I need help with my cockatiel.

[Albert883]

https://ibb.co/h8P4cR Is my cockatiel a male or female? I got it as a gift and I am kind of dissapointed because I think it's a female.He/she is afraid of me but will step up. He/she barely makes 1 sound in 2 days..

 

[reeb]

I can’t seem to see your photo...

How old is your cockatiel? Often the genders look exactly the same until the first molt at around 6 months.

After this stage, females will have permanent bars on the bottom of their tails (males will have these too until the first molt so keep that in mind), and the colouring on their face will be fairly dull. Females are usually quieter than males.

In males, there will be no barring on the bottom of the tail and the face will be much brighter. Males also tend to be more vocal as they get older.

Hope this helps! I’ll try look at the image in a different browser, maybe it’s just me.

EDIT: Just managed to open the image. It is a bit difficult to tell from that picture without knowing his/her age! This website has fabulous information on genders. I recommend checking it out

 

[LordTriggs]

why is it a disappointment if it turns out they're female? They're pretty much the same as any male, just they lay eggs

with the fear and hesitation remember this isn't a dog vying for your love. It's a wild animal who right now just got forcibly taken from their home and thrust into a new home with a strange creature they may have only seen once who has a face that DNA over several millennia has been programmed to say "danger".

Give them time to calm down and get used to their environment, have a read through this http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html and also check through the forum for lists of dangerous things for them in the house, for example non-stick cookware and air fresheners just in case you still have those

 

[Allee]

Your cockatiel is adorable, no matter the gender! You've recieved excellent advice from reeb and LordTriggs. Try to keep in mind, two days is nothing to a bird in a brand new environment, let your bird set the pace, focus on bonding rather than unrealistic goals.

 

[Carl_Power]

If he/she is stepping up already then thats a great start. Just keep being nice and loving, some hand feeding and im sure you will bond. Took a few month for my Quaker Parrot to settle and even step up. Every little thing is big progress but it does take time and patience. Try whistling, i always here them enjoying that. Dont get discouraged, give it some time and your lil friend will suprise you as trust grows and its awsome x

 

[Tjmcnee]

Pretty sure it’s a male, even though I don’t know much about cockatiels, I can still tell the difference. Males have their whole head yellow, but females only are yellow between the beak and eyes.

 

[Albert883]

Thank you for all the advice! I have my cockatiel for about a month, the petshop told me the cockatiel is 4 months old so now it is 5 months old. I will love it no matter what, the only thing I was disspaointed about was that he/she is not that active, and barely makes any sound.

 

[FlyBirdiesFly]

It is difficult to tell until the first molt. After the first molt, the males will lose the pearls and tail barring, but the female will keep all of her markings. But why are you disappointed that this bird could be female?

 

[Albert883]

She will not whistle

 

[reeb]

She will not whistle

Just because your cockatiel doesn’t sing or whistle doesn’t mean he or she won’t be a great companion? Female cockatiels are great! They are gentle, quiet, mild mannered and very affectionate. Don’t judge your bird so quickly. It’s unfair on him or her.

 

[bug_n_flock]

I am seriously not kidding when I say Alex's whistling is my least favorite thing about him. It is cute, don't get me wrong, but he loves whistling at the *worst* times (sunup, etc). I love him despite the annoyance of it, but seriously: you are lucky to have a quiet tiel! All the love with none of the ruptured eardrums? Great deal!

Sent from phone

 

[Albert883]

One more thing: My bird will step up but will not eat from my hand, I tried to feed her with my hand for 4 days but she will back away or she will take it in her mouth and drop it. (Sorry if I'm annoying but I'm new to birds)

 

[bug_n_flock]

Hey no worries. Asking is how you learn. I'd say keep offering treats, but maybe your bird isn't hungry. That's ok. She is stepping up, which is a good step.


Edit: she is taking items beforedroppingthem which also can be a good sign. I worked with a rescue plucked chicken of an african grey for a while. Silly critter would specifically ask for treats and then drop them once being given them.


Sent from phone

 

[reeb]

It’s okay to ask questions! I would just give her time. Stepping up is such a good sign, trust me. You’ll love your little one, even if she is female. My Berry is the best! Quiet yet talkative in her own way


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[FlyBirdiesFly]

Ducky doesn’t whistle. I don’t know why, but I don’t really want him to. It just doesn’t do much for me, apart from being cute.

 

[gracebowen]

When I got my new birds they were quiet too.
After a month or 2 they started whistling. They needed to adjust to their new home.

My tiel took months to bond. So did my Conure.

Birds take much more time and work to bond/tame.

 

[gracebowen]

My lovbird is still not bonded after nearly a year but we are making progress

 

[Carl_Power]

Honestly its just time and patience Albert. You will get there. I used to feel like the worst owner and it was hard to learn patience at first. Lots of praise is good, make everything seem like a big deal, sound excited when you talk to him, like he is the best thing since sliced bread and always put him back where he is comfy. If he is stepping up then try taking him away from his cage into a different room and practise step up and reward him with a treat every time. They rely on you more away from their comfort zone and then you can make him feel safe and build more trust by putting him safely back into his cage after training. Make everything a positive experience. All this worked for me, ive only had my first Parrot for 5 month so i had all the same questions and feelings that you have. Baby steps all the way x

 

[Kentuckienne]

You might try talking to her. She doesn't know a lot yet. Talk to her like she was a child, and make the sounds you want her to make. Say your name, say her name, say here's your dinner, dinner is good, mmmm dinner ... you get the idea. Tell her hi and hello and bye. She'll pick up on the idea that sounds are a way to communicate.

 

[FlyBirdiesFly]

I don’t know why everyone thinks talking and whistling are so important. Just love your bird either way. I’ve heard female cockatiels don’t usually talk or whistle but I have a male cockatiel who doesn’t do either.