layinlow
Meeting neighbors
- Joined
- 2/4/18
- Messages
- 68
- Real Name
- Kazmon
Hi! Yesterday I just got my first bird, a cocktiel I've named Mika. I was told she was almost 4 months old, hand fed and tamed. I'm pretty sure its a girl, for she doesn't squawk very much and is pretty quiet. She's a dark grey with a yellow face and the signature cheeks! I've been slightly worried about her though.. the cage she was in at the pet place had other cockatiels in the same quarters and they were pulling off other birds tail feathers (some to the point of having no tail feathers at all!). She has a pretty decent tail, for there aren't any noticible gaps, though some of the feathers are slightly wonky. I wasn't about to get a bird from a place like that, though my dad quickly wanted to buy her for me. When I first held her she climbed right onto my shoulder, rather friendly and all. I didn't like how the owner picked up the birds even if they didn't want to be picked up, a majority jumping and falling to the floor. Their wings are clipped. Yesterday when we brought her home she wanted out of the cage rather quickly (which we abided to), and when she was out all she wanted to do was be held. She goes right onto the shoulder and loves to snuggle, even letting me give her neck scritches one time. She hasn't ever bit hard or anything, maybe only on the nails. Earlier today she was acting completely fine. Everytime I put her into her cage, she starts freaking out and squawking, wanting to be out again. Today I went on a shopping spree (buying some toys and perches, even setting one up in the back of the cage which she is sitting on now), she acted fine when I got back, but maybe two hours ago or so I was trying to get her out of the cage so I could hold her (my friend who owns a cockatiel says I should handle her and give her lots of attention), though when I reached for her it seemed like she hissed at me. She's puffed up in the back of the cage, so I backed off so she could cool down. She still hasn't though and I don't know if I should let her accommodate to the environment alone for a few days? I've tried feeding her some fruits but she won't have any of it, only eating her seed diet food (since that was what she was fed at the bird place and so I don't stress her out by switching to pellets so quickly), she does love cheerios though! She has been puffing up a lot today, and I don't know if it's anything to worry about, but I've heard her sneeze a few times (she doesn't have any discharge coming out of her eyes or nose though). Sometimes when I tried to pick her up or pet her she'd make a whining / squeaking noise? I don't know if I was hurting her or not.. I don't know what she's mad at me for (if she is, I'm also not expecting full trust because we just started hanging out) , and I really want to fix it and gain trust! Please help me and give tips if you can!
/edit/ I ended up taking her out and she went straight to my shoulder, I ended up setting her atop her cage an hour later and had trouble getting her to step up like usual. Took a while to get her back into her cage.. she's still pretty hesitant!!
/Another edit,,/ Mika is doing pretty good, though she's becoming quite attached to her perch. Should I limit her away from this so we could bond better? As I was cleaning around her cage I had to take her off so the fumes wouldn't mess with her too much,, it's not bleach or anything so it shouldn't hurt her. But every time I walked by it seemed that she wanted back on, help ? I've had her for 4 days at this point
/edit/ I ended up taking her out and she went straight to my shoulder, I ended up setting her atop her cage an hour later and had trouble getting her to step up like usual. Took a while to get her back into her cage.. she's still pretty hesitant!!
/Another edit,,/ Mika is doing pretty good, though she's becoming quite attached to her perch. Should I limit her away from this so we could bond better? As I was cleaning around her cage I had to take her off so the fumes wouldn't mess with her too much,, it's not bleach or anything so it shouldn't hurt her. But every time I walked by it seemed that she wanted back on, help ? I've had her for 4 days at this point