Taming a cockateil

Hi,

I'm new to this forum, but birdkeeping not so much.

I bought a cockatiel about 8 years ago from a local pet store and I haven't ever been able to tame him. He's a relatively happy bird, singing, playing and all, but should a human stand near his cage he shakes, hisses and tries to bite)
He just wouldn't tame. I don't think what helped was I was always trying to tame him in a room full of other people with a TV and noise.

I want to try and tame him again as I feel so guilty for never being able to tame him (I tried for around a year, and being young I grew impatient)

The main issue is, I don't actually live with him, he's at my nans house (i used to live there when I got him, and when I moved out, he stayed as he was always calmer around my nan albeit ever so slightly)

I go round my nans at least once a week so I can try tame him then. I'm much more patient now and I'm not expecting almost any results straight away.

Are there any tips or tricks I can use? I can try the hand in cage etc, but with the once a week, is there anything else that could help?

Any help is much appreciated


Thanks

He sounds like Jed (rip), he never tamed but he had 2 previous unloving families and added to that he was handicapped and could not fly... poor little fella.

If I knew then what I know now I think i could have made his life happier...

I would have spent time with him, sitting at a distance that he was happy with, in a quiet and relaxing environment. I would have spoken/whistled with him and over time...and it his pace gradually moved towards him, again at his pace. Offer the occasional treat too. that's a starters for 10.

Oh, and hand in the cage, thats a no-no, its his safe spot. He will come to you when he's ready, leave his cage door open when you are reading/talking to him.

Its hard to build the trust, and easy to destroy it. So be patient and try not to give him any reason to be afraid of you so try and only leave positive results.

I'm sorry to hear of your loss, but I have to ask, was he called Jed because of his "hair" (Like Jedward? My cockatiel is actually called Jedward!)

Jedward could fly, but due to being so untame and frightened he wouldn't ever leave the cage on his own accord. I used to take him out when i'd do his weekly clean so he could fly and stretch his wings - but when I once asked about him not taming, I explained that he'd come out and I was told not to do this as it'll stress him out more, and to let him come out by choice, not force. Of course, that never happened. I did let him out once after a few years ago but he couldn't remember how to fly, and I had to catch him mid-air so he didn't fly into a wall or something.

Perhaps when im round next week, I can take him into another room in his cage, as you say, his safe zone, and just talk to him, no hands. I remember I did get him to eat millet out of my hand some time ago, I wonder if he'd still be okay with doing this... (He's never got any more anti-social over time, if so ever so slightly friendlier as he will carry on singing should you walk past his cage, which he would stop for a good half hour - an hour before)

With the millet, perhaps if I were to keep the door open, and my hand next to the door so i'm not in his cage, and he still is. Do you think this will be okay? (I still want to make sure as I don't want to stress him)

Thank you

19Seventy said:

I'm sorry to hear of your loss, but I have to ask, was he called Jed because of his "hair" (Like Jedward? My cockatiel is actually called Jedward!)

Click to expand...

Yes

https://www.songkick.com/images/1112546

When i got him, his previous family never gave him a name, he was just 'the bird'

Jedward could fly, but due to being so untame and frightened he wouldn't ever leave the cage on his own accord. I used to take him out when i'd do his weekly clean so he could fly and stretch his wings - but when I once asked about him not taming, I explained that he'd come out and I was told not to do this as it'll stress him out more, and to let him come out by choice, not force. Of course, that never happened. I did let him out once after a few years ago but he couldn't remember how to fly, and I had to catch him mid-air so he didn't fly into a wall or something.

Click to expand...

Exactly, again this is why you should ideally rebuild trust/bond, sit with him at a comfortable distance, maybe 2m... after a day or two, repeat with his cage door open. He will, once he trusts and enjoys your company start to come towards you no doubt. there are many good threds/videos on how to train a cage bound bird to fly. Little steps, never allow the bird to fail and end any training sessions on a possitve. birds are often but not always very food motivated so that helps.

Perhaps when im round next week, I can take him into another room in his cage, as you say, his safe zone, and just talk to him, no hands. I remember I did get him to eat millet out of my hand some time ago, I wonder if he'd still be okay with doing this... (He's never got any more anti-social over time, if so ever so slightly friendlier as he will carry on singing should you walk past his cage, which he would stop for a good half hour - an hour before)

With the millet, perhaps if I were to keep the door open, and my hand next to the door so i'm not in his cage, and he still is. Do you think this will be okay? (I still want to make sure as I don't want to stress him)

Thank you

Click to expand...

dont have your hands near him for a good while, or until you see his nature more calm with you at least, again, try and build the relationship slowly. its easy to lose trust, hard to build.

Check out his diet as well, not just seeds !

bigfellasdad said:

Yes

https://www.songkick.com/images/1112546

When i got him, his previous family never gave him a name, he was just 'the bird'


Exactly, again this is why you should ideally rebuild trust/bond, sit with him at a comfortable distance, maybe 2m... after a day or two, repeat with his cage door open. He will, once he trusts and enjoys your company start to come towards you no doubt. there are many good threds/videos on how to train a cage bound bird to fly. Little steps, never allow the bird to fail and end any training sessions on a possitve. birds are often but not always very food motivated so that helps.

dont have your hands near him for a good while, or until you see his nature more calm with you at least, again, try and build the relationship slowly. its easy to lose trust, hard to build.

Check out his diet as well, not just seeds !

Click to expand...

My jedward just started off as a nickname, and gradually grew to be his actual name. That's unfortunate about having no name.

I will definitely get round to taming him again, I have to make up for lost time. Of course I'll make sure he's comfortable around me and others before bringing him out, and perhaps even before flying, bringing him out a couple of times and just letting him sit there, to realise nothing is going to hurt him. He doesn't seem to mind some human interaction, as he will whistle along with me or anyone else who will whistle with him, no matter how far or close they are, anything else is a big no for him

I can guarantee he'll get motivated with food, though he's a very fussy eater and won't eat anything but seeds or millet.

Thanks again! I really appreciate your help

when you get more familiar with him, im sure he will come to try foods from your plate.... you do eat in the same room as him dont you? birds are flock animals so will eat if they see you eat. As long as my food isnt harmful to Enzo I always take food to her if she is in her cage so she is included. If she is out, i wont have a choise she will just stand next to my plater and tuck in lol.



For her cage

I give my CAG veg for breakfast which are just the mixed frozen veg bags, she loves them apart from cauli/brocoli. a whole bag in the morning as i say. Maybe try the same and you will soon find out what veg he likes, or not, try for a week at least.

For evening I give enzo her seeds and another rice/veg mix, again from a frozen bag.

Hi, sorry for the late reply.

We do eat in the same room as him as he’s in the living room/dining room. I actually sat with him today with a millet spray and he was eating from it before i coild even attach it to his cage - from my hand! I hung the millet up for him and he came right to the front of the cage, with me there, and started eating. I spoke to him, and whistled for him to whistle back - good sign!

He doesnt get bits of food from us, as i’m not sure what he can and cant eat and would rather not give him something which could be harmful. (My parrotlet does that with food! If not she hangs on the side of her cage and dances for food!)

Ill definately try him on some veg and see how he gets on!

Thank you for your help!