Trying tin get my abused cockatiel to be friendly

[Seantheparront]

I have a white face cockatiel named Charlie that I believe was abused at one point of his life and luckily managed to get out of that home. I believe this because his last owner’s daughter found him in their yard and he was missing feathers and his beak was messed up. They had him for 5 years and they could never get him to be friendly, I took him in when they decided he was too much for them and since then he has fallen in love with my female white face cockatiel, Galaxy, and I have been trying to figure out how to get him to be friendly towards people. The only luck I have had isn’t getting him to step up on my arm but ONLY if Galaxy is already on my arm and we’re about to go into a different room. Any advice would be helpful, I just wanna make sure my Char Char is happy! Thank you

 

[Amsterdam]

Oh boy its really hard especially when he is 5 years old it is possible but you will need alot of time and patience it can take montha for him to trust you especially if he got abused in the past have you already tried google or youtube for tips and tricks on how to gain his trust?

 

[Scott]

Charlie is likely bonded with Galaxy and takes cues from her actions. Unfortunately Charlie has learned to not trust humans.

There are techniques to help a bird bond and trust. Keep in mind it does not hurt to try, but the path will be long and require patience and love. You'll have to balance what makes Charlie happiest; a relationship with you or Galaxy. Perhaps he will choose both. http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html

 

[Laurasea]

Thanks for taking in rescue!
Definitely use your other cockatiel to model behavior! Have her step up in front of him and give treats, then while she is in you have him step up for treats. I think safflower seeds make the best treat for many birds.

Break behavior down to little steps, you slowly shape to get the behavior you want.

You want the brain and body moving toward you, not you chasing after.

So for a step up, first you just say hi and out treat in treat dish, then walk away. When he always come to take the treat quickly. Then you move to only putting the treat in the dish if he looks your way, then if he means or steps towards the treat dish. Then he only gets treats if he comes all the way to the dish. Then when he always comes right to the dish, you start giving them by hand. (Even if he took treats before by hand do these steps, you want him moving to you to get the treat) when you are doing the above and are at the stage he moves to the treat dish , you can start saying come here at that time, you say come here when he is already moving toward you and the treat dish,and when he is coming to you to take the treat by hand. Then have him come to you , and take one step back to make him follow you to get treat. Work up to getting him to follow you for a few steps before getting the treat.
Now you are ready to work on step up. You have him come here, and hold one arm in front of him, and hold the treat so he has to step on the arm to get the treat. If you get to a block at that step,then brake it down again. At first he gets a treat if comes and stand right by your wrist or hand ( whichever you use for step up) then he gets a treat if he will mean over your arm, then we he does that well, he gets a treat if he at least touches your arm with beak or foot, tgrnbif he will out one foot in to lean over and get treat. Then he gets when he stands on you . The goal is to go at his speed, o my advanced as each part is mastered. Work in short pulses, maybe 3-5 times each session, do several session a day.

You can also try to shape letting you touch him. But I would do the above first. After you master step up. Then you can try offering treat by hand, and as he takes stroke his beak, wait till he us good at that, then hold on to the seed longer and try and stroke the side of the face.

Hope that helps!!!

 

[Smerft85]

Something I don't see suggested very often, talk to them! Cockatiels are very intelligent, reminding him you aren't going to hurt him can help too, my male wf still isn't great with hands, takes effort to get him out of the cage and so on. But after a year of staying regular with him, talking to them every time I even walk by and my female helping him learn he will at least take some contact without being aggressive. I believe my wf came from a breeding farm or other rough situation and he was never handled at all, so he never knew love before he came home and he's still adjusting. It takes time for sure, don't give up!