Heeelp!I need help with my cockatiel! He's too baad! He bights my all the time, what should I do! I'm hopeless

Question

He's 7 months old and I can't learn him anything .......he's too bad. It takes my a few minutes to get him out of the cage . I really need help .....

Answer 1

Cockatiel are very shy and quiet.You must never grab your bird! EVER!! If you scare your bird you may never earn his trust.Open his cage,talk to him and just pet him.Do this for a few months and he ill get use to your voice and feel.He will finally allow you to pick him up.Never put him on your sholder....just finger or arm.

Answer 2

I agree with with Mrs. Toad's advice and Alex makes a good point with treats- always a good start.
Make sure his cage is lower than eye level.
Is he hand fed? What is he like once he is out of the cage? Are his wings clipped (safer this way)? Is he more relaxed when out and away from the cage? If he bites at you, don't flinch or cry out, tiels don't bite that hard - you don't want him to think that is effective. Approach him with the back of your hand if he snaps alot (he can't get a grip as easily that way).
Use a small towel to quickly and gently grab him out of his cage. When you chase him all over with your big scary hand, he just gets more afraid. The towel is scary too, but it doesn't look like your hand and it shortens the scary part.
Try sitting somewhere where he can run around at a lower level then your head (a couch, bed, sofa, floor). Then just hang out and read, etc. Put some millet or other favorite treat by you. Put him down and let him have a chance to look around, watch you, notice the treat... If he is really shy, this may take several sessions before he comes to you.
Make sure you then teach him to "step up" onto your finger.
Be patient he is very young yet. Birds like to have a buddy - he will warm up if you give him a chance. Then you should start preening his head, etc...
Good luck!

Answer 3

First of all, you can talk to an avian specialist ya know to help you find out why your bird is biting. He may be trying to tell you something! ps- becareful not to put your bird right away in his cage after he bites, because then you are teaching him that when he wants to get back into his cage, he will bite you to let you know. (that is not good). You are not punishing him by putting him back in his cage when he bites. Only teaching him poor behavior. The way I taught my two babies not to bite was I simply told them "NO" firmly, and enough to startle them it only took one or two times. Also, if you have children handling your cockatiel, or others when you are not there, there may be something going on. A woman I heard of had an angel of a cockatiel, but when she was a work, even though they were not allowed to touch him/her while she was not there, they did anyways, and come to find out, they had made him very mean, by playing games and teasing. A cockatiel is very smart, and he needs you to look out for him! He looks up to you for protection, so.. if he knows you know this, and you continue to let it happen he will grow a resentful attitude to you also! Well, those are just a few things I could think of, and maybe they arent anything at all that is identifying the problem, but.. good luck, and take care..
Lexy

Answer 4

First, consult an AVIAN vet to make sure his behavior is not due to illness.

Biting is the easiest problem behavior to correct.
Sally Blanchard's "The Beak Book" is great.

Look for info on the net --"applied behavioral analysis"-sounds scary but it come down to ABC... antecedent--what happened immediately before the bite (was he happily playing or were you trying to put him in his cage?).....behavior---which is the bite....and consequence...what did your bird get as a result (did you leave him alone or did you do an entertaining screaming dance?)

Change the A or the C and you could stop the B.

If he knows "step-up" you might try offering a small treat at the same time you offer your hand with a step up command. Hold the treat up slightly so he has to reach up a bit while he steps up to reach it. He can't get his treat and bite your hand at the same time,

By the way, you did teach him something--you taught him to bite. I know because I did it once myself. And you can help him to change his behavior. Good luck

Answer 5

To begin with: birds are very sensitive. If the environment that they are in is loud, alarming, restless, or hostile-the bird is going to have problems. Next: depending on the amount of time you spend with your bird will also play a big role in its behavior. If you act erratic or spook your bird(intentional or not)it can have adverse effects.
You need to spend cnsistant, quality time with your bird so that you can build trust between the two of you. If your'e busy and can't do this on a regular basis, you need to at least acknowledge it when you walk by. Every time.
Bottom line:birds need attention that is non-threatening and not hostile. If theres a lot of yelling and alarming noises all of the time, and if you can't spend consistant qua;lity time with your bird, then do the right thing if you really care-give it to someone who really, really cares.
Good Luck!

Answer 6

this is what you do. let him know whos boss. dont be mean or yell or pull your hand away. let him bite you, and pick him up. i had the same prob with my quakers and my sisters birdy and i just kept pickn them up and they put 2 and 2 together that the biting isnt workn. so they stopped biting. and once they are on your hand they like to be pet. give them a treat.
.

Answer 7

First off try washing your hands before you go near him so there is no weird scents on you. Second slow down and actually talk to him .. He is still young yet .. And they are stubborn. It takes time. Also try rewarding him with treats like carrots..

Answer 8

Take his teeth away.