cockatiel doesn't sing alot

[chickdei]

Before anyone starts yelling at me, I didn’t get my cockatiel so he would sing. I got him for myself, but I would love it if he does sing. That said, I'll still love him just the same even if he doesn’t.
I got my cockatiel two years ago when he was around 4 months old (he's 2 and a half now). He used to sing a lot, hop around, and was generally very active. However, about a year ago, he changed a lot. He became quieter and rarely whistles now. While I should be grateful, I honestly really enjoy the noisiness of parrots, so it’s been a bit disappointing. Could it be because he isn't a chick anymore? He’s also never been able to pick up any of the songs I’ve tried to teach him. Instead, he just sings his own tunes or mimics my dad's whistling. I’ve been trying to get him to learn the songs I want him to for a long time. I’ve put him in front of mirrors (only for short periods), tried whistling myself, and rewarded him when he does whistle, but there hasn't been much progress. Do you have any other suggestions to help motivate him to be more talkative?
I do plan on getting another bird (for myself). He already has a cage mate, a female cockatiel. I’m considering getting a sunny or a gcc, but if another male cockatiel would help make him more talkative, I’m open to that, since I’m quite fond of them.

 

[texsize]

Before anyone starts yelling at me, I didn’t get my cockatiel so he would sing. I got him for myself, but I would love it if he does sing. That said, I'll still love him just the same even if he doesn’t.
I got my cockatiel two years ago when he was around 4 months old (he's 2 and a half now). He used to sing a lot, hop around, and was generally very active. However, about a year ago, he changed a lot. He became quieter and rarely whistles now. While I should be grateful, I honestly really enjoy the noisiness of parrots, so it’s been a bit disappointing. Could it be because he isn't a chick anymore? He’s also never been able to pick up any of the songs I’ve tried to teach him. Instead, he just sings his own tunes or mimics my dad's whistling. I’ve been trying to get him to learn the songs I want him to for a long time. I’ve put him in front of mirrors (only for short periods), tried whistling myself, and rewarded him when he does whistle, but there hasn't been much progress. Do you have any other suggestions to help motivate him to be more talkative?
I do plan on getting another bird (for myself). He already has a cage mate, a female cockatiel. I’m considering getting a sunny or a gcc, but if another male cockatiel would help make him more talkative, I’m open to that, since I’m quite fond of them.

Are you sure he’s a boy?
Female Tiels are much quieter than the male.

Any sudden changes in behavior should be checked out with an appointment with an avian veterinarian.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I thought the same thing. Male tiels sing and dance and females are much quieter. In some color mutations it's hard to tell the males from females. Take pictures of both and post them. Maybe we can help you confirm the sex. Have you played videos or audios of other whistling and singing males to yours? That should perk him up.

 

[chickdei]

Are you sure he’s a boy?
Female Tiels are much quieter than the male.

Any sudden changes in behavior should be checked out with an appointment with an avian veterinarian.

I'm almost 100% he is a boy.
I forgot to mention that I took him to an avian vet almost a week ago, and he was completely fine. He didn't have a blood test this time since he had one earlier this year, and the results were normal. The blood test had already been done after his behavior started changing, so I thought it would be less stressful and less costly to skip it. I do make sure to monitor his health.

 

[chickdei]

I thought the same thing. Male tiels sing and dance and females are much quieter. In some color mutations it's hard to tell the males from females. Take pictures of both and post them. Maybe we can help you confirm the sex. Have you played videos or audios of other whistling and singing males to yours? That should perk him up.

here are some photos of both of them

Yes, I have played audios and videos of other cockatiels but he didn't react much. He would just perk up for a bit then go on with whatever he was doing before.

 

[Vampiric_Conure]

Sounds like a female's behavior if everything else checks out okay otherwise. Just in case, have you considered doing a DNA test on your boy? Or it could be you have a boy who's quieter than most. I had a female who talked. She was in fact my best talker, dancer, and whistler out of my birds at the time! .

 

[chickdei]

Sounds like a female's behavior if everything else checks out okay otherwise. Just in case, have you considered doing a DNA test on your boy? Or it could be you have a boy who's quieter than most. I had a female who talked. She was in fact my best talker, dancer, and whistler out of my birds at the time! .

the past owner told me he was a male and showed me the dna test, so unless he was wrong he should be a boy.
I never knew females could be whistlers! I was given the idea that they are very quiet compared to other birds, that's interesting

 

[DonnaBudgie]

What gorgeous birds!
How are you so sure your male is a male?
I'm sure you know which one is which but they look the same to me. Both are lutinos and FAR more females are lutino than males.
Have you examined the underside of the tail and flight feathers of both birds? Adult females will have bright yellow spots on the underside of tail and flight feathers. Adult males will not have these spots.
Aren't you worried about these two making babies if you do have a male and a female?

 

[chickdei]

What gorgeous birds!
How are you so sure your male is a male?
I'm sure you know which one is which but they look the same to me. Both are lutinos and FAR more females are lutino than males.
Have you examined the underside of the tail and flight feathers of both birds? Adult females will have bright yellow spots on the underside of tail and flight feathers. Adult males will not have these spots.
Aren't you worried about these two making babies if you do have a male and a female?

as I said his previous owner dna tested him and he was a male and he DOES display male behaviors, it's just rare (ya'll are making me start to doubt it ). I will check on their feathers when I let them out of the cage, there is a clear difference in their coloration. The 'male' has a much brighter yellow on his head, when the female kind of just fades out. As for the babies thing I'm not that concerned. they female isn't interested at all and I make sure that there is nothing that could trigger them into having babies. If it could be a problem though I could house them separately.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I have heard of birds DNA test results being incorrect. But ultimately not all males will act like males and not all females will act like females. There is some gender fluidity in the avian world. Sexķ stereotypes in budgies say that females bite much more than males and are less playful, clingy and affectionate. As a general rule I have seen it to be true, but my current youngest budgie is a four month old female and she has shattered all those stereotypes.

 

[chickdei]

I have heard of birds DNA test results being incorrect. But ultimately not all males will act like males and not all females will act like females. There is some gender fluidity in the avian world. Sexķ stereotypes in budgies say that females bite much more than males and are less playful, clingy and affectionate. As a general rule I have seen it to be true, but my current youngest budgie is a four month old female and she has shattered all those stereotypes.

I might have just encountered a quiet male, though I'll certainly take a DNA test of my own to confirm his gender. I'm questioning whether he’s even male in the first place now . Thanks, though.

My main goal was to find advice on encouraging my tiel to be more talkative. I know I'm being stubborn about him being a male, but I'm quite sure of it. I'll wait till I dna test him...

 

[DonnaBudgie]

It seems like you've tried all the usual tricks to get him to make more music. Getting a other male cockatiel may do the trick then you'll have two singers!
Did you look under the flight and tail feathers? Yellow spots = females. No spots = male. Keeping a known male with a known female = (eventually) babies. That's why I would want to confirm his sex.

 

[texsize]

From what I know about Lutino cockatiels.

Genetically speaking 75% are female only a 25% chance he is a he.
I am not saying you are wrong or it can’t happen.

It’s important that Lutino to Lutino breeding does not occur.

Bad recessive genes can be reinforced by bad genes from the the other side and give unhealthy offspring..

 

[chickdei]

From what I know about Lutino cockatiels.

Genetically speaking 75% are female only a 25% chance he is a he.
I am not saying you are wrong or it can’t happen.

It’s important that Lutino to Lutino breeding does not occur.

Bad recessive genes can be reinforced by bad genes from the the other side and give unhealthy offspring..

thank you for your reply. I will definitely dna test him to make sure of his gender. I don't plan on breeding them but if it is a risk I will look into getting a different cage and housing them separately

 

[Shoegoo]

My GCC is a female. She has layed eggs in the past. But not recently. She's the only bird in the house. Makes noises and rattles her cage, but no singing.