtube.com and type in cockatiel sounds or singing or soemthing like that so you can hear the various sounds a cockatiel makes you may findout that your bird isn't freaking out after all. :)

good luck!

Niki

Answer 2

i would just work with him, keep talking to him giving him treats and such, it will warm him up to you and he will realize you wont hurt him, check out http://www.parrotcentral.net/how_to_tame... for good tips on how to hand train him, goodluck!

Answer 3

Do not rush in when he screams.  He'll come to do that for attention once he handles well with you.  Ignore him when he screams, when he's happy come to him.  Do not rush the bird, when he is ready he will come to you.  Try enticing with some tasty millet.  Don't force him out of the cage, and don't let him out unless he steps on your finger.  Once he gets used to your hand in there and feeding him, make him walk toward the millet to get it, the slowly introduce your hand.  Place a finger on a perch and lead the cockatiel to your finger with the millet.  Soon only let him have the millet when you comes and steps on your finger.  Soon enough you should be able to take him out without scaring him half to death.  Take everything in slow steps.

It may take longer but your relationship will be better for it, and he will trust you more than if you flood him.  (flooding is a method of forcing a bird to do what you want them to do, without gaining trust)

I have a cockatiel myself and have to admit I knew nothing about them at first.  I chased that bird around the cage till she would give up, then I'd grab her and stick her on my hand away from the cage.  She would bite and bite my hand (my bare flesh).  There was lesions all over my hands but I never let her know they hurt and she gave up on biting me.  I can hold her and now she trusts me, but take my word this method I used is inappropriate.  I did not know better, now I do.

Trust me, a bird who slowly learns to trust you on their terms, will be a better companion in the long run.

Good luck with  your new friend!

Answer 4

Eventually he will come around, cockatiel are much easier than large parrots about bonding.  Just remember that if you come running when he screams, he will quickly learn that thats the way to get your attention.  Try not to reinforce any bad behavior with the results the bird wants, or he may become a very noisy bird with no volume control, lol. Good luck, but you probably won't need it!

Answer 5

I love birds, they're so picky.  Let the bird make his own way.  Give him space to go to you.  Feed and give him water and eventually, he'll be looking for you and will want to play with you.  He probably misses his old family.  

Gradually let him sit on your finger.  But be confident, if you just stick it in front of his face, he'll peck it. Put it in front of his foot and he will walk on it.