My cockateil is about 2yrs old and no matter how hard I try he won't become tame, how can I tame him.?

Question

I have looked at books I have spoken to vets, but yet my cockatiel has remained anti-social and stubborn. What do I do.

Answer 1

It's never too late to tame a bird. Birds, as individuals, may choose to be more or less associated with humans, but you can always try - and you will be able to teach him to step up and be friendly with you with time and patience.

Do not use water as a punishment. Birds by nature love water, they love being sprayed and showering. Using it as a punishment reverts what they know and causes them to fear water, and birds typically shower often.

When you are bitten, don't fight it and don't pull away. If he's clamped on, blow in his face hard enough for him to feel uncomfortable, but not enough to be painful. I strongly disagree that height has something to do with aggressiveness because birds don't feel dominance over you or taunt you in that way. My birds love being near my face, but they're not at all aggressive and will accept kisses from me (but it definitely was not always like this - it took years to get them to be trusting). If they're high up /above/ you, they may either enjoy being up there or they feel you're a predator, and since you can't get up there to them, you can't feel as threatening.

What I suggest is sitting by him in his cage and talking to him cooing, whistling, and spending time by him. Also, bribery. It's worked for me with taming my lovebirds (and from what I know, lovebirds are more stubborn and hard-headed than cockatiels, who are typically more friendly and more docile). I didn't tame two of them until they were a year old, and the other three were maybe one and a half or almost two years old when I tamed them. If they like millet, use that as a reward. Failing that, sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, fresh foods, anything you notice they've taken a liking to.
If he's out of the cage, hold your hand out a considerable amount away from him so he doesn't feel threatened, but close enough so that he can conveniently take a step up and be on your hand. Lay the treat on or hold it over your hand so that he notices something's there. If he really wants it, he'll go for it -- eventually. It could take him some time to build up the courage. When he comes to you, say "step up", praise him and give him the treat. Basically follow a similar or the same routine over and over until he gets the hang of it, and you'll be able to tell when that is. Eventually, he'll be so used to just stepping up onto you that he'll forget about the treat and you won't need it to have him come to you anymore.

If he's inside the cage, put your hand in slowly. If he cowers back or flies away, slowly retreat. Do not make any quick or sudden movements that may frighten him and make him even more skittish of hands. If he seems calm, just leave your hand there for maybe half a minute and he'll learn, over time, to be comfortable with your hand near him. You can start putting the same little treats on your hand when you put it inside of the cage and maybe you'll luck out on the "step up" thing there, too.

Keep your head up 'cause it takes a lot of time, patience, and dedication to your bird buddies. You have to be consistent with a pattern and a routine on practicing this.

Check out http://www.rationalparrot.com It has some great information on parrots, one page specifically for biting if that's an issue for you. Otherwise, it's a great general site.

Answer 2

It may be too late or you did not train him correctly when he was young.
I recently bought a two year old (Casper) that someone left independent- they would occasionally play with him, but he got free rein of the house and was usually left to himself.
I bought him as a breeding male and am trying to tame him. I bought him in September, and only in January did he stop trying to kill me every time I put my hand near him. He would even bite and hold- drew nasty wounds/bite marks. Now, he will usually just threaten me- not actually bite, and I can usually move him.

What I did to fix it: if possible when he bit, I spray him once with a cold water bottle and a "no". If that doesn't work, I make him step up and up and up (I usually wear gloves because he can't bite me as hard through them) and end each step up with putting my finger near his face- if he bites it, back to step up up up until he gives in:beak clacking, posture up wings slightly out (I'm sorry lets be friends behavior) then I quit.
If he didn't get to that point (and for the first month or so, he would NEVER quit) I have a large parakeet cage that is the naughty cage. It is probably a 1/4th the size of his and Tweets actual cage. There is food and water in there, and I ignore him for a couple hours- he screeches his head off sometimes (wants to be by Tweets) but after a while he will go back to his old self. If I try to take him out and he bites me right away- back to step up up up and the naughty cage.

Also- do not let him on your shoulder or by your face- the closer he is to your height (or above you) just adds to the aggression because the top bird is the one that sits the highest.
I would also suggest clipping his wings if you have not.

As for anti-social- what you can do is just drag him along with you- eventually he will warm up if you ignore him. Just last week Casper finally came over to me while I was laying down and sat on my chest- usually he sits on my feet if anything.

Answer 3

I would first of all buy one of those gloves where he can't scratch you or bite you. The best way is to take it in stages, get the bird to trust you first of all. Start by tryin to rub its head, then its front, then maybe its back. Then try to get it to come onto your hand, little by little he will trust you. You can try giving him treats like honey seed bells. It might take a bit of time but it will be worth it! Good Luck!!

Answer 4

I hold mine cupped in my hands, one on top, making a little cave so that he can see me but not hurt me. He had to learn who was the boss. He is very attentive to me, but only if he is in the mood. The bonding effort really paid off. I also groom him myself. We are only closer for it and he is a very feisty little bird to handle.

Answer 5

My hen not ordinary to cope with fer constructive.... often times i attempt to work out if my hen will fit in issues.... he's continuously way too fat!!! i love my untamed, fat , c ock...a doodle doo!!! And my hair!!! they're both acceptable loopy!!!

Answer 6

if you didn't buy a hand reared baby then I doubt you will get him tame ever.

Answer 7

when it fly's past and wont come to you wack it with a tennis bat