Cockatiel question- Male bird too dominant???

Question

I have a 2 yr. old male cockatiel who was purchased at a pet store, and is still a bit hand shy. My friend just gave me a hand-fed female, who is about 4 months old, and is super sweet. I'm wondering if it's going to cause problems if I house them separately, since I don't plan on breeding them. I don't want my male to become too dominant over the female, but I'd like them to be friendly enough to keep each other company while I'm at work. The male is already biting me when I try to pick him up, because he has not been allowed near the female, yet he knows she is there. Any suggestions??? Thanks!

Answer 1

I think it's less a dominance issue and more a trust issue. It seems that your male bird is less trusting of humans and because of his background (pet store), he was likely not handled very often at all. Also, consider this: the female is still considered a baby. She's still young and has yet to reach sexual maturity, but know that females can be more aggressive upon sexual maturity (around 8 months). The male has already reached maturity, and at this point, it will be a little more difficult, but definitely not impossible, to tame.

Work with the male one on one in a room where he cannot see or hear the other bird so he is focused solely on you. Teach him that your hand is not threatening and that you won't hurt him. The easiest tactic I've used is having birds associate my hands with positive things such as treats, so I hold a piece of millet over or on my hand so that they realize that hands aren't bad and that stepping up lets them have a treat. It does take some time, especially with large chain pet store birds, but it's definitely worth the time and effort in the long term.

As for keeping each other company, as long as they can see and/or hear each other, that's company. While you're at work, they'll likely do flock calls and watch each other in their respective cages. I have three separate cages of birds that are all in a corner area where they all see each other and hear each other. It definitely gives them a comforting flock feeling so they're not lonely. Housing them separately is much better than housing them together because
1. You're great for not wanting to breed them. Stupid advocates will tell you to breed them for money or cute babies, but it is well known that there are already far too many homeless and unwanted captive-bred parrots out there already. Caging them together would definitely cause them to be hormonal and want to mate when they're both of maturity. Hormonal behaviour includes aggressiveness and both birds turning 'mean'.
2. Since you're concerned with your male bird's behaviour already, he may be a naturally aggressive bird. This may or may not be the case, but consider the possibility of one bird doing something the other doesn't like. They'll fight and can cause great injury or death in each other. Definitely safer to house them separately.

When you are home, you can allow them to interact outside of their cages under 100% supervision as well. This way, they get to play with each other, you don't have to worry about "dominating" or injury because you'll be there to stop any potential fights, and they'll probably learn to be friends both in and out of cages.

Good luck.

Answer 2

Whoa! put off. I absolutely have not were given any clue how the particular birds artwork jointly, by utilizing truth Ive not at all seen them. regardless of if if, an 18x18 cage is unquestionably no longer sufficiently massive for 3 cockatiels. I wouldnt absolutely have a cage that small for one. So appropriate away my answer is going to be no. IF the cage were sufficiently massive, you'll would favor to substantiate how protecting the birds are and how violently they have interaction. First, socialize them outside the cage. If that works out, attempt a *heavily monitered* short quantity of time interior, and immediatly seperate if any viciousnes takes position. Male plus women human beings, anyhow, equivalent of challenge for more suitable cockatiels too. ^^

Answer 3

yes they are dominate they also like to have a soulmate they may breed once but that is usally it my father had a male and female for 11 yrs the male died two months ago and the female died three wks after him. the love companionship! you may just want to put them together slowly to see how they will react to oneanother. i hope this helps you [e-mail]

Answer 4

I'll tell you right now if you want HER to remain tamed dont house her with him in the same cage. Place her in her own cage because he will teach her to be wild. And stop trying to handle him, he doesn't want you to, so why try? Some birds make up their minds to be wild and theres nothing you can do about it no matter how long and hard you try. So leave him alone and allow him to be wild, simply handle your female to fulfill your heart's desire and keep him around to keep her company. Just keep them in 2 different cages. They will be fine that way and never be lonely because they can always bond threw the cages and you will get to keep your little girl's attention on YOU st the same she will have him around to speak her langauge.

Answer 5

if you don't want them to breed put their cages right next to each other so that they can still touch and preen each other.

Answer 6

I think you should try to stick them together and probably you can get more birds and maybe you Cocktail may not be as shy as you think.