How long does it take for an adult tiel to get adjusted?

[veimar]

Hi everyone,
I posted before a thread and few picks of a 2 yo (according to his owner) cockatiel I got two weeks ago… So it has been 2 weeks now since I got him and things didn't change that much. He has no problem eating from my hand (well, I hold his food dish in my hand), and he obviously is not afraid of me and rather likes me. When I let him out on the bed he climbs on me right away, and he likes to sit on my shoulder. But he still hates my hands - he doesn't bite hard, but he gets obviously nervous around them. I suspect that he might have been abused before (he came from a pretty rough background). He started singing in the mornings and he screams very little.
What kinda stuns me the most that he never moves away from a place where I put him! (And he was the most active one from the ones his owner had - he didn't stay in one spot for a second!) He likes to sit on a windowsill, and I noticed that 2-3 hours later he sits in exact same spot where I put him. He has to get REALLY hungry to move to his food dish even in his cage. And he is by no means a shy bird - he doesn't get afraid easily. Could it be because he was never let out of his cage before so he gets awkward in open space? But he seems very calm, even grinds his beak quietly at times while looking outside. He just doesn't move! Sometimes I put my both hands (which he hates) right around him and he tries to bite a little, but then just keeps sitting there. It that normal? My other birds are (and always were) very active. Maybe cockatiels are just more laid back? Otherwise he seems fine - he eats and drinks okay, preens himself, and his feathers look very good. He is not lethargic - his eyes are very bright and he is obviously observing everything very keenly. Any ideas? Thank you!!

 

[Colorguarder08]

Putting your hands around him are going to make him permenatly hate your hands especially when you know hates it. Most birds hate being grabbed that way but you can give him some toys and treats and things to do outside the cage that might peak his interest.

 

[veimar]

No, I don't grab or even touch him - I just slowly put my hands on the windowsill. I must make him get used to my hands being close to him, and if I don't handle him he would never get used to that. He is much better, and he already knows I 'hate' too when he bites my hands, and he is trying to control himself. He lets me pet his head and closes his eyes, but then suddenly remembers that it's my hand petting him, and tries to bite it. LOL But again, he isn't really biting strongly - just nipping without pressure.
I'm not that worried about the hands thing - we'll work that out, but about the fact that he sits on the same place for hours without trying to go anywhere.

 

[Colorguarder08]

He could also just be interested in whats outside the window. I still reccommend toys or other activities to do.

 

[veimar]

He is very afraid of toys - he never had them before. I didn't realize that at first and put a small toy in his cage, and that made his terrified. He also fears fruits and veggies, even small pieces. He was kept outside the house with 4 other tiels in a cage of a size he has now to his own (18x18x30). So he probably misses his brothers. I try to make his a semi-cage-free bird like my gcc, and just take him with me around the house. BTW, he has stopped biting me when I hold him! So I'm gradually getting rid of gloves. I still cannot introduce him to my other birds for about 3-4 weeks, and I hope we build some trust. But I really want him to feel comfortable and unrestrained. I'll try to take him outside with me to the patio - hope he likes it there.

 

[Colorguarder08]

It could also be causing overstimulation so he just doesn't know how to handle it but really 2 weeks isn't much time he will eventually start moving once he realizes it's OK if after a couple months he still isn't active then I'd be worried

 

[witchbaby]

My cockatiel is also terrified of fruits and veggies. If they aren't introduced to fresh foods while they're young, it makes it so much harder.

 

[veimar]

I hope my other birds will help him out. My lovebird was absolutely terrified of strawberries, but when she saw Parry eating them she came close, examined one berry from all sides and took a tiny bite. Now she is the first one to eat the fruits and veggies.
This tiel is very different from my other birds who are like little naughty children - he has some depth in him, maybe some past trauma… He would just sit and look into my eyes - it even scares me a bit. And he is a bit older, too. I hope so much he gets comfortable soon. I want to give him a happy life. He is such a nice guy.

 

[Colorguarder08]

I hope my other birds will help him out. My lovebird was absolutely terrified of strawberries, but when she saw Parry eating them she came close, examined one berry from all sides and took a tiny bite. Now she is the first one to eat the fruits and veggies.
This tiel is very different from my other birds who are like little naughty children - he has some depth in him, maybe some past trauma… He would just sit and look into my eyes - it even scares me a bit. And he is a bit older, too. I hope so much he gets comfortable soon. I want to give him a happy life. He is such a nice guy.

Since he doesn't recongize them as food it makes sense he won't go near them but once he sees the others eating them it should work like it did with your lovebird he will realize that it is food and ok to eat.