cockatiel problems?

Question

i bought a cockatiel a week ago. its slightly tamed . ive heard ppl sayin they are reallly playful and cheerful birds. however i cant get mine to interact with me. i talk to it .spend loads of time with it and more. but it still doesnt react back. i need some serious tips which will make it play around and like me quikly as possible . and plz dont say spend time with it (im kinda unpatient :P).and sum tips on how to put a feather teather (leash) on. i tried to put it on my bird today but it hated it . i gave up in th end . wat shud i do ?
thx in advance.

also it has started biting . anything i can do to stop it . it doesnt like apples or any fruit much . wat can i giv it as a treat.

ive read plenty of info on the internet. the leash is specially made for cockatiels. i wanted to giv it abit of freedom without clippin its wings.

thx for the help . all of your answers were useful. thx (difficult to choose a favurite anser )

Answer 1

You need to learn to NOT be impatient with your bird. One week is not long for the bird to get used to you. Putting a leash on is something you should not try for several months, as the bird needs to trust you enough to lift its wings up and allow you to put the harness around its neck and under its wings. Although it sounds like you won't like my answer, you need to give the bird TIME. I'm not necessarily saying that you need to give it more time each day, but you need to wait until the bird is MUCH more comfortable with you and its surroundings. Go back to what you've read online and practice those tips with your bird. It is most likely biting you because it is threatened by you and does not see YOUR actions as those of a creature that wants to be its friend. Birds also sense when you are scared of them biting, so be confident, but calm, around it. In time, lots of time, most birds will gladly lift up their wings to put a harness on to go out for a walk the minute they see the leash. But not in their first week of knowing you.

Punishing your bird with a bar of soap????? Someone needs to call the ASPCA on you, you should NOT have animals. Delilah is correct, birds do NOT respond to negative punitive reinforcement; it simply causes them to hate you. They need positive reinforcement and time outs and training, not soap.

Answer 2

Firstly the bird doesn't know you. It's coming from a store..no telling how long it's been in the store and it's not used to be handled. Give it a few weeks and it will settle down.
For those that are saying you've screwed up by buying it at a pet store..don't listen to them. It's not the best choice but those animals in pet stores need loving homes too.
I've been raising whiteface mutation cockatiels for about 8 years, as well as raising solomon island eclectus parrots for the last 4 and have had a lot of experience handling birds and tiels specifically. Just give the bird time to get to know you. Handle it each day...give it treats. It will eventually come around. As far as the harness..you have to start birds on a harness when they are babies and let them get used to them. It's not somethng you can put on a grown bird and expect them to be ok with it. I'd not mess with it again you are just going to spazz out the bird.

As far as "punishing" a bird with a bar of soap..how about trying remove the bird from the thing it's chewing and GIVE IT SOMETHING IT'S ABLE TO CHEW. What is wrong with you. You shouldn't be allowed to have birds. Birds don't resond to punishment...that just scares them and makes them afraid of you. They are not dogs.

Answer 3

Your cockatiel has not learned to trust you and trying to put a leash on it only makes it worse. It can probably sense your impatience and is afraid. Talk gently to the bird and perhaps offer it food, GENTLY is the key. Only try for a short time and then leave it alone. Try again in a few hours while talking gently. Keep doing the same thing, but do not attempt to grab the bird. It will come around when it studies you and trusts you. You possibly have set it back slightly by trying to put a leash on it.

Answer 4

"The mental health of your cockatiel is very important.
Cockatiels need games and toys. They need to hear sounds and see objects. In other words, they need mental stimulation, or they may go as "crazy as a loon," or become as "dumb as a dodo bird."
Cockatiels are playful birds and they like interaction. Remember, you are responsible for your cockatiel's physical and mental health. If you were kept in a small room for the rest of your life and given your food but no companionship, how would you feel and what would you do? Think about this and try to make your bird's life as pleasant as possible. You will be greatly rewarded with a happy bird that will give you years of joy and pleasure. If you have provided for your cockatiel's physical and mental needs, you should have a happy, friendly cockatiel and a good pet. But always be on the lookout for any developing problems and try to find their cause. A few signs that your cockatiel might suffer from mental stress:
• Agitated hopping or flying from perch to perch
• Feather picking
• Toe chewing
• Excessive aggression
• No interest in playing, singing, talking."

Answer 5

just like any other animal coackatiels have unique personalities. many are friendly and many arent. but all of them love attetion because they are very social birds. that might be the problem though. chances are that you bought this bird from a pet store or a place with many other birds in the cages. its probably confused and lonely. i buy mine a couple mirrors to look in because they think its another bird. good idea when you said you didnt want to clip the wings but dont use a leash please. birds dont get used to them and this causes LOTS of stress. put a towel or glove on and let it walk up and down your finger and arms. whistle to it and let it have alone time. if it bites dont scream just put it back in the cage and walk away.

Answer 6

Why would you want to put a leash on your cockatiel?The very first cockatiel I got wasn't very tame so I just try talking to it, but htat didn't work. He would always bite whenever I tried to grab him. But most cockatiels stop doing whatever they're doing if you just say NO in firm and loud way. So I just kept insisting and eventually it became tame. It even learned to say a few things. Just keep insisting and don't give up. And whenever it's doing something you don't want it to do just tell it NO and usually they'll listen.

Answer 7

u been ripped of simple. When buying a cockatiel u gotta go to breeders home and pick one easily handled and social. Pets store ones are generally not from reputed breeders and could have even been sold mistreated and even returned as duds. They are extremely smart learn 50 or so words(i think) my daughter has 3 and they are readily trained to fly to her on whistle. She stops biting and chewing furniture with a bar of soap . soap stopped u swearing as akid stops cheeky birds to. But i know they hate it. sum1 will say thats wrong but hey id like betta idea. As far as leashes go . I own a dog that neva been tied up but its a training and time plus intelligence communication thing im sure u know so good luck. They will fly off and be attacked by other birds pretyy well straight up as caged birds lose their skills and find themselves fre but in wrong enviroment.

Answer 8

If you are impatient and can't wait then birds are not for you, take it back. They need to learn to trust you. And it takes a while for you to earn it. A week is not enough. Think of what their natural instincts are.

When you take a shower take it with you and let it sit in the bathroom. When you are eating dinner let him sit on the chair with you. You don't necessarily have to be spending time with him, he can spend it with you and not his cage.

He is not your bird - you are his person.

Cockatiels for Dummies would be a good book. It is very informational.

Answer 9

well, it's not a dog it's a bird. no leashes please, you'll choke the poor thing to death. im sorry to say this but if you have no patience, then perhaps a bird is not for you. if you want a wonderful fun loving cockatiel. then you must have patiene for the next 8 months. it's still to early to start training him. please go out and buy a book. this will help answer any questions you have. good luck

Answer 10

I have a cockatiel also and when i first got him, he was the same way! but we started to talk to it and everything you are doing right now is right but maybe you need to try to hold it on your arm and let it trust you! It will take more than a week to do though!