Help please, I'm trying to tame my cockatiel

[Bogdan]

I got my cockatiel like 4 or 5 months ago and he was in the kitchen the whole time now 4 days ago I moved him to my bedroom. And I want to tame him i sat close to him and I was reading him a book and my problem is that its my first time trying to tame him is it too late? I got him from an petstore and when I put my hand inside the cage he tries to bite me also he hisses at me I tried to give him some treats from my hand and he just does the same thing I'm new to this I would love some help from experts thank you for the help.

 

[Scott]

A lot depends on the age of your cockatiel, temperament, and your willingness to invest time, effort, and love!

Almost never too late for "reset" of relationship beginning by establishing trust leading to bonding. Moving him to a safer area and reading to him a great start. It is a slow process keeping in mind parrots have no reason to trust humans. All about earning and rewarding! This thread give some great advice: http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html

Rewarding with a special treat delivered through the bars a good way to start. You'll want to use small bits of something he really likes so you can reward often without excess fat/calories. Bits of almond or walnut are often favorites. Over time he'll see your hands as friend, not threat. He'll be more receptive to you reaching inside to give head scritches and offer reward. So you have a playpen or cage playtop? Allowing him to come outside is next step, making sure it is safe environment.

Is his cage portable? Moving from center of attention to seclusion of bedroom may make him lonely. Does he have plenty of toys, perhaps a window to look out of?

 

[Bogdan]

I don’t have a playpen or a cage playtop but he has a lot of toys but I will try to buy one soon as possible also he has an window next to him and I have a portable cage.

 

[Tman]

Bogdan
I am going to go over some things thatay help you.
But first thing we need to go over a few things.
YOU CAN NEVER FORCE A PARROT TO DO ANYTHING.
I put it in caps because it's very important.
You need to take a few deep breaths and just relax.
You and your cockatiel are going to be fine.
As for the cage in your bedroom, for now this will work.
When you start to train you want your bird to focus on you only.
You need to realize that how you move and how you sound are very important. Birds look at these two things to judge how to react. So you want to be nice and relaxed and you want to talk softly.
Your going to need treats millet work good because it keeps your fingers away from your bird for now.
You need a chair so you can sit close to his cage.
Make sure you have all the lights turned on in your bedroom the more light the better this way he will be able to see you and the treat really well.
I want to go over your mind set.
You are going to need patience. (This is going to take time)
Talking about time. You have all the time in the world to get your bird to trust you.
Get the treats sit in the chair in front of your bird
Make sure he is on a nightstand or a table that will let you reach in the cage and be comfortable.
Once your ready again relax. Just open the cage and put your hand with the treats inthe cage don't reach for the bird. What you want to do is just have your hand in the cage at the bottom. Your bird will go to a high perch. If he flies around the cage just keep your hand in the cage and don't move around
He will go high and settle in a little.
What your doing here is just getting him use to you being by the cage and your hand being in the cage. Thats a you want for now. Take the millet and just move it a little. Your bird will see it. Now with your hand in the cage softly talk to your bird. Nothing more your talking to him your hand is a the bottom of the cage. All you want to do is for him to get use to this.
Like I said patience
And time. After about five minutes slowly take your hand out and close the cage. And step away from the cage and give him his space. And wait about an hour and make sure it really is an hour. And do it again, slowly relax talk soft hand at the bottom of cage with treats.
This is a start. You are going to do this a couple times a day for about three days. Remember you have all the time. We are not going to rush by taking your time you are going to have an amazing bird.

 

[Bogdan]

Thank you all for the amazing help. If i do more than 4 times in a day will the progress be more faster? And also
Can I do it for longer than 5 minutes? Again thank you all for the amazing help

 

[Tman]

Bogdan
Remember what I said relax and don't rush it slow I know its hard to do but slow is going to be better.
5 minutes thats it. What you are doing is just letting your bird know that you putting your hand in the cage nothing bad happens. At the most three times a day.
When I have more time I will add to your lessons.
We will get your little guy going.
You just need to take it slow and relax.
One thing can you take a picture of his cage.
Thanks Now deep breaths and relax.

 

[Bogdan]

Alright im going to do a picture of his cage tomorrow because right now it's dark and late and I don't wanna scare him with my phone flash also thank you for explaining everything I don't want to harm my little buddy and I'm going take my time with him and take it slow and relaxed

 

[Tman]

I didn't know you were in a different time zone

Yes wait till morning.
Bogdan you are going to do fine.
Get some sleep and by morning, I will have more written down.

 

[Tman]

Bogdan
While you are working with with your bird keep an eye on his reaction to your hand in the cage. After the three days this is where you are going to see how his reaction is you holding a treat in your hand near him.
To set up for this session you need to get him ready for it by doing a couple of things.
The night before you want to pull his food. This way by morning he will be hungry, and ready to have something to eat. What you are going to do is use the treat before he eats anything else.
Now set up your chair, have your treat ready.
Now slowly put your hand in with the treat, keep it at the bottom of the cage at first. Give your bird a chance to get to.a spot where he feels safe. Once he's on that perch you want to slowly move your hand with the treat up to the perch he is on. But you want to go up to the far side of the perch away from your parrot. Make sure the treat is between you and your bird. Make sure there is a nice big peice of millet that he can move to to get it without getting to close to your hand.
Once your hand is up to the perch you need to be very.still and not move. This is were patience comes into play. Relax make sure your clam, talk soft to him, and just watch what he does. He may move closer to the cage far side of the cage away from your fingers. Give him a chance to think things through. You might see him raise a foot up and down off the perch this is him thinking about what he wants to do. Again don't move just wait if he finally goes to get the millet give him some praise. And don't move let him take a few bites and then move your hand slowly away from the perch and back down to the bottom of the cage. Wait a few seconds and slowly move your hand back up to the far end of the perch making sure the millet is between your and and your bird. Again do not move wait let him make the move if he goes the millet praise him let him take a few bites then again slowly move your back to the bottom. But this time pull your hand out of the cage with the treat, close the cage slowly get up take the chair away and feed your bird his breakfast.
Just know that what just happened was a major accomplishment. I know you want to keep going but we just want to work are way up to the next season. Let's work on this one first. Now tonight do the same thing, pull his food about a half hr after you feed him. And the next morning do it all over again
Clam
Relaxed
Take your time, don't skip a step.

 

[Bogdan]

This is my cage and I had one more question when im going to do the first step and I have my hand inside with the same hand hold the millet or should I use my other hand?

 

[Tman]

Yes the same hand you put in the cage has the millet in it. I know this may seem like not much to do. But we just need to slowly work up to things. Your parrot in really afraid right now, so we will just give him the time he needs.
OK your cockatiel is great looking. When it comes to the cage we will work on that later. You will need to put more toys in with him. Don't worry I will show you how to make some.
Don't be afraid to ask any questions. You just ask I will answer them. Ok.
Right now it's 2:30 am for me. I going to get some
Take your time
Move slow
Talk softly and if he gets afraid and move to a different perch Don't worry just relax keep your hand and treat in the cage for 5 minutes. And don't get frustrated it will come together trust me.

 

[Laurasea]

Hello, welcome to the forum.
Its never to late to make friends with your burd. I'm sure you have seen news stories of people who have gained the trust of wild bird's and have them eat food out of their hands. Time and patience.

On toys. Those pipe cleaners aren't safe. The metal in them isn't safe for birds. You can use just plastic straws, a cup of plastic bottle caps with some seeds sprinkle in the cup. Cut up a brown paper bag into thin strips, and make like a pom pom. I have those for my burds and they like them. My freind has a cockatiel and his loves to chew popsicle sticks . Also his loves to chew playing cards. He just weaves one from the deck of cards thru the cage bars, they make a little pop when he chews them that he seems to love. I DIY toys all the time for my birds. Oh and those Chinese finger traps are fun for them to chew.

My friend's cockatiel loves to sit on his arm or shoulder or head lol. But his doesn't like to be petted. He whistles, chirps and so adorable, looks just like yours!!

Now because I'm a momma hen I always talk veggies. Never try and force them to eat veggies , just add a couple of veggies as a free choice in addition to what you feed. For leafy greens like Swiss chard or romaine lettuce I find hanging helps them getting nibbles from your burd. You csn use a new clean shoe lace and punch a hole on lettuce and hang up, or just weave a leaf through the bars. Lettuces like romaine actually have good nutrition and vitamins!! Also bell peppers with seeds, or red hot chili peppers are well liked by most parrots and high in beta carotene needed for vitamin A, I offer in shallow wide bowls, parrots seem to try them better dread out do they can see them. Broccoli. Carrots, green beans, peas, corn all fresh are great to try too. Never give up of things aren't tried or are rejected. It can take months of them seeing them before they try them. All of my birds love their veggies. Its also a great enrichment for them, and like a chew toy for them . I offered mine an artichoke with leaf spines cut off, they loved chewing it up!!! Loved it, but didn't eat it lol.
Anyway people think birds don't like veggies, but they love and crave them!!! Its just st furst they dont recognize them as food, and didn't have parents and flock showing them veggies when they were young. So dont give up, they are so good for them, and fun for them!! http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-...afe-fresh-foods-toxic-food-lists-sprouts.html

I think this is a good all around article, if yiu want to give it a read.
https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/stress-reduction-for-parrot-companions/

It took me 2 months to make freinds with my fearful burd. So it can take time, and move at a burds slow pace. But so worth it! Cockatiels are so funny cute and smart.

 

[Tman]

I see you have a house for your cockatiel, thats not good take it out. With the house in the cage he thinks it's his nest and he is aggressive hissing and spitting because of it. Thats part of the problem. Take it out right away.
Parrots find a high perch to sit on to sleep. Houses are only for breeding. I just woke up to check on you I'm going back to sleep
Also take out the pipe cleaners not good. We will go over somethings when I get up.

 

[Bogdan]

Thank you laurasea for the great ideas and what veggies are fine to give and also thank you Tman i really appreciate all the help

 

[Bogdan]

Yeah I made a house because i had two cockatiels but unfortunately one of them have passed away and my dad when he was younger would breed them and he told me to make a nice home for them but it was hard for me to take it out because I had memories but I guess its better to let go also my female cockatiel was tamed already and after some time she slowly was feeling more comfortable around me I'm going to take it out right now thank you for telling me

 

[Bogdan]

One more question can i put his food on the ground and the water on a perch?

 

[Bogdan]

I have a question when i go out from my bedroom my little buddy screams and is it an good thing or bad thing?

 

[Laurasea]

That's flock call. You should use a word or whistle that is always the same for yiur flock call . Birds are social, like to stay in contact when out of sight. So sounds like yours is starting to consider you family. That's great.

 

[Bogdan]

Alright amazing im very happy im going to try whistle im so happy thank you

 

[Tman]

Now that I know a few more things about your cockatiel I can go over them with you.
So sorry about your female passing away.
What is going on with your male is he still maybe grieving the lost of his mate.
By having that house in there it was making him hormonal. So now that you removed it it will help us to build a relationship with your male. Laurasea is right veggie should be added to his diet. Broccoli and leafy greens. As for his food you can put it on the cage floor just not under a perch. He will poop in it.
Water on perch is OK.
We will talk about making some toys for him
Do you have a small paper cup? If not not time your at a fast food restaurant see if they will give you one.
Get a peice of school paper cut it into straps, then take the strips of paper crumble them up in your hand once you do that pull the crumbled paper apart a little and put it in the cup with some of the paper sticking out.
Put the cup on the cage floor. There you have it. A toy.
Parrots love to pull things apart. This will give him something to do.