Brand new Cockatiel mummy.

Hi all,

I am the proud new mum of a baby 8 week old cockatiel called Lucky. I think he is a fallow colouring.

I have not owned a cockatiel since I was a kid so I am basically starting again, I want to tame him and train him to the harness and so on but not too sure where to start.

I have a couple questions, firstly he has only been home a few days but still seems quite stressed with his crest up, but then he looks around with interest and has explored his cage lots. He is eating and drinking and loves his millet and spinich.

I have two cats so I wont leave his cage out when I am not around, I am putting his cage in the laundry at nightime and in my bedroom with the door closed and a window cracked while I am at work during the day, do you think this is causing him to take longer to settle? The cats are aware thanks to water spray that Lucky is off limits but I wont trust them around him without me there to supervise...

I am wondering how long I should leave it till I start really working on taming him, I am thinking to start with target training outside the cage as he was not handraised, do you think thats my best approach? I am learning not to be nervous of his beak too so I think this is the best method to avoid stressing either of us. Plus once I have him confidently targeting I can start working with my kids a little as well?

Should I just leave him alone till his crest goes to the relaxed position most of the time? He seems on constant high alert.

Thanks in advance.

I'm sure he is on high alert with two cats around. Be patient with your new bird and he'll eventually come around. Remember, birds are prey animals and have certain instincts. Learn as much as you can about training, housing, and diet. And never trust your cats around your bird. Not only do you need to be on high alert with them around, you need to make sure your cage is cat proof for the times you leave the room-even for just a moment.

Congratulations on your new family member!

thats nice! have an awsome time with him!

Feeling super proud of my boy tonight!! He totally settled this afternoon and i had done a little early target training but with him all settled i decided to give it another go, he was virtually RACING round his cage to touch that stick and get some millet!!

So i stepped it up a notch and decided to try getting him to my finger and he was hesitant and figured out at first to fly straight over my hand to the other hand holding the millet (little smartie pants!) but in about 10 minutes he had it down. Even did it with the millet out of sight behind my back!! Didnt take him out the cage yet, but i dragged out the time on my hand to around 10 seconds.

Feeling super optimistic!!!

Just wondering, he is playing with his beak a lot, almost looks like hes partially dislocating it, is that just normal?

Is he grinding his beak? They do that when they are happy. Sounds like he's settling in super well.

Well i am not sure, he kind of chews nothing, then opens his beak wide and moves the lower part side to side, pulls it back in then starts the process over, it does make a noise when he does it. Is that beak grinding?

The "chewing nothing" sounds like it, I've never seen the other one, although my weiro Tony opens his beak at me when I say hello. In his case, I think it's a "I'm a big tough bird and you better not try anything" it's like a pretend attack posture thing, I think. Doesn't sound like what Lucky's doing though.... dunno. No doubt somebody will fill us in.

Be great if someone could tell me if its normal. I am a little concerned. Every other behaviour I have been able to find online but not that one. I prefer to understand what they are trying to tell me.

Could be yawning?
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rc5A0kbVdQ4]Cockatiel Yawning - YouTube[/ame]

I didn't know they yawn, I haven't seen mine doing that, but apparently normal
Avian Behavior Guide
(interesting on that page, I thought Tony was trying to be scary when he sits with his wings out, but apparently he's flirting

Yea I saw that but he actually also does a bit more, I have been unable to find a matching video. I will try and get one later and post it up.

Is it like this????

[ame=http://youtu.be/-8kxJu7LgIw]Chikorita the cockatiel grinding his beak #1 - March 05 2008 - YouTube[/ame]

Congrats on your new Cockatiel. I just had my baby for a week and a half now, and it feels like he's been with me for a year (in a good way). Mine is 8 weeks old too, and he sometimes does that "dislocating jaw" thing too. I don't think its anything to worry about. Good luck with Lucky!!

My first dog was named Lucky, so that name holds a special place in my heart.

MikeyTN said:

Is it like this????

Chikorita the cockatiel grinding his beak #1 - March 05 2008 - YouTube

Click to expand...

When they do that, it means they're happy and relaxed, and about to take a nap.

luckymum said:

Yea I saw that but he actually also does a bit more, I have been unable to find a matching video. I will try and get one later and post it up.

Click to expand...

It could be a feeding response since he's only 8 weeks old, and probably just weaned too. My Cockatiel is still on one formula feeding a day, and he usually does that when he's near my mouth, like I'm going to regurgitate for him.

Maria_Metropolis said:

MikeyTN said:

Is it like this????

Chikorita the cockatiel grinding his beak #1 - March 05 2008 - YouTube

Click to expand...

When they do that, it means they're happy and relaxed, and about to take a nap.

Click to expand...

Oh I know what it means, the OP had an question about the beak movement with her new baby. I posted to see if that was it....By raising Cockatiels for over 16 years, there's not much I haven't seen they do.

Thats really similar, cept hes a bit slower at it and opens his mouth wider. Sounds like its pretty normal anyways thanks all

howz he doing now?? you know, changing his place everyday might confuse him... you should let him be comfortable with your hand in the cage, and then you can try to make him step up. talk to him everyday. i notice it helps a lot!

Yeah I worried about upsetting him by changing his place, I have stopped moving him into the bedroom during the day and just leave him in the laundry till I come home from work now, so he has two spots in the house only. I cant not move him, I am too worried about the cats leaping at the cage and I know he is safe there because the cats cant get in.

He is doing very well with target training, knows just what to do. He has hopped on my finger a few times during training sessions but sometimes he just doesnt want to so I am not pushing him. He will get there. I talk to him all the time, and I especially explain that hes going to bed now when I am taking him to the laundry at night time.

Hes still rather nervous of the kids so we only do training at night after they are in bed. Once he is more confident I will push him a bit more with the kids about.

I'm not training my tiel at all, except to "step up." I would teach him some tricks, but I'm lazy in that regard. I just like the cuddles.

So glad to hear the update and that he's doing well. That's nice that you don't let the kids manhandle him, and you let him get used to them. Kids need to learn that parrots are not dogs.

I have a major belief that children need to respect all their fellow creatures, both that they are a fellow creature who needs to be protected but also that they are not toys to play with, and have things like claws, teeth, beaks etc. My kids are not allowed to chase birds in the park, approach a strange dog without permission from the owner (no owner, no touch dog) or in any way treat any animal badly. I also tend to tell other peoples kids off if I see them mistreating an animal. Pet hate of mine. Real respect starts now.