Post-Purchase Psychosis

So I just got a new cockatiel. I think it's a male, the shop owner may have been lying to me. (I know, shops aren't very reliable places to get birds... but there are 0 bird breeders nearby ): please forgive me)

So this is actually my first cockatiel & currently the only non-human in the house, and I've done extensive research but I'm still freaking out. Right now, he doesn't have any toys, and I'm going out to get some later. But how can I make him more comfortable? I feel really bad that he looks so bored, and until I started playing some music he was sort of just flapping around freaking out. (He's calmer now that I have some music going. Or maybe he just got tired.) Is this something that I should just wait on? Wait for him to get adjusted? He also doesn't seem to be responding to the food and water I put in his cage, but I don't know if I'm just being paranoid because he's only been in my house for a grand 10 minutes now.

Also, any other tips that may go over new owner's heads? I really want him to be happy.
Thanks in advance!

Do you have a photo? How old is the bird? If it's already gone through it's first molt and is a normal grey mutation you can tell the gender by the tail and wing feather patterns. Also is this a hand fed tame bird, or a untamed bird?

Your new cockatiel is very scared, most birds are when they come into a new home. Everything is suddenly different and they don't know why. Just let him/her settle in and get to know you and the new enviroment. Give him a few days-week+ before you try any handling. If she acts like she wants to be handled then it's fine to hold her. Just sit calmly nearby and speak softly to her

I wouldn't try adding any toys today(putting your hand in the cage could be very frighting in her new home), but maybe tomorrow you can go out and buy a couple for your new friend


Here's one thing that may have gone over a new bird parronts head lol, perches. Most cages come with wooden dowel perches, they are terrible for feet. You'll want natural wood perches, rope perches, maybe a safety pumice perch. Grape wood perches are amazing for feet.

Here he/she/??? is. Sorry for that super professional lighting lol. He's sort of just sitting there now, but every once and a while he will just start flapping around, chewing on the bars. I suspect that this is normal for a bird? I'm also using paper towels and my friend suggested that I use newspapers instead. Is there a preference?

He also doesn't seem much of a squawker, as opposed to his old cage mate who screamed at me the moment I came in.

And oh poop! I grabbed something small and shiny, and put it in her cage to see if she/he would react to it. Well he/she didn't, and I probably stressed her out to no end by putting my hand in her/his?!!?!?1 cage. Ugh I need a cockatiel mentor

he or she is a pied, so you will not be able to visually sex him. pieds can keep the barred feathers for years, even if male, so you cannot reliably sex them by their feathers.


it's normal for the first day or so for them not to eat or drink or do anything, as they are nervous in their new home. i would get some spray millet and hang it up top near his perch, he may be more comfortable eating that than bending down to eat out of his dish.

if male, once he settles down, you might notice whistling, talking, head bobbing, bowing, beak banging, and heart wings (where they hold the wings out while folded so when you look at the back they look like a heart). these are male behaviours. females will just chirp.

he sure is adorable!


but, one bit of advice for you, just take a deep breath and calm down he can pick up on your stress too. so far, everything you are describing is perfectly normal for a bird in a new home. they will be quiet and not really do much until they feel comfortable.

The sex can be either considering it's a pied, I have a male one that looks exactly likes yours. But the looks does not determine the sex depending on age and coloration as well. There's other ways to determine the sex but you don't seem to know his back ground. Try not to add anymore toys right now cause your only upsetting him. They're not gonna eat the moment you give them good and water, especially one that's scared! Be patient and take your time!

Thanks to everyone that answered! I have some more questions.

My bird cage happens to be in a position where it faces a mirror. A big closet mirror, about 7 or so feet away. Is this not a good position for it to be in? My grandmother won't let me keep it anywhere but in my room, there are few other places to put the cage, but it can be done if it is absolutely recommended. I ask this because I hear that mirrors are bad and the bird can get attached to its reflection, resulting in hormonal tendencies. I know these refer to small, toy mirrors, but I'm just wondering!

Now that he's been here for about 10 hours, he spent about 8 1/2 of the time sitting in one spot, chirping every once in a while and stuff. But all of a sudden he started chirping more frequently and flapping around everywhere in a frenzy. Please tell me this is normal, lol. I know I might sound like I'm freaking out over nothing but I'm new at this! lol

As I am typing, he actually began to drink some water and is now even eating some food! Now he's making a mess. But strike me with lightning if it's not the most adorable mess I've ever experienced.

Another question! Will I be able to get to sleep with this guy next to me? If I just turn off all the lights will he just fall asleep? He seems frantic - I don't really know what to do. Is he getting bored or is he freaking out cause he's scared? He figured out how to open the door on the side... lol

he'll sleep at night too. but a warning-- you might want to keep a nightlight on, and only cover 3/4 of the cage. cockatiels are prone to nightfrights, and keeping on a nightlight and partially covering the cage really helps. even some background noise like a radio on very low is a good idea. nightfrights are when they might get really spooked in the middle of the night and start thrashing around the cage. they can be really scary if you don't know what to expect. some tiels dont have nightfrights, but some do. with my two, tsuka is prone to nightfrights, but my dally is not. any little thing can set them off, it depends on the bird. i have my fingers crossed that you will be lucky and have a pretty bomb-proof bird

the mirror at that distance does not sound like a problem--not unless he makes it a problem. but for now, i wouldnt worry.

as to the flapping his wings... is he hanging off perches and opening his wings that way? or does he seem really spooked? is there any trigger or just out of the blue?

I'm not sure exactly how he feels, but he is gnawing furiously at the top and sides of the cages, and I think he's picking at the feathers of his shoulders too?! I'm starting to get really concerned. For a while I thought this was normal behavior but he's sort of been doing this for a while. I don't think there's anything too scary that could've triggered this, except maybe it getting dark (I hear cockatiels don't have good night vision) but I have both lamp and lights on. Is he bored? Or scared? Or both?

is he actually pulling feathers out, or is he just running his beak over his feathers? birds preen their feathers with their beaks, and they spend a good deal of their day grooming themselves. they take great care of their feathers as they need them to stay waterproof, warm/cool, and to fly. birds preen when they feel comfortable as well, so if he is preening, then he might feel more comfortable in his new home.

Hm... I'm not too sure. He doesn't do it often. I took the fact that he was eating and drinking as a sign of comfort, but now i'm not positive. It looks like what he's doing is putting a feather between his beak, and then swiping over it. (I suck at descriptions!) It looks like if he were to just clamp down on the feather, it would come straight off. And he's only doing it to a couple feathers on the shoulder area.

To me it sounds like preening, watch some videos on YouTube or you can post a video for us to see and we can tell you more!

Oh, now he's hanging off the top of the cage and flapping. I read somewhere that this was to get your attention? I'm not sure, because I've been sitting in front of him all day. Albeit, I have been on my laptop, trying to finish my homework.

Aaaannd now he's eating, walking around the cage, and jumping around chirping. If I put my hand nearby, he jumps away. I wish birds came with a manuel. I'm a mess here, lol.

it sounds like preening to me, and preening is a normal behaviour

these are some of my older photos.... showing preening:








these photos are over 3 years old lol so pardon the quality

MikeyTN said:

To me it sounds like preening, watch some videos on YouTube or you can post a video for us to see and we can tell you more!

Click to expand...

Hmm I went ahead and watched some videos, my cockatiel's not really acting like that. His seems more violent, and he does it to one specific feather on his shoulder. He doesn't seem to be doing it often though, he's more just walking around, occasionally flying up to gnaw on the top and side of the cage, and then flying back down and doing it again. To me, it just sort of looks like he's looking for a way out.

This seems sort of small, but's also sort of chattering on her beak. It makes a sort of scratchy noise.

does the hanging and flapping look like this?

DallyTsuka said:

does the hanging and flapping look like this?

Click to expand...

Sort of. He's also hanging onto the top of the cage with his beak, if that makes a difference, but in general yeah that's pretty much what he's doing

sounds like "bat bird". they tend to do it for a few reasons. flapping, it could be that he is getting his own kind of exercise. or, he's claiming territory, or stating he is happy, or trying to get your attention

Really? Thats a relief - I got a good, full night's rest too. I'm afraid to leave for school though - it just so happens today i have to leave early for a lab in AP Bio & I have an optometrist appointment after school. I don't want him to think i'm abandoning him lol

he should be fine while you are gone he might use the time to relax a bit more and get more used to his new home and new routine

you can put the radio or tv on low for him while you are gone, it helps some birds.

i like leaving the television on, either by putting kid's movies on, anime on, or just music.

My friend's tiel used to do the 'bat bird' all the time. Gilbert does it sometimes and usually when he is feeling very playful and energetic and wants attention.
S/He is a really cute bird. Give it a little time.....sounds like he is settling in a little, eating and drinking. Talk to him and play some soft music. Good luck.