Woodshedding
New member
- Oct 13, 2025
- 1
- 0
- Parrots
- Cockatiel
I've had my Cockatiel for about a year and a half now, and he was absolutely fully bonded to me and glued to me at every moment. He was always preening me, demanding scratches and following me around.
I used to have 2 budgies who unfortunately passed due to old age, but he had no interest in them, and they didn't have any in him, so it was essentially me and him.
After getting my Conure 2 months ago (who's amazing, but super hyperactive and playful as he's only 4 months old), my Cockatiel has been hissing more, biting more, refusing to perch on me as much and only really coming to me when the Conure was harassing him, refusing to come out of the cage at first (this is the biggest change I think, he used to instantly fling himself at me and climb to my shoulder, he now hisses and lunges and won't come out for quite some time or sometimes not at all).
He still accepts scratches and treats, and is currently sat on his cage door near me preening, and accepting scratches, but he's lunging when I ask him to step up so I can move him to my shoulder, that used to be his favourite spot.
Is this normal when adding another bird to the flock that's more playful than the other? I'm really worried I've damaged the bond or made him feel replaced. I always make sure he gets at least 30 mins of one on one time with me every day, before getting the Conure out to join us, and they remain out for 5-7 hours every day. Has anyone else experienced this with a Cockatiel and Conure? Thanks for any help in advance, I hope I can win him back!
I used to have 2 budgies who unfortunately passed due to old age, but he had no interest in them, and they didn't have any in him, so it was essentially me and him.
After getting my Conure 2 months ago (who's amazing, but super hyperactive and playful as he's only 4 months old), my Cockatiel has been hissing more, biting more, refusing to perch on me as much and only really coming to me when the Conure was harassing him, refusing to come out of the cage at first (this is the biggest change I think, he used to instantly fling himself at me and climb to my shoulder, he now hisses and lunges and won't come out for quite some time or sometimes not at all).
He still accepts scratches and treats, and is currently sat on his cage door near me preening, and accepting scratches, but he's lunging when I ask him to step up so I can move him to my shoulder, that used to be his favourite spot.
Is this normal when adding another bird to the flock that's more playful than the other? I'm really worried I've damaged the bond or made him feel replaced. I always make sure he gets at least 30 mins of one on one time with me every day, before getting the Conure out to join us, and they remain out for 5-7 hours every day. Has anyone else experienced this with a Cockatiel and Conure? Thanks for any help in advance, I hope I can win him back!
