Cockatiel training - What is the best approach?

Question

I got a new cockatiel that doesn't want any interaction with me. What is the best approach to use to start the taming process and how long does it normally take to make a sociable pet? He is less than a year old and the vet says he is healthy. Also, he will only eat the very small seeds in his food, not he sunflower seeds or fruit. Is this sufficient for him?

Answer 1

Seed diets are really not sufficient for birds. Its better for them to be on a pellet diet. Each pellet contains all the nutrients the bird needs, rather than a seed diet where the bird only eats the type of seed it likes and only getting the one nutrient from that seed. Also seed diets can lead to obease birds.The best approach is taking it slow. Let it get to know that your the one feeding him and changing its bedding and caring for him. Also try basic things like having him step onto your finger or try to hand feed him some treats. Then as you futher your realtionship you will see that cockateils love their head patted and want attention all the time.

Answer 2

It'll take a lot of patience on your part. I have a hen right now who is hand tame but HATES being handled. I find that if I sit with her while watching TV or working at the computer she becomes a bit more social. I also make sure I eat in front of her. Some birds go crazy if you have a bird toy and you play with it. My guys must come over and check it out, even if they've never seen it before ^.^ .

A seed only diet isn't good for any bird, but if you've got to start somewhere, seeds are better than nothing. Try eating the new foods in front of him and make a huge ruckus about how great the food is. Sooner or later he'll come marching over to take a first bite. Training your bird to eat new foods can take as long as 6 months, so don't give up! Expect a lot of waste at first as the birds will ignore the food for the first while. Always keep their regular food around and gradually add the new food to their diet. I have Japanese quail, so training my birds to eat new stuff is a matter off putting in front of the quail. It takes 2-3 tries before the cockatiels are shoving my laying hens out of the way for the best pieces of fruit and veggies ^.^ .

Answer 3

Seeds alone are not a sufficent diet for your 'Tiel. He's going to need a wider variety more foods like vegetables and grains to keep him healthy enough to live to his intended life span potential.
The number one cause of mortality in companion birds is Malnutrition. Sunflower seeds are real junk food for him so be happy he doesn't touch these. My parrots don't get any, and one won't touch them at all if he is offered one.
Here are some links for good diet plans for your Cockatiel. This is going to take a while as he is obviously used to seed; he'll have to adjust and learn to eat better foods. But don't give up!


http://www.holisticbirds.com/hbn02/febma...

http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/birds/a/p...

http://www.greyfeathertoys.com/html/peel...

http://www.parrotparrot.com/birdhealth/...

http://www.parrotparrot.com/birdhealth/...

http://www.parrotsnaturally.com/html/nut...

Regarding training your 'Tiel-
Start by using positive reinforcement training.
You have to realize that Cockatiels as well as most Psitticines are prey animals, meaning that they are "Lunch" and they know it. They travel in flocks so that they can disappear within the numbers of the flock.
They don't hunt...they are hunted. So you are dealing with a lot of instinct here. But Parrot are intelligent survivors and will learn to adapt to changing situations. And Cockatiels aren't that difficult to train once you get the basics down.
I will reference a question I answered previously as it is about a female Cockatiel:


Give her a reason to want to be near you. Positive reinforcement training is the way to go with this.
Every being in the back of their head is thinking:
"What's in it for me?"
For some reason you were never able to build trust with her.
Figure out what her favorite food is. Remove that from her regular diet. Every time you go near her cage, toss the treat into her bowl. Make sure it's itty-bitty...just a seed or a small piece of whatever. This way you can repeat this without her getting filled up after 2 or 3 passes.
She will eventually realize that you being near her is "pleasant". She begins relating you to the treat and looks forward to seeing you whether you have the treat or not.
Next, hold a treat outside the cage for her to take from your hand. You are simply building trust.
Next, open the cage and offer from your hand. After that, arrange the treat so she has to step up on your hand to get the treat. Every time she does anything right, praise wildly! GooodGirrrl!
Move onto her having to come to the door to step up and get the treat. Take it slow and easy. Again, you are building trust.
You have to build that up, and give her a reason to WANT to come to you. Eventually, if she remains flighted, you will probably be able to teach her to fly to you on cue.
Personally, I clip my birds because they are "Demo" birds...They occasionally visit schools and travel with me to many places, so it's safer that way. Free-flight training is extremely demanding and takes a long time. Clipping is an option for you if you feel you require more control over her environment, at least in her training phase.

Remember, there are 2 secrets to behavior: Everything a thinking being does, he or she is attempting to accomplish one of 2 things.
They are either trying to get to it, or attain it, or they are trying to escape it or avoid it.

That's it.
If you think about it, life is driven by those 2 motivations. There is nothing smaller or simpler than this.
Everything and anything a human or animal does involves one of these 2 motivations. If you keep that in mind, training becomes very easy.
If you keep this up and ease her into a positively motivated situation where she sees that being with you is getting her something, she will lbegin to respond positively to your words and presence.
Look up Positive Reinforcement Training. There are tons of websites out there. It doesn't matter if it's for dogs, kids or birds, you'll get the idea.
If you need more help, don't hesitate to contact me. I'd be glad to help.
Good Luck.