Is this really a hand -reared cockatiel like the shop owner claims?

Question

I asked if I could touch the bird at the pet shop. The bird would not hop on his finger so he had to grab it with both hands. He allowed me to stroke the cockatiels head, and it didn't bite hard when I put my finger near its beak. He did not allow me to hold the bird on my finger as he said it would take time for them to get used to me (birds are 10 weeks old).

My question: I thought hand reared birds will come to you straight away.. do you think this bird might not be as tame as the shop owner claims?

Answer 1

I would say the bird has probably been handled since he didn''t bite you.  Birds trust routine and individuals.  If the little guy you've chosen was hand fed but not played with then sent to a pet shop witth ohe birds he didn't know and now handled by people he didn't know, he's gonna have a bitt of an adjustment.

If at all possible, I like to suggest people get their birds, especially first birds, from a breeder.  You can talk to the person about the bird and see if the bird was hand fed or played with as well  I am verry luky and have a breeder in my neighborhood and their three children take an interest in the birds and can tell you some of the likes and dislikes of the birds as they have grown up.

But a cockatiel is a great first bird and can live for many many years.  If you go with this one, give hime time and he will show interest in you and what you do.  I would avoid grabbing him though.  You might hurt him and will probably make him afrraid of people if you grab him to play with him.

Also read books on parrots and especially cokatiels.

Answer 2

The bird is not tamed.

Each of the activity has got to trained for a bird or any animal for that matter, except of course eating and suckling

Answer 3

Hi,

I would be cautious as if it was hand tame it should just hop on to his finger but then like he said it has to get used to you and so he may not haver handled so it would not feel safe with him or you. If though it let you stroke it and didn't bite hard then it is likely that its hand tamed. But if you are unsure still then find a friend or neighbour whos experienced in bird keeping to go along and have another look with you somebody elses view may help.

Answer 4

The reason the bird would not hop onto your finger,was that it  did not know you.

It takes time and patience for you and your bird to get used to each other!

It allowed you to hold it! but you don't grab at a young bird or even an old one as your sudden movements could frighten them and that would take a lot longer for your bird to trust you and it did not bite you,that is a good sign for handrearing.

Your impression of a hand reared bird is wrong,they will come to you when they are ready and used to you.

Softly soflty catchee Bird.

Answer 5

The bird will have been hand reared, but once it gets to the pet shop, it will not get the attention it was used to and to a degree it will lapse.

If all the animals in the shop get a shared hour before opening and a shared hour after closing of handling they are doing well and a lot of the time they don't get that.

Answer 6

If birds are too young, they do not know how to get on fingers yet.  They are still learning that skill.

Yes, baby birds never bite hard, they also have not learned how to bite hard (a skill some birds learn rather fast).

It is probably a fine cockatiel.

Answer 7

If you can touch the bird at all tells me that the bird has been handled.  Once you get it home, start to talk to it and work with it every chance you get.  When you take a bird out of one environment & put it into another, it takes a couple wks to become comfortable again.  Be patient.  Sounds like a nice bird that you will enjoy for a long time.