Will my girl ever be able to fly?

[Kiwi & Co.]

She looks like buttered popcorn!

It seems like she is missing some feathers, but is she molting?

 

[Gokha]

She looks like buttered popcorn!

It seems like she is missing some feathers, but is she molting?

She is molting, but I haven’t seen her flight feathers falling just yet, I’ve seen a feather from her tail today.

 

[sunnysmom]

It looks like all the feathers are there, although I see at least one growing in. Maybe as previously suggested, she just needs to build up her muscles a bit more to fly better.

 

[Gokha]

It looks like all the feathers are there, although I see at least one growing in. Maybe as previously suggested, she just needs to build up her muscles a bit more to fly better.

Yes, and I also believe that maybe with the molting her new feathers will grow stronger

 

[Tiel Feathers]

Yeah, all feathers accounted for. I’m sure with some practice and any improvements you’ve made in her diet, her muscles and feathers will become stronger.

 

[Avio77]

Wow now that's a Fallow Cockatiel. All yellow is rare. So lucky lol

 

[Avio77]

I usually take my bird outside of the cage and let her fly around. She flies pretty well and sometimes she flies short . And if you don't let her fly around the house her wing muscles get weak.

 

[Gokha]

I usually take my bird outside of the cage and let her fly around. She flies pretty well and sometimes she flies short . And if you don't let her fly around the house her wing muscles get weak.

My birds are out of the cage whenever i’m home she just doesn’t fly, prefers to sit back. Flies for a short distance only when there’s no other choice, and that’s very rare

 

[jh81]

My mom has a lutino tiel, but damn yours is yellow! Its gold

as @tka said, keep practicing, build up the muscles, and some day she will fly!

Also, i do not believe a bird NEEDS to fly to be happy. Obviously its healthy, they are made for it. But i think they are flexible enough to adapt to a life without flying, provided ofcourse they have plenty of toy and enrichment otherwise

 

[Tara81]

Wow now that's a Fallow Cockatiel. All yellow is rare. So lucky lol

I don't think it is a fallow cockatiel. I think the mutation is Lutino Pastel - Face (Cheek is faded).

The fallow cockatiel is also known as the red-eyed silver cockatiel. When a Fallow is crossed with a Cinnamon, the Cinnamon will mask the Fallow color of the offspring. This results in a bird that looks like a Lutino. However, they generally look lighter in color, and not bright yellow. That is why I believe this tiel is a lutino. Do realize Lutino cockatiels generally have dark red eyes as well

Although bright yellow cockatiels do exist, they do seem to be more rare then the faded yellow ones.

@Gokha , Your tiel may never fly perfectly, but you can always encourage it to fly more often with clicker training, or just offering treats to get him or her to fly. Like others said, slowly increase the distance during training (Maybe every 3-5 days , increase the distance half an inch - 1 inch. When the bird flies confidently and with precision, then you can increase the distance. Your birb is so beautiful.

 

[Tara81]

I take back the pastel face - one photo the cheek looked faded but two photos it does not. Looks like Lutino only

 

[Gokha]

I take back the pastel face - one photo the cheek looked faded but two photos it does not. Looks like Lutino only

Yeah her plumage improved, so the cheeks are brighter now

 

[Gokha]

So major update!!!
Walad can now fly
She’s not as professional as Zazu and clumsier than Momo, but sometimes she makes 2-3 rounds around the room
And all thanks to Zazu and Momo consistently running after Walad (not all the time, just when she gets on their way), so she has no choice but to fly away somewhere. I think it also has to do with her breaking some of the flight feathers during night fright + she lost some during her major molt, so new “stronger” flight feathers grew (if you go back to the previously attached picture you’ll know what i mean).
she doesn’t fly on recall like Zazu or Momo, but she flies whenever she really wants to come to me or when those two are annoying her or when she sees food on the table
Here’s a recent picture of her. And yes, those are seeds inside her bowl...she’s been rejecting pellets all of a sudden. Mostly eats bird bread from Harrison’s, seeds and a tiny bit of veggies. I hope this will end eventually

 

[Veritgo01]

I agree with what a lot of people have already said about having her practice. I've had a Tiel that had his wing's clipped at a young age. Although he was no Maverick from Top Gun, he did learn the basics and has gotten better over time.

So just give it time and patience.

 

[Destiny]

So happy to hear about Walad's progress! She has come such a long way. Amazing job, both of you.

I am so happy for her.

 

[Corriew]

Been reading and this is so exciting, one of the reasons we haven’t clipped ours is because we feel they should fly naturally and I have heard bad things about falls plus Eddie is a bit clumsy already and is a poor flyer.

 

[Ulis_Beast]

Walad can now fly

I am so happy for the both of you!