cockatiel attention seeking?

lisascannell · Dec 6, 2013

So I am posting about my 4 month old hand fed cockatiel baby. He's an absolute delight and I"m so in love with him that I carry one of his feather in my wallet! He gets 100 kisses before bed every night. I work Mon-Fri but take him out his cage for about 45 minutes before work, and then 3-4 hours after work. On weekends he's out all day. Anyway, when I put him back in his cage if I have to do cooking for example, he will scream "wee weep!" over and over....is this a call for attention? As soon as I come to take my baby out he's quiet again and playing with things.....anyone else get that with their cockatiels?? :grey:

Featheredsamurai · Dec 6, 2013

I used to have a cockatiel who would scream, and scream, and scream when I left! He made a similar loud noise to the one you described. I live in a 5 room two story house, my bother's room is downstairs and the screaming even annoyed him. I tried really hard to not reward him, I would be stuck outside my room sitting on the floor until he stopped. I always felt bad for Rosie who was stuck in the room with him as he screamed.

He was extremely bonded to me, and although anyone could handle him he wanted to be with me the most. He started the screaming when he began maturing/puberty. Poor guy was probably desperately calling for his flock(me) thinking he was alone(even though Rosie was there).

Unfortantly with Dante my brother was super annoyed, and complained all the time. My mom told me to start looking for a new home for him. I decided the best thing to do would be to rehome him to one of my best friends who also had a cockatiel. He's so much happier there! Even though they have seperate cages he loves having another cockatiel around. And my friend taught him to talk, which he often prefers over normal tiel talk.

Maria_Metropolis · Dec 6, 2013

With my Cockatiel baby, he screams too if he's in the cage, and I don't get him. I let him scream because I don't want him to train me, but I want to train him. When he's quiet, I will then take him out of the cage.

Good luck with your baby, he sounds cute. Did you post pictures???

Mike17 · Dec 6, 2013

lisascannell said:
So I am posting about my 4 month old hand fed cockatiel baby. He's an absolute delight and I"m so in love with him that I carry one of his feather in my wallet! He gets 100 kisses before bed every night. I work Mon-Fri but take him out his cage for about 45 minutes before work, and then 3-4 hours after work. On weekends he's out all day. Anyway, when I put him back in his cage if I have to do cooking for example, he will scream "wee weep!" over and over....is this a call for attention? As soon as I come to take my baby out he's quiet again and playing with things.....anyone else get that with their cockatiels??

Yep, the "wee weep" is calling for you, Lisa. Our two babies, the male especially, do it every morning when we get up and they're uncovered. Especially if Junior sees my wife!

lisascannell · Dec 6, 2013

lisascannell · Dec 6, 2013

Here's a picture of Rocky. I've had him ever since he's a pin needle

He smells like dust and corn chips

Apparantly I won't know if it's male or female until it has a molt (he's only about 4 mnths). I'm thinking it's a male because he is trying out new whistles when I'm in the shower.

TessieB · Dec 6, 2013

Hand raised cockatiels depend on people for social activity. Being alone is tough for them but they can adapt if given proper toys to keep them busy while you are away. Keep taking time to be with him/her, and you'll have a buddy for 20 plus years. I love 'tiels as they are a small bird with lots of personality. Unfortunately they can be demanding with their needs but they are a living creature who is worthy of our attention.

MikeyTN · Dec 6, 2013

Awwww your baby is all grown up now....yes they're do that call thing to call for you. If you let them be for a bit and talk back to them if they call, some will calm down but some will need a bit more persuation so best to walk away if they refused to stop. It will quit eventually if you keep training them properly.

lisascannell · Dec 6, 2013

Thanks Mikey...yeah he's a beautiful little boy

Maria_Metropolis · Dec 6, 2013

lisascannell said:
Thanks Mikey...yeah he's a beautiful little boy

I agree, very cute too.

SoCalWendy · Dec 6, 2013

lisascannell said:
So I am posting about my 4 month old hand fed cockatiel baby. He's an absolute delight and I"m so in love with him that I carry one of his feather in my wallet! He gets 100 kisses before bed every night. I work Mon-Fri but take him out his cage for about 45 minutes before work, and then 3-4 hours after work. On weekends he's out all day. Anyway, when I put him back in his cage if I have to do cooking for example, he will scream "wee weep!" over and over....is this a call for attention? As soon as I come to take my baby out he's quiet again and playing with things.....anyone else get that with their cockatiels??

Awww I just love tiels. Except, when they do that call it drives me nutty. So no tiels for me. You have to try and teach the desired behavior like don't take him out unless he is quiet, otherwise he is training you to come to his beaconing call. I'd get some ear plugs and wait until he is quiet before you enter a room. If he acts up leave the room again, until he is quiet. Birds are flock animals, can't blame them for wanting to be with their flock, but you need to try and tweet the behavior. Hope it helps.

SoCalWendy · Dec 6, 2013

lisascannell said:
Here's a picture of Rocky. I've had him ever since he's a pin needle He smells like dust and corn chips Apparantly I won't know if it's male or female until it has a molt (he's only about 4 mnths). I'm thinking it's a male because he is trying out new whistles when I'm in the shower.

My Sennie will whistle to me when she can't see me. Now, I will whistle back because that is a desired behavior in my household.

lisascannell · Dec 6, 2013

It's certainly not a terrible noise LOL it's just wee weep...it's actually kind of cute and he's free to make noise when he wants

he normally does it first thing in the morning, other than that he's happy to hang out with me or play on his jungle gym

GaryBV · Dec 6, 2013

He is VERY cute, Lisa. And hey you Maria - does Muffin have especially long tail feathers? They are magnificient lol (my parrotlets and lovebirds have squared off tails).

Maria_Metropolis · Dec 7, 2013

lisascannell said:
It's certainly not a terrible noise LOL it's just wee weep...it's actually kind of cute and he's free to make noise when he wants he normally does it first thing in the morning, other than that he's happy to hang out with me or play on his jungle gym

May I ask what kind of jungle gym you got him? I have to get one for my tiel. Thanks!!

Maria_Metropolis · Dec 7, 2013

GaryBV said:
He is VERY cute, Lisa. And hey you Maria - does Muffin have especially long tail feathers? They are magnificient lol (my parrotlets and lovebirds have squared off tails).

Unfortunately Muffin lost a tail feather that started bleeding, because he kept falling down at the bird fair where we got him. The breeder had clipped his wings, and he was a bit clumsy after that, and he was a bit nervous and flighty when the kids held him. He also lost another tail feather, so he has a gap in between his existing tail feathers. I can't wait until he gets a new tail. Young babies tend to have ratty tails from what I hear if their wings are clipped. He's much less clumsy now, and he can fly short distances, while gracefully fluttering to the ground.

lisascannell · Dec 7, 2013

lisascannell · Dec 7, 2013

They absolutely love it! I'm babysitting my brother's eclectus parrot for the day and even he's enjoying it

Maria_Metropolis · Dec 7, 2013

What a cute gym. I like that it's so portable, unlike those enormous play stands that weigh a ton, like the kind for large macaws. Thanks!

lisascannell · Dec 7, 2013

Yeah it's small, but does the job. Think I'll get a second one though now that I have three cockatiels

cockatiel attention seeking?

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I found a cockatiel!

Baby Cockatiel - low pitched scream

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