annjo
New member
- Dec 12, 2019
- 1
- 0
- Parrots
- Einstein (6 y/o male pied cockatiel)
hello fellow bird parents! hope you're having a good evening.
i've had my cockatiel, einstein, for about a year now, and for the most part things have been going great! he's very clever, sweet, and healthy. we've made great strides in our bond and he often trusts me enough to doze off on my finger or let me scratch his head. during the busy parts of the school year i find myself wishing i had more time to spend with him, but for the most part, i spend a lot of time outside the cage interacting with him. however, the problem is, when i go to take him out of his cage, he often hisses and bites my hand quite hard (he's drawn blood several times). it's gotten to a point where i have to wrap a towel around my hand just to take him out of his cage. as soon as i take him out of his cage, he's as docile and sweet as a lamb, only biting if i'm upsetting him or if he needs something from me. however, when he gets back in his cage, it's like he's a different bird altogether.
is it normal for male cockatiels around his age, 6 years, to be so territorial? how can i remedy this? i understand it's his home space and he doesn't like me intruding, but i'd like to build up the trust with him that he doesn't feel like he has to defend his territory from me.
thanks so much!
i've had my cockatiel, einstein, for about a year now, and for the most part things have been going great! he's very clever, sweet, and healthy. we've made great strides in our bond and he often trusts me enough to doze off on my finger or let me scratch his head. during the busy parts of the school year i find myself wishing i had more time to spend with him, but for the most part, i spend a lot of time outside the cage interacting with him. however, the problem is, when i go to take him out of his cage, he often hisses and bites my hand quite hard (he's drawn blood several times). it's gotten to a point where i have to wrap a towel around my hand just to take him out of his cage. as soon as i take him out of his cage, he's as docile and sweet as a lamb, only biting if i'm upsetting him or if he needs something from me. however, when he gets back in his cage, it's like he's a different bird altogether.
is it normal for male cockatiels around his age, 6 years, to be so territorial? how can i remedy this? i understand it's his home space and he doesn't like me intruding, but i'd like to build up the trust with him that he doesn't feel like he has to defend his territory from me.
thanks so much!
