Max help needed here

[FeatheredMom]

Hi everyone!
So I know I have talked too much about my cockatiels but I promise I won't post anymore annoying threads, until sometime later

Please, find me a way to :
- Get them out of the cage. ( They fear my hand)
- Make them eat from the palm of my hand.
- Make them happy (they look kinda sad, or bored).


Info:
Cocka / female / almost one year old.
Tiel / male / same.
- Both take treats from my hand.
- Cocka whistles more than Tiel.
- Tiel looks grumpy all the time but not unhealthy.
- I got them 3 weeks ago.
- I have no experience with birds but I would do anything to make them happy and I am ready to take the responsibility.
- They don't have toys yet because I couldn't find any in near pet stores, but I'll be sure to search for some when I have some free time.
- They don't accept to eat anything but seeds and pallets.


Also tell me ,how much time does it take for them to get used to me if I go to school everyday and comeback at 5:00 PM?

Thanks everyone!! And sorry for bothering you ❤

Cocka and Tiel : https://www.instagram.com/p/Bhq1RYfnKkD/

 

[MonicaMc]

If they are already taking treats from your hands, then continue feeding them by hand. Give them several weeks to get more comfortable with you.

 

[Amadeo]

Birds need a lot of time to become comfortable with a new person.
I'd keep feeding them treats from your hand, get them some toys and slowly introduce my hand to them. I've been doing this with my own me cockateil, Sherbert, and it is working slowly.
Everyday I put my hand on the cage, moving it to a different position though on on the cage when he appears comfortable about my hand being there.

Don't force your hand towards your birds if they clearly don't like it. It's about building up a positive relationship between you, your hand and the bird (it's like with training any animal, like how we use trays to train a dog).
I'm sure there are lots of threads on the forum with more, better information to read.

 

[reeb]

I'd like to link to my sticky on taming and bonding with budgies, because it can easily be used for bonding with cockatiels too! You may find it useful!

Taming and Bonding with Budgerigars

 

[itzjbean]

Know that birds are not like cat and dogs in that they are prey animals. Especially if they were not tame when they got to you, it will take time, patience and understanding to get them to where you want them to be.

Until they will step up onto your finger, keep them in the cage. I say this because if they are let out, and they won't go back in by themselves you will likely have to towel them which may make them more fearful of you. Now is the time to build that trust. Show them that they can trust you by making every single interaction with them a positive one. Talk to them softly, offer treats through the cage bars, and work slowly until they show no signs of fear as you open the cage door and slowly work your hand into the cage. This process may take weeks. The goal is to get the walking all over your hand until they no longer fear it or you.

Only then can you begin step up training with them. But this won't happen unless that fear is gone . So work slowly, be patient and know this will require daily work. Try to spend an hour with them in the morning before school and 2 hours after school. Where is their cage located?

 

[texsize]

It does take time. my most fearful Tiel Pinky took about 2 years to get her to the point of stepping up.

Because she likes to sit on one of her food dishes I found this a good way to get her to come out of the cage (riding on the food dish).