when we put our hand near or in the cage he goes beserk.
we want to be able to hold him and let him sit on our shoulder.
i have tried to get him closer by bribing him with food.. but because i am touching it with my hand he won't come near me. i have successfully fed him some seed off a peg. what are we doing wrong or not doing at all?
2006-09-30 13:12:31 · 4 answers · asked by Louiebaby 1 in Pets ➔ Birds
today i tried just resting my hand in it's cage for a few mins.. but he still stayed on the other side... i had to clean his cage so i let him go to the top while i moved things out to clean under the slide tray (things still drop underneath) but i had to hold him so i could put the stuff back in because he kept going underneath. i wasn't wearing a glove and he bit me on my index finger. he has a very sharp beak and i was bleeding straight away so i washed my hands and my bleeding finger. put a bandaid on it and then got a gardening glove when i eventually got him in my glove he was still biting... how do you get them to stop biting? he is soo affraid of our hands.. even the glove makes him run around the cage and go beserk.
2006-10-03 12:55:22 · update #1
i have a cockatiel, and use to have another one.
what i did is i justr started holding them from the start. i would hold them everyday and rub the back of their neck, that help. if it is going crazy when you are trying to take it out of the cage, try to get it quickly and carefully so that it wont get hurt. i had this problem with one of my birds. i didnt with the other because it only has one leg. when you get it try to hold it with two hands, one on top, one underneath, so that it cant get loose, but dont hurt it!! if it goes crazy then try to cover its head with one of your hands carefully, this is to calm it, but make sure if can breath and that you gently cup your hand so that its just covering it and not touching it or anything. make sure you hand feed it while it is in the cage. try taking seeds or a special cockatiel treat and holding it through the bars and move it up and down till it comes over to attract it. also to help get it out take a perch and put it against it just above its feet so it is sort of forced to come on. transfer it from the perch to your finger by doing the same thing with your pointer finger. have it go from one pointer finger to your other over and over, not too many times, just a few, so that it gets used to it. i hope this helped some. if you have some other questions feel free to contact me, but im no expert.
2006-09-30 14:36:50 · answer #1 · answered by um yea hi 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He's a little old to get started , but having had 6 of these birds over a period of years, I will give you the best advice I can from experience.
Never approach with an open hand, they are afraid of your fingers since they do not have hands. Never grab it with your hand. Close your fist and stick your pointing finger out straight like a little limb, that's what your bird with think it is. Bring your finger up from beneath the bird, from the front where he/she can see your hand, if he flys away keep trying, until he gets used to it. He will. bring that outstreached finger under his feet until he will eventually climb on. That will be your first task. Once he sits on your finger and you don't harm him he will trust you. You can also try feeding him with your fingers. he has to get used to you. These birds bond with only one person so make sure he doesn't get confused by too many people trying to handle him. If it is you who will be his friend, you do all the training and feeding, you clean his cage, and put food and water in. over time he will rely on you, recognise your and trust you.
Don't give it a buddy if you want it to sit on your shoulder and eat from your hand, if you put another bird in the cage, your bird will fall in love with that bird and never love you. train your bird first, and later get him a bird companion.
2006-09-30 20:26:41 · answer #2 · answered by shoshone 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Get him a buddy...preferably a female buddy.
Cockatiels love having another bird as company. They are usually rather social birds, so when you can not be around, leave a TV on or a radio.
2006-09-30 20:15:29 · answer #3 · answered by Mr. G 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Patience and repetition...
You got it at a good age...
Each day put your finger under its chest but above its feet.
Talk to it sweetly every day...you are proving you are a friend.
Most pet stores have books on it...library too.
Do not put your hand above her, if you can help it...move slowly.
-each day a bit closer.
You can do it.
2006-10-03 18:26:59 · answer #4 · answered by Robin F 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋