Hissing Cockatiel

This has been going on for a very long time now, honestly I've just become content with it. But if I can discourage this behavior I need to find out how. My two year old female 'tiel is extremely sassy/moody (she's tame). She usually steps up very nicely, and she loves to perch on my shoulder. She's never been into being pet and cuddled.
The problem is that she is always hissing. About pretty much everything. I talk to her, she hisses. I lock her in her cage, she hisses. She hisses at the dogs. She'll even hiss if I look at her. Don't get me wrong, she can be sweet. Sometimes. But she could be peacefully perched on my shoulder and out of nowhere, she'll hiss at me. She started doing this at around 12 weeks of age and I always walked away when it happened. Was this the wrong approach? What did I do to my bird and how can I stop it!

Wow! She's had a long hissy-fit! Sorry

I think I would ignore the hissing but reward the whistling and other good behaviors. Get some millet, favorite treats, and lavish her with them when she sings or cheers or does anything else besides hissing. Pick one behavior, reward it, and build on it.

MustLoveAnimals said:

This has been going on for a very long time now, honestly I've just become content with it. But if I can discourage this behavior I need to find out how. My two year old female 'tiel is extremely sassy/moody (she's tame). She usually steps up very nicely, and she loves to perch on my shoulder. She's never been into being pet and cuddled.
The problem is that she is always hissing. About pretty much everything. I talk to her, she hisses. I lock her in her cage, she hisses. She hisses at the dogs. She'll even hiss if I look at her. Don't get me wrong, she can be sweet. Sometimes. But she could be peacefully perched on my shoulder and out of nowhere, she'll hiss at me. She started doing this at around 12 weeks of age and I always walked away when it happened. Was this the wrong approach? What did I do to my bird and how can I stop it!

Click to expand...

No it's just this one didn't work LOL

I agree with the suggestion above. Sometimes these kind of things are just part of a birds personality. Definitely do not reward or react to it, she must find another way to communicate with you.

LeaKP said:

Wow! She's had a long hissy-fit! Sorry

I think I would ignore the hissing but reward the whistling and other good behaviors. Get some millet, favorite treats, and lavish her with them when she sings or cheers or does anything else besides hissing. Pick one behavior, reward it, and build on it.

Click to expand...

I do ignore the hissing lol that's the problem. She is fairly indifferent about interaction, although some days she gets into her sociable mood and flies to me and perches on my shoulder. She doesn't seem to care if I walk away. And the only other noise she makes is a high pitched screeching, so I really don't want to reward that lol.

plumsmum2005 said:

MustLoveAnimals said:

This has been going on for a very long time now, honestly I've just become content with it. But if I can discourage this behavior I need to find out how. My two year old female 'tiel is extremely sassy/moody (she's tame). She usually steps up very nicely, and she loves to perch on my shoulder. She's never been into being pet and cuddled.
The problem is that she is always hissing. About pretty much everything. I talk to her, she hisses. I lock her in her cage, she hisses. She hisses at the dogs. She'll even hiss if I look at her. Don't get me wrong, she can be sweet. Sometimes. But she could be peacefully perched on my shoulder and out of nowhere, she'll hiss at me. She started doing this at around 12 weeks of age and I always walked away when it happened. Was this the wrong approach? What did I do to my bird and how can I stop it!

Click to expand...

No it's just this one didn't work LOL

I agree with the suggestion above. Sometimes these kind of things are just part of a birds personality. Definitely do not reward or react to it, she must find another way to communicate with you.

Click to expand...

Well I suppose I got the grumpy one of the clutch lol! I just ignore the hissing. I usually just take this as "leave me alone" and I respect that and walk away or simply ignore her.

I'd like to also agree with LeaKP's post. Build on the good things and strengthen the bond more through that. She's also around maturing age so it could also be hormones.