new cockateil owner needs help?

Question

i got a teil today. In the pet store I was able to hold it and it was pretty friendly. They told me to leave it in the cage for an hour. I was trying to pet it and it hissed at me and tried to bite me. what can I do to get it to be like it was in the pet store. It is a hand raised bird from a bird store.

Answer 1

Give him time to adjust yo your environment. This will take a few days.

Answer 2

Since the cockatiel is supposed to be a hand raised bird, don't be intimidated by the hissing and trying to bite. If it bites you really hard, then return the bird to the pet store because hand fed birds do not bite really hard. They will hiss and nibble a little when under stress though but it shouldn't hurt. I sell birds and this is why am stating the above. Put the bird cage in a sunny room with access to lots of attention or a radio or TV. Every time you put your hand in to get the bird, it should already be stepping on your finger. When it does so, have a little treat in your hand like a piece of fresh fruit or vegetable and the bird will associate this positive experience with you. It is important that dogs do not bark at or children yell at the bird because this will certainly stress the bird. Now is the best time to start the bird on a pellet diet. Pellet diets like Zu-Preem will add years to the bird's life. Train the bird to drink from a water bottle too. Birds may be covered or uncovered at night but should not get a chill or disturbed after they fall asleep. Enjoy many wonderful years with your new pet.

Answer 3

They should have told you to leave him alone for several days. He's terrified, that's all. Put him in a room that gets little foot traffic for a few days. DO NOT give him a mirror! Mirrors make mean birds, trust me. Make sure he has food, water, toys, and plenty of room to move and perches. Try offering him a sprig of millet spray, they go nuts over that. Sit in the room with him on and off throughout the day talking softly to him, but keep your distance from the cage. Make sure you cover him up at night so he's warm and in a dark environment so he sleeps well.

After 2-3 days of this, open the door and let him come out- never stick your hand inside a bird's cage. They see it as very threatening. Let him climb out on his own, and then offer him your hand. Don't force it. If he doesn't want to climb up, try offering food from your hand. Make it something tempting like Cheerios or pasta, not just more bird seed. Once he climbs on, let him get used to you, and then very slowly lift your other hand where he can see it- never go in from behind his line of vision. Gently wiggle your finger and bring it up to his head or wing to scratch him. Most birds figure out what you're doing and will thrust their head under your hand for a scratching.

Take things slow, talk softly, and let him come to you. It takes some time, that's all.

Answer 4

Your bird is scared in it's new surroundings. You have to take things slowly to gain the birds trust. Try and put your hand in the cage to give it a treat. If it hisses back off a little until the next day.

After a few days of you feeding your bird he should come around. It takes time to win your birds trust.

Answer 5

Talk to him quietly and lovingly. Let him see you doing things that are calm like reading a book, or watching tv. Just so he can used to your look. When you feed him and give him water, let him see that your hands are in the cage and that it's ok, you won't try to grab him or force him into doing anything he's not ready to do.

Don't try to take him out of his cage for at least a day, if he's stepping up onto your finger willingly at that point, then go ahead, he'll be fine. But he's scared and it may take more time.

When he finally does let you take him out, sit quietly with him. Offer him some food and talk with him.

If there's more people in the house, it's a good idea to let him adjust to the primary caretaker before everyone else tries to get in there too. Let him trust one person (you), and then have that person introduce him to the others. If he see's you trust them, then he'll be more likely to trust them. That's why he went to you in the pet store. He trusted the employee that introduced you to him.

If you want him to be well socialized, it won't happen overnight but it's very easy if you let him get used to you and then introduce him to lots of other people. After awhile when you have company he'll be willing to go to just about anyone, let him get experience with small kids too (age 5-7 is good as long as they're not hyper). Tiels love kids because of their high voices and the kids really feel special when they get to hold one.

Answer 6

Be patient with your new friend. With a new bird, I move its cage into a small room, then separate the cage top and bottom to easily reach the bird. Slowly and gently put your fingers up to the bird for him to step on. Get him used to your fingers, and going from the fingers on one hand to the fingers of your other hand. Only at that point would I try to get him to sit on my shoulder. Remember that you are a complete stranger to him--don't expect him to bond with you instantly.

One other important tip--get your bird's wings clipped. A bird with clipped wings is a lot easier to tame, since it can't easily fly away to another corner of the room.

Answer 7

Cockateils are super pets. they're extremely smart, and would study tricks, and the thank you to talk. yet they choose a number of of care and interest. They do lose interest person-friendly, and would start up shrieking alot yet once you supply them some toys, and take them out of their cage on your place(make effective doors and abode windows are closed please!) they are able to have an incredible time.

Answer 8

it's just nervouse because it's in a new environment. for the next day or two just speak nice and friendly to it from outside the cage and you can let it out on a towel on the floor throughout the day. to get my 'tiel to like me, i put him on a towel full of toys and i'd have him get on my finger every once in awhile...but every 'tiel is different.

Answer 9

put him in a room where he can be exposed to everyone in the house. leave him for a day or so. just until he gets adjusted to his new home. if you notice him getting lonely get him a mirror or another bird. it was incorrectly stated that they make mean birds. it's just that the bird will bond to the one in the mirror and might try to protect it's mate.

Answer 10

You need to keep working with it continually like a lesson once it knows you & knows what your asking then everything will be fine.Hes in a new place now tomorrow will be better.