S&SCockatielMom
New member
- Jul 13, 2024
- 2
- 0
- Parrots
- Cockatiels (Sunshine & Sprinkles)
Hello!
We got our first cockatiel (Sunshine) in May 2022. He became part of the family; playing with us, eating with us, letting us get his pin feathers, and even showering with us.
In March 2024 we decided to get another cockatiel, thinking it would be double the fun. We were told the cockatiel that we got (Sprinkles) was hand trained and a great companion.
It turns out that Sprinkles likely was never hand fed or hand trained. He still flops around from fear when we try to get him out of the cage, and now that his flight feathers have grown in, flies away from us if he does happen to step up on our hands. He will not eat from our hands and runs to the other side of the cage if we sit next to the cage.
Sunshine has now started to behave similarly. He no longer lets us get his pin feathers, won't sit with us, and won't ever leave Sprinkles' side. He's also started behaving like he's scared a lot, like Sprinkles does.
At this point we're thinking of finding a new home for Sprinkles, but I'm worried it won't help and we'll never get our lovebug Sunshine back to the way it was before we got Sprinkles.
We really just want Sunshine back and feel like we've lost him and the joy that he brought to our lives.
Is there anything we can do to get Sunshine re-bonded with us and/or to bond with Sprinkles? None of the normal stuff has worked and we're about to give up.
We got our first cockatiel (Sunshine) in May 2022. He became part of the family; playing with us, eating with us, letting us get his pin feathers, and even showering with us.
In March 2024 we decided to get another cockatiel, thinking it would be double the fun. We were told the cockatiel that we got (Sprinkles) was hand trained and a great companion.
It turns out that Sprinkles likely was never hand fed or hand trained. He still flops around from fear when we try to get him out of the cage, and now that his flight feathers have grown in, flies away from us if he does happen to step up on our hands. He will not eat from our hands and runs to the other side of the cage if we sit next to the cage.
Sunshine has now started to behave similarly. He no longer lets us get his pin feathers, won't sit with us, and won't ever leave Sprinkles' side. He's also started behaving like he's scared a lot, like Sprinkles does.
At this point we're thinking of finding a new home for Sprinkles, but I'm worried it won't help and we'll never get our lovebug Sunshine back to the way it was before we got Sprinkles.
We really just want Sunshine back and feel like we've lost him and the joy that he brought to our lives.
Is there anything we can do to get Sunshine re-bonded with us and/or to bond with Sprinkles? None of the normal stuff has worked and we're about to give up.
