I adopted a cockatiel last year, I will have had him for one year on Jan 29th. He is now five years old. The whole time I have had him he hasn't touched one toy in his cage and I have tried different ones. He loves mirrors but I found out quickly I couldn't leave one in his cage if I didn't want to get attacked. He is overall a sweet bird and I want him to be happy. Do some cockatiels just not play? Should I keep trying with other toys?
2007-01-21 17:08:52 · 5 answers · asked by imsmart 1 in Pets ➔ Birds
It's not that some just don't play, it's that some just never learned to play.
Birds are very visual characters. If you and your bird have a good relationship, you can show him how to play with his toys. Get them out of his cage and you play with them, much like he would. Mouth them, jingle the bells, pretend to chew on them, and act like a total lunatic while you do. Make it look like the most fun in the world to play with those toys. Do it with different toys, and eventually, he'll do it too. When you see him touch a toy, outside of the cage, praise him, give him treats, make a big deal out of it.
My macaw, Rio was severely abused before I adopted him and he had NO idea what a toy was. Everything was scary to him, especially if it was in his cage. I did this, and now I go through about 150 bucks a month in new toys for the little monster. LOL
Good luck!
2007-01-21 17:42:32 · answer #1 · answered by sdkramer76 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I will tell you the story of my Jerri. He was raised in a small cage without any toys except a bell. He just sat and ate and stared and rang his bell. I have had him for five years. He was a rescue. He now has a very large cage with many bells. Patience Patience Patience. Anything put into his cage still takes about 7 to 10 days for him to even find interest in. The first year I just let him be...and let him know that I would not press him. Birds are not puppies or kitties. They take time...they take trust. You can not force a bird. I wonder have you ever owned a bird? They are so differant than any other pet. Do you know his age? Does he sit in one place, you will know this answer by the areas of poop on the floor of his cage. Sleeping and eating may be a sign of his loss of the old owner. They breed for life. A person is their mate. He may be mourning. Give him time, dont press.
2016-05-24 13:44:42 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think sdkramer had a great answer and I'm actually only answering here to apologize for giving her a thumbs down because I meant to click thumbs up! I have a cockatiel who also doesn't play, but I have heard that even when they do start to play, you should change their toys frequently because they actually get bored.
2007-01-21 18:29:40 · answer #3 · answered by Grace1228 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
sdkramer is correct. Many birds do not know how to play with a toy. You will have to show him what to do.
You might try toys that have treats inside of them. The stores have paper boxes with a small seed treat inside that my cockatiels love.
2007-01-22 03:17:28 · answer #4 · answered by Christie D 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes they can get bored of toys....Sometimes they're more satisfied with people attention and people playing with them, rather than toys. More interesting and playfull with people than an object.
2007-01-21 19:46:23 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋