Play fighting tiels?

spaceparrot

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Jun 1, 2016
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Two cockatiels: Sharlett (Cinnamon Pied) and Data (White-Faced Pied)
So I started a day or so ago to play fight with Data. He seems to enjoy it and I let him "win" sometimes. I can tell he is not angry because he doesn't really bite me very hard and keeps coming back to play. (Sometimes he gives me kisses right afterwards as if to say "no hard feelings, we had a good game".)

He did bite me a bit hard tonight but I hadn't gotten home till late and was not home last night, which both birds did not expect. (And neither did I). I corrected him and told him I know he's upset but that was too hard of a bite. Then we went back to playing. It seems when we "rough house" that Data is calmer, gets some of his energy out and is less aggressive. He also will go back to acting normal after we stop and will ask to be petted. I tried this with Sharlett but she did NOT want any part of it so I let her be and just petted her. (I knew she was mad because she bit me pretty hard and made angry noises).

My mom is worried that I'm accidentally teaching him that it's okay to bite me. Do any of you play fight with your tiels and if so, has it caused any problems? Is it safe to do this or will they think of you as a mate instead of a flock member?
 

texsize

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I only play fight with my YNA. Never tried it with any of my tiels.
With my YNA you have to know when they reach there limit (borderline overstimulation) and give it a rest for a bit (or you will get bit LOL).
 

AmyMyBlueFront

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And a Normal Grey Cockatiel named BB who came home with me on 5/20/2016.
BB and I thumb wrestle..He seems to really enjoy the game. He waves his arms frantically while giving my thumb heck,and yes,at times he nips me pretty good lol. When we're done though.he forgets about it and starts singing to me again.




Jim
 
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spaceparrot

spaceparrot

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Two cockatiels: Sharlett (Cinnamon Pied) and Data (White-Faced Pied)
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I only play fight with my YNA. Never tried it with any of my tiels.
With my YNA you have to know when they reach there limit (borderline overstimulation) and give it a rest for a bit (or you will get bit LOL).

YNAs are big birds! Yeah I am gonna keep an eye on him.
 
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spaceparrot

spaceparrot

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Two cockatiels: Sharlett (Cinnamon Pied) and Data (White-Faced Pied)
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BB and I thumb wrestle..He seems to really enjoy the game. He waves his arms frantically while giving my thumb heck,and yes,at times he nips me pretty good lol. When we're done though.he forgets about it and starts singing to me again.




Jim

Sounds like BB enjoys it! So it doesn't cause him to bite you at other times, then?
 

EllenD

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This is going to depend on the individual bird. You've already gotten bitten hard once while doing it, so that might be a sign that this may result in him learning to be aggressive...and it might not. But like you said your other bird wants nothing to do with it, well like I said, it's all dependent on the individual bird. I'd say that if he bites you again then it's a pretty good sign that it's not a good thing to be doing with him, as it's overstimulating him and may very well be teaching him that's it's totally fine to bite people...I could never do this with my Quaker for instance, as she would take full-advantage and start biting all the time..However, my Senegal would probably have fun doing it and would not think it permission to bite...You just have to take the cues that your individual bird is giving you..If he continues to bite you, then you should probably stop the play fighting, as it will probably not continue to be "play"...
 

AmyMyBlueFront

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Apr 14, 2015
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Amy a Blue Front 'Zon
Jonesy a Goffins 'Too who had to be rehomed :-(

And a Normal Grey Cockatiel named BB who came home with me on 5/20/2016.
BB and I thumb wrestle..He seems to really enjoy the game. He waves his arms frantically while giving my thumb heck,and yes,at times he nips me pretty good lol. When we're done though.he forgets about it and starts singing to me again.




Jim

Sounds like BB enjoys it! So it doesn't cause him to bite you at other times, then?

Nope..BB doesn't bite at all,except during "playtime" :D


Jim
 

MonicaMc

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I think you should video it and share!


I don't do this with any of my tiels that I've had, but Casey, my 17 year old tiel whom I've had since she was 5 months old allows me to pick her up and plop her elsewhere. I pick her up around her body (palm of my hand on her back) with her feet dangling and just move her. Sometimes this is off her cage door and back inside, or it's to plop her on my chest to give her head scritches. She's 'okay' with it.

I would *never* do this with any other tiel! Most other tiels would freak out and it would be stressful!
 

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