Hello! and Help!

[apatrimo94]

Hey, my name's Diego. I'm new to this site and i'm a new cockatiel owner. I have a strong love for animals especially marine mammals and all types of parrots. i''m going to be a marine mammal vet when i grow up with a hobby of breeding birds. i love to read. i'm always reading about birds or dolphins, as they are some of my favorite animals. I'm madly in love with my new cockatiel. well he's sort of new, hahaa. i got him for my birthday in may. i have a parakeet who is believed to be 4 years old. i rescued her from an owner who kept her in poor conditions and never cared for her. i rescued her because she was a baby and she wasn't getting the chance to live life as a happy bird. she's the greatest bird anyone can ask for. she loves to shower me with kisses and cuddles. and she's albino. now my new cockatiel (bartleby), on the other hand, still doesn't trust me yet. my methods i did on my parakeet (s'mores) are not working on him apparently. and his bite hurts! i thought people were exaggerating when they say it hurts. any advice or tips to help gain his trust so i can start working the "up" command with him? thanks, and again, great site!

 

[Spiritbird]

Hi there Diego and welcome to a fantastic forum full of parrot crazy people. While I do not have a cockatiel I can give some basic advise to you. Here goes........................
From your description, my guess is that you have purchased a cockatiel from a source that didn’t socialize him to learn to trust handling by people. These cockatiels have to be tamed by the new people in their lives. Since he was never handled, he is simply not used to it and is most likely afraid of you. Biting is his way of dealing with that fear, and his way to get you to leave him alone. The first step is to win his trust, and this may take awhile. If you haven’t taken him to an avain vet I would put that first on my list. In order for your tiel to trust you you must not demonstrate frustration or react to the bites and that is difficult to do.
While your new bird is in the cage with door open talk to him gently, sing or just read something and be nearby. Do not attempt to train step up until a bond has formed or you will be bitten. You need buckets of patience because it will takes weeks for this to happen with an unsocialized bird months.
Find out what kind of treats he likes the best and offer them. I always say a busy beak does not bite. Also a good book for you to read is Cockatiels for Dummies. No offense please. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress please.

 

[antoinette]

Welcome to our forum, great members, very informative posts.
SB has advised you well.
Sit close by the cage. Offer him a treat through the bars.
Continue to do this on a daily basis, birds love routine.
At a later stage, leave a treat near the open door. When he is feeling more confident, he will take it. This could take a few days, all in his own time.
When he climbs out the cage, offer him another treat. Do not attempt to uppies him.
When this becomes a daily routine, it shows he is beginning to gain your trust.
Then try uppies, either letting his step onto your hand or a stick.
If he refuses your hand, then try the stick.
Good luck
Let us know how it goes

 

[cnyguy]

Welcome to you, Diego, and your feathered friends! I'm not experienced with 'Tiels myself, but it looks like you've received some good advice already.