I got this male cockatiel last Saturday and it's my first cockatiel. I had a budgie but it was my gf's so already used to humans around. Anyway pet shop owner said they are around 1 years old but I think he kind of lied about it. He's a scared one. Well other birds in the pet shop were scared as well. At first I tried to get him on my hand without stressing him but it didn't worked. I looked online for help. Everyone was saying leave it alone in cage for a while, don't try to get near it unless feeding&cleaning. Let it get use to you and environment. It's been 5 days and he was kinda chill, not eating much but still eating, resting etc. and today he started to freak out in cage like he wants to get away. I thought maybe he's stressed being in cage so I got him out for a while. He just flew all around anxiously. So I don't know what to do. Should I just let him be for a while. I really need help. Sorry for my poor English btw.
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My new cockatiel freaks out in cage
- Thread starter dorcha
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Is it possible that something spooked him? A sudden noise, sudden movement, a shadow, a new object in the room?
It sounds like he isn’t used to people. For now, avoid handling him. Talk to him throughout the day. Put a treat in his bowl when you need to walk by. It may take weeks or months for him to trust you. If or when he’s comfortable with you being near the cage, you can try offering treats from your fingers or a sprig of millet. These things and more take a lot of time and patience.
Wishing you luck with your new cockatiel
It sounds like he isn’t used to people. For now, avoid handling him. Talk to him throughout the day. Put a treat in his bowl when you need to walk by. It may take weeks or months for him to trust you. If or when he’s comfortable with you being near the cage, you can try offering treats from your fingers or a sprig of millet. These things and more take a lot of time and patience.
Wishing you luck with your new cockatiel
Sparkles99
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Is it possible that the cockatiel, prior to arriving at the store, was in an aviary for breeding? If so, it may explain why a cage is scary.
I'm not sure. Store owner didn't say anything about it.
He's chill at the moment. I covered part of his cage so he can feel safe and placed him in corner of the room (away from me). He eats more often that's good, I guess. Anyway, I think I should just be patient with him.
He's chill at the moment. I covered part of his cage so he can feel safe and placed him in corner of the room (away from me). He eats more often that's good, I guess. Anyway, I think I should just be patient with him.
sunnysmom
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I never think you should leave a new bird completely alone (although I know many people advise that). "Alone" is scary to them as they're flock animals. I always start with sitting in the same room with a bird. How close depends on the bird. Then, if they're okay with it, I sit by them and read to them. It gets a bird used to being near you without direct interaction. As the bird gets comfortable, I then try hand feeding treats, working on simple training etc. Covering the back of his cage was a smart decision you made. If a bird is really nervous, covering part of the cage helps them not have to be alert for "danger" on all sides. Silence during the day can be stressful too. So I always leave the TV or music on for my birds. Cockatiels are prone to night frights. So I also always leave a night light on for them and make sure that things like car lights coming through windows, etc won't startle them.
I mean he's not alone. He's in the room where I usually be all the time. My computer is always on so there is always a sound in the room. Right now he hisses at me, and I try to leave him be. Placed his cage away from me but still sees all around and me, so I'm hoping he get use to me soon. I often play tiel singing videos on youtube, is it a bad thing? and I was thinking to get a budgie. Can a cockatiel hurt a budgie by mistake?
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It doesnt happen like that. You need to be patient. Its there a reason youre in a hurry?
sunnysmom
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It's actually the opposite. A budgie can bully a cockatiel. If you're thinking of getting another bird, I suggest another tiel. But I think you should work on building more of a relationship with this tiel first.
I mean at least he gets use to my presence in the room and not startled by me everytime
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Do you let him know you coming before walking in the room? Ive had my birds for years but if i just pop into their room without letting them know im coming , they all get startled. I start calling their names from the other before going into theirs.
I'll try to do that
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I know how tough it is! When a new bird is scared, it can be so upsetting - you just want them to know it's OK but unfortunately scared birds don't always recognize our attempts at being comforting (looking at them, being physically close, talking to them), how we mean it to come across. Instead, these behaviors can come across as threatening.I mean at least he gets use to my presence in the room and not startled by me everytime
Sounds like you are doing a lot of good things by covering part of the cage and giving him space to observe you and his surroundings. If he suddenly has become nervous he might be seeing or hearing something you haven't noticed. Vista got very scared when she heard crows or blue jays outside when I first got her. Now that she is used to her surroundings she doesn't get scared anymore.
Birds can also get nervous if their cage is on the small side - they feel like they have nowhere to run if you get close. Not saying his cage is small, just something to consider.
You could try getting him used to you being close to the cage to start. So, slowly walk closer and stop right about when he starts to get scared. Then turn and either leave the room or go back to your computer/wherever he feels safe. Do this for a few minutes multiple times per day.
Update: He doesn't startle by my presence anymore. Doesn't hisses at me often, only if I put my hand in the cage. I started to hand feeding him. Holding a millet while he's picking it. Right now he doesn't eat from my hand only if I hold it. Tried to touch his belly one time he freaked out. I guess he has a trauma of hands. But I'm slowly getting there, hand feeding him everyday. I was thinking to get a new tiel friend. But this time I won't get it from a pet shop instead will get it from a breeder, preferably a young bird.
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Some breeder birds are still parent raised. Be sure to get one that has been hand raised. Im glad youre making headway.
Its easy to break their trust and set you back. I wouldnt try to touch his belly anymore. Even my hand raised bird that ive had for 5 years wont go for me touching him there.
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It's awesome you are making progress! Don't worry about the millet thing, it may take time for him to eat from your hand. I've even had super tame birds that didn't want to eat from my hand.
You could try balancing the millet on the tip of your fingers, sometimes that is less scary than the middle of your palm.
I also agree with @Rebel that even tame birds may not like you touching their belly. And, even if he is scared of hands, all is not lost. There's ways you can interact while keeping your hands away - cover your hands with your sleeves when getting him to step up on an arm, or give him pets with your nose if he ends up being tame enough to go on your shoulder.
You could try balancing the millet on the tip of your fingers, sometimes that is less scary than the middle of your palm.
I also agree with @Rebel that even tame birds may not like you touching their belly. And, even if he is scared of hands, all is not lost. There's ways you can interact while keeping your hands away - cover your hands with your sleeves when getting him to step up on an arm, or give him pets with your nose if he ends up being tame enough to go on your shoulder.
