had our cockatiel Loki for a week now. we have been letting out the cage, after watching this I realize it's way to soon. just want our little fella to be happy. we got him from a pet shop which claimed he was 10-12weeks old. parent raised. going to take things a lot slower going forward. thanks for the videos really helpful
Hey David, Glad it was useful! It's something we all do. It's something I've done in the past too! It's easy to get over excited. Also go at Loki's pace. If you notice he is ok and happy being out and about, keep doing it. If he is scared and hesitant then dial it back! I have lots of other cockatiel videos that may help too!
My fiancé and I have been watching lots of RUclips videos about cockatiels tonight. Not really sure what made us spend 2 hours doing that, but it was fun and informative! 😁 Anyway, we watched a few of your videos and like them a lot. But this video, we were laughing so hard at your demonstrations showing what not to do! It made us laugh so much I had to rewind and watch those parts again 😆 So thanks for the info and the laughs. We have 2 very different cockatiels and always need all the help and info we can get! Charlie is our rescue cockatiel that someone found outside. No one claimed him so they kept him a while but couldn’t give him the attention he needs so he was rehomed, then a day later rehomed again when we adopted him. We have no idea how old he is, how he was treated prior to being found outside, or whether he escaped or that his original owner let him go because he wasn’t instantly like the birds people watch on social media or something like that. We have had him for 4.5 years now and it took almost 2 years for him to trust us enough to come out of the cage, step up, sit on our shoulders etc. Even now he is still very reserved and hesitant to hang out with us or do anything besides sit on his playground on top of the big cage, sit on top of the smaller cage across the room, or fly back and forth between the 2 cages. Earlier this year we got a very young cockatiel from a really great pet shop down the street where she was hand raised and handled a lot. We named her Speckle (99% sure she is a female). She is not shy, and when we were playing with some of the cockatiels at the pet shop to see which bird would be best for us, Speckle climbed out of the cage she was in with a few of her siblings and walked right up my arm to my shoulder then started preening my hair lol. So she basically chose us and it was meant to be 😁 So she is not shy at all and is always climbing all over us, stealing our food, demanding scritches, pretty much all the things Charlie doesn’t do. We were kind of hoping her being so social and trusting of us would rub off on Charlie, but it hasn’t. In fact it has made him even more antisocial towards us. BUT Charlie and Speckle have definitely bonded, and you can see how much they love each other when they are snuggled up so close together and when they kind of dance in the bottom of the cage together while one of them tweets this loud annoying song Charlie made up a few years ago. Anyway, I totally forgot the point I was trying to make or question to ask or why I told Charlie and Speckle’s opposites attract story. 😆 Oh well, hope you enjoyed the story anyway even though I forgot where I was going with it haha. Thanks again for the informative and funny videos!
Hey Dove, Thank you for the kind comment and really glad you both enjoyed my videos! It is funny how parrots can be such individuals and their personalities and reactions to us can differ so widely! My first cockatiel did the same to me oddly lol. She picked me so I picked her! It's really great that they have bonded too, it's so good for them to have companionship both from us humans and a member of their own species. If you like my sense of joking about you should watch the "parrot POV" video!
The last one is something that I truly learned, kept thinking my birds didn't want to come close to me and being scared because they're paired up, realised I've been rushing it and the birds aren't panicking around my presence anymore, still haven't gone far tho, they're still not taking foods out my hands, even millets, thx a lot for these tips
No worries and glad they were useful! You'll get there with them! Yes, it can take time sometimes! The more we rush (because we want them to be content/play with us) often the more we make mistakes!
I've got a budgie, I've had him for almost a year, but a few months ago I got his wings clipped, he was a very stubborn bird, he wouldn't step up, he wouldn't take millet and so forth, led him and me down the frustrated road, after his wings got clipped, and he flew to the ground, rather gracefully, he knew he couldn't fly up, that's where I came in, I can't tell you enough about the frustration that ended between us, he now steps up, he eats from my hand, his wings have grown back, beautifully, him and me have a better relationship between us than ever before 😊 I'm pleased to report, we are both doing well
I got a new cockatiels two days ago because mine flew away a week ago very saddening, but i learnt from this videos that i have to be patient and interact with him from cage
:'( I'm sorry to read about your escaped bird. If it's any consolation, a friend of the family who used to hand raise tiel was showing his to someone, when they accidentally let one of the hens out of the aviary. We don't know how long she was out, but we found her in our yard going at the grass seed. Because she was hand raised, we were able to bring her inside by hand, and she lived a good life with us until she passed away several years later (we don't know how old she was when we found her). The point of the story is that an escaped bird may find a home where they will be safe and cared for (this is usually not the case, but it does happen). We did figure out who had hand raised her, because when he came to visit one day, she made a beeline for him.
in Australia and my 6 year old Cockatiel Eric is my life, when i leave the house and thats not alot he has a meltdown, screaming, swearing and then wont talk to me when i get home till he feels i have made it up to him and iam NOT KIDDING. The vet says he has separation anxiety, he will normally ride in the car but when i get ill and have to go in to hospital he looses weight, I love this boy with my life and sometimes he wont eat very much. his weight is between 98grms and 104grms he has been as low as 87 when i was last in hospital. I cant imagine life without him and he lets me do his grooming. They are not little souls for people that cant put the time into them. LOVE YOUR CHANNEL.
Hey Sharon, It is possible that he does indeed have separation anxiety. It sure sounds like the vet has it correct. There are methods of training to help with it though! They are indeed amazing little souls and thank you!
@@TheParrotTeacher Thank you sweetie for your reply and also your channel is brilliant and a really helpful go to for advice even for people like me that have had them for years, Last night here in Australia it was very late and a few things he has been doing that had me worried, but watching your vids put my mind at ease and for that THANK YOU. You have a beautiful soul. GOD BLESS.🦜💖LOVE FROM ERIC the Cockatiel.
Glad it was useful! This is mostly about human to bird bonding but most of it still applies! I'm going to do a different video on bird bonding as we are learning lots more with our conures and want footage for it!
Just had my Cockateils for over a month now (Pip and Sparky). They are comfortable coming out of the cage but I still have to be mindful as they can get startled. Pip has just started coming onto my hand. Sparky won't entertain the notion at all. It will be interesting to see what stage they are at in another month's time. I'm actually pretty pleased.
Thank you for the video! I was anxious that my new cockatiel didn't want to have anything to do with me, as she spends a lot of time in a separate room. I think I made the mistake of letting her out of the cage too soon. She will walk and explore the house, but isnt keen on hanging out with me yet. However she likes scritches and will step up cautiously with millet in my hand. Her wings were clipped when I got her, which I suspect may be a hindrance to our bonding. I think you are correct about taking it slow and reinforcing good behavior with treats. Thanks for the tips!
I got two rescue budgie 3 days back, it was owned in a house where they had 5 kids who were constantly hitting its small carrier cage seeking its attention 😳. Now they are with me in a calm house. The problem is my two GCC hates them, both started attacking the cage. So I have kept the budgies in a separate room and am starting to bond with them. But now my GCC have become jealous and bikes me when I try to spend time with them. They want my full attention to them. The GCC are bonded with my entire family, but still they want all our attention towards them
Hey Rakesh, Keeping them in a separate room is a good plan just in case. It's a shock for the budgies and the conures also don't know what's going on. They see the budgies as potential competition for your attention. You'll have to introduce them slowly and work on training/de-sensitisation with them. But, you need to be aware it may not work and you may need to keep them separated!
question, I got my cocktiel last week, and all seems pretty good. but he does not really respond to the treats I offer him. I've offered him millet, different fruits and other things. Is this just something that also takes time? Or is he just not used to these foods because he never encountered them before while he was kept at the pet store? He is currently 6 months old according to his paper work.
It could be he’s not used to the treats, could be just being unsure! It may also be worth exploring what his fave treats are more formally! Lining them up or observing what he takes from his bowl first to see what his preferences are
To many people thinking a parrot is a puppy me thinks. Just makes me think of how people make friends with other people, you don't just run up to a person get in their face in the first second, all else fails grab hold and shake them yelling "WHY DON'T YOU LIKE MEEEEE?!?!?!" The 2 rescue budgies I got some time ago were completely wild. It has been a month and a half now I think. They haven't turned my 4 other budgies wild at all. If anything they are very curious as to why the 4 visit me so often. The 1 female River has started to explore more and more because she sees my tame budgies interacting with me. The male Snow is a bit more leery, but will still pop over when he sees Sunny visiting me. They know something good is going on, cause they can hear seeds cracking, but they don't understand where they come from at all yet (I reward 1-2 millet seeds between my thumb and finger at a time). Hidden from view, but that sound is unmistakable! River is getting more and more bold, closer and closer to my hands. Love seeing this happen. I wasn't expecting them to ever interact with me to be honest.
That is totally correct! Dog Training, while there are similar aspects which cross both taints parrot training in a bad way. People apply things from dog training to parrots that just don't transfer! Again totally right! (Some people do lol) then they wonder why they get negative reactions. Just like birds, people are all different! I like the names you have picked for them! It's good they are learning from the rest of the flock too. Sounds like you are taking it at the right pace and great that they have the option of coming to you! Sound association is also great!
Hi David, I was wondering if you had any advice for me and my two cockatiels. I feel as if I've tried everything, and I've always been incredibly patient and done everything on their terms. It's been 6 months and things are a lot better compared to the first weeks and such, but I feel as if things should be a bit further along compared to how others talk about their birds. Everything is very much one step forward two steps back. I understand it's supposedly a bit harder with the two, I was just so afraid of them getting lonely. I'm willing to wait however long it takes, I just feel bad that I can't quite comfort them or keep them warm on chillier days. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. :)
Hey Kirsty, Just to double check, are you talking about bonding the two cockatiels or bonding with you? Either way it can be just like you described, one step forward two steps back. The key we often find is routine, consistency, regular training and ensuring diet is good so treat motivation is there! They are all individuals so it varies so wildly. If you want any specific advice let me know, otherwise I have lots of bonding videos! You could also consider booking a consultation with our business Best Behaved Birds (link in most descriptions!)
@@TheParrotTeacher It's mostly with me. They aren't the best of friends but they're lovlely enough birds that I have hope in the future aha. I'll be sure to check out a few more videos and maybe even a consultation. Thank you very much again, I really appreciate that you keep in touch with your fans. :)
Very late to this video but any advice is much appreciated. I just bought a conure from a breeder who did an absolutely terrible wing clip, he cant glide to the ground to make a safe landing, he just drops like a rock. Hes hand tame but not bonded with me yet, as i have only had him for 2 days, so he prefers to just run around exploring at the moment rather than hang out with me. we gave him a big cage with lots of perches for him to climb around to where he needs to go. at the moment he really doesnt like staying in his cage, which i didnt expect since its a brand new environment for him. should i let him out to run around on the floor or should i keep him in his cage so he gets acclimated? or should i try to start target training straight away once i find his favourite treat? thank you in advance!
Hey there, Sounds great about the big cage, perches etc If he's happy to run around and happy with you then I'd say let him explore. Due to the wing clip be very mindful of him in the environment though! I tend to advise letting a bird get used to their environment as it's often the safest option for many parrots being introduced into a new home. But some will be quite happy to interact and explore right away. I'd let him come out and have fun supervised. But also begin doing target training within the cage with him so he links it as somewhere fun and so it's easier for you to get him back in when you need to in the future.
@@TheParrotTeacher thank you so so much for your reply! I'll continue to let him run around and have a look at everything, supervised of course. And target training within the cage is such a great idea, thank you! Today he's been extra cuddly, preferring to stay on my chest rather than run around. Do you think there would be a reason for this or could he feel like he's done all his exploring and now wants to hang out? He's been beak grinding and doing soft little chirps every now and then, and his appetite is still great. He's my first conure, I have 2 budgies who were never this snuggly 😅
@@moistgrapefruit7027 Conures are pretty cuddly in nature as they often cuddle up against each other in the wild (and at home!) It's possible he's just getting used to you and is happy to be around you. I have lots of other conure videos that may be useful!
What a wonderful video! Soon, I am bringing home a hand-fed cockatiel after it is properly weaned. This is precisely the question that I have had. Are there any differences between bonding with a hand-raised cockatiel versus a parront-raised cockatiel?
Generally bonding with a hand-raised is much easier. A parent raised one will likely be a little more cautious of hands (unless it has been exposed to them). But generally either way bonding is done in the same manner! Have you thought of a name yet?
@@TheParrotTeacher Thanks for answering the question! Either way, I will follow your tips and be careful around the bird. I don't want to rush anything. And yes, his name is Floki! He's genetically weird because he has pearl markings on one wing, but no markings on the others. :)
@@iMoosker That is a cute name! For sure, don't rush. But also don't be scared to interact with him if he is up for it. That's a cute trait! He may end up losing those depending on his type! Also, I have a general video on bonding that could be worth watching + a care guide! Feel free to check those out if they are useful!
Hey there! We do use one sometimes, especially when target training with the conures. However for many of our birds trained behaviours or interactions we don't find it necessary! We always use positive reinforcement, but the clicker as a behaviour bridging tool is only used depending on what we want to achieve!
Hey Nicole! Thank you. Which cards did I miss out?? Also did you comment elsewhere a little while back with an update? I think RUclips deleted or hid it before I could see!
Chip and Fish were! We can't be sure with the conures as they were rescues. Certainly. But, it'd take the usual bonding, training and persistent effort. It's definitely possible for parent raised birds to bond with humans!
Ik the video is old but I have a problem: I have 5 cockatiels (two are a couple and three are their children, they're three males and two females) what cages should I get and how should I devide them?
Hey there, It depends on how they get on as a flock. They may be better off all kept in one very big cage. If they don't get on then see who gets on with who and provide a couple of large cages. It all depends on your circumstances, their relationships and also if you want to put some extra work in to ensure they all get on.
@@TheParrotTeacher at the moment they're devided by sex because if we put the mom in the males' cage everything seems fine, but not with the other female. So it's ok to keep three in one cage and the other two in another?
Hey Shereen, They DON'T need grit. It's a common misconception and one pet shops perpetuate to sell stuff. They are social animals and we feel are better off kept in pairs or flocks. BUT if you have plenty of time to spend with the cockatiel or are rescuing, then solo birds are ok.
What do I do if my bird is scared from millet shes scared from EVERYTHING seeds vegetables, (the wife of my flown bird) And yes i agree that they have personality!
I just brought in a new rescue cockatiel that is 4 years old never bean handled, never fledged as a baby, never had veggies or fruit, never had perches, never had a name, and has never had a toy/s to play with. because of this he is scared of almost everything we got him to be relatively good with humans, hands, and millet so I want to target train him but he is afraid of the stick we tried putting the stick by the cage so he could just observe it but that does not seem to have worked so now I'm stuck on what to do next
Hey there! If he's scared of the stick, I'd initially just try to get him used to taking treats from your hand instead. If he's better with you the target training can come on down the line. You could also try a different stick, maybe something shorter, different coloured or plainer! It's amazing how much the item can sometimes play a part in fear. You could also work on desense with the stick. Just getting him used to it being around and rewarding him for not acting afraid. I'd also work lots on passive bonding going forward too. Let him settle in and just be around him but not actively interacting as much as possible. Just doing your normal stuff so he can get used to you, your sounds, movements and how you appear.
Since alot of parrots are clipped from the breeder, petshop or rescue, you can use that time before their flight feathers grow back by beings their personal elevator, with snacks!!!
I got my bird to wet! Never doing that again. Try to get some dried blood off her wing she broke a blood feather bleeding stopped one minute after it happened but that was a long minute for me LOL I let a week pass she wasn't cleaning up the dried blood so I felt time to give her a bath started with the spray bottle it wasn't working so I decided to get her Wing fully wet and she lost her equilibrium it seems like very scary for me I was like I'm just trying to help did my research and won't make the mistake again you're not supposed to get birds under direct water at all it was at a comfortable temperature just too wet should make a video about that cuz that was kind of traumatizing for me it's been a little over a month I had her so I could tell she trust me but still iffy a bit towards me😔
Hey Aaron, It's fine to bathe, but you realise that wasn't the best situation to do it in! Use a mister or give her a shallow plate or bowl to bath in! You can rebuild your trust!
@@TheParrotTeacher we all start somewhere :) I'm still learning. I'm so glad having you and sophie helping me (i still think i should be paying you both)
@WarGamingParrot Well, we have a female cockatiel and when the TV is on or just a radio she shreeks often and interrupts us. But when I put my metal music on she is looking curiously where does that sound come from and is quiet or curiously listening :D Some say she likes it, but I can not say. I don't think that I understand these birds. :-( But at least I help my girlfriend with getting a food and other stuff for it like handmade birches which I cut to exact measure to fit them in cage etc. I told my girl that we might try to shuffle the toys in his cage and grt one toy off the cage but she refused to. I said that the cage is too full. No she has her own mind :( And then one of your videos confirmed my theory. So once the toys were shuffled. But to make just a one shuffle in 11 months? It is desperately too few for cockatiel. I am definitely not a fan of having such an animal at home for the mess and poops and jabbed holes in wooden things but I told my girl that if she wants to keep her, we should get her a bigger cage, mate and try to change a bit our attitude - make it more professionaly and take advices from people like you. ;-) Actually I optioned for something more silent and less mess making - small aquarium with Red Neocaridina Davidi shrimps with a branch/root, stone and moss with guppy grass. The amount of green really brings a peace to mind :-) But still thank you for your videos! ;-)
Hey there! It is funny as cockatiel's can have music tastes just like us. For example our boys quite like dance music sometimes! With regards to changing things up in the cage, it is worth doing it once in a while just to keep things interesting! Toys can sometimes become boring if kept in the same place. A bigger cage is always good as is a friend of the same species! However it can take effort to bond two birds who aren't from the same flock! That sounds cool! Thank you!
@WarGamingParrot Funny and interesting that such a small head offers so much in variety of personalities. The less personalities there is it would be easier to fit in some manual. But also when I watched some videos about dachshunds which are my passion I found out that they also have different personalities. First the difference is a bit predisposed by the type (black, brown, long-haired, wired and common) and then it is a lottery. Some say that their dachsie is cute, friendly and even would welcome a burglar in the house while others tend to bite almost everyone or attack from behind, or destroy things while others do not. When looking upon that strong self-confident nature of cockatiel and also might stubborn behavior it reminds me of dachshunds :D If dachshund aims at something he is really persistant and same for cockatiel. But the difference is that I can teach dog not to do some things while I really have no clue how to make cockatiel not to jab/chew some some things. Is it ever possible to teach cockatiel to not to do some things? So far it all looks like that only solution is wait until cockatiel is done and satisfied with his "work". Or? Yeah these toys are something I want to experiment with to fuel an interest in interior of cockatiel's cage. Also aim is to make cockatiel occupied for a longer time and to force cockatiel to explore - employ his brain :) I think that you said that cockatiel reacts better to high pitched notes and it inspires me to play her "String Quartet Tribute to HIM". Cockatiel whistling "Wings of a Butterfly" would be a heartbreaker for all the female fans of HIM :D Time will show where we can get the relationship with cockatiel. I said that if we won't have time enough and won't be succesful we should give her to someone who is really master with these birds and whi has a companion for her also. I don't like keeping animals at any costs in a style like "head against the wall". If human is not satisfied neither the animal is. It is same also with dogs when someone chooses some tough shepherd dogs and later finds out that they can't handle raising that dog. Just an appearance is too little to choose some animal.
@@TheParrotTeacher I understand :) We'll find out later. But still one more question I have and that is why our female cockatiel want to sit on the top of our heads? She never comes to us like she will it on a hand on shoulder but suddenly quickly flies and tries to land on our heads. I have never let her to do this. How can we handle this behavior? This is a sign of what? She is considering us as a friends or a "thing" where to land, or a nest, or is it a sign of dominance like she is taking us as her possession/territory? Please explain me this sign or message. I'd like to know what we are dealing with and how to take it.
@@Hrafn22 usually they want to go up there because it’s the highest point and provides a good view around. It’s a safe spot for her! They also like it up there because it’s nice and warm! The best way to handle it is to move her where you’d like her and reinforce her there with a fave treat. You can also try target training to direct her elsewhere! It’s definitely not a dominance thing as height dominance in parrots is a myth
Two cockateils in a small cage are being given to me. This has been their home for almost 5 years. They are going g to the vet on the way here for a wellness check. Should I immediately move them to a large cage or just let them adjust to me and the new place?
Hey Yvonne, There are different opinions on what to do in this situation. Some argue you should just get them straight into the new cage asap as it's bigger and get it over with. I'd argue that it's best to let them get used to you and the new place before moving them. It's a big change for them and you want them both to be as happy as possible! Ultimately though the choice is yours!
Can i ask how are you managing keeping old world parrots and new world parrots not only in the sane room but also directly next to eaco othet ? I dont believe filteration would be enougj to manage the dust from the tiels
Hey there, We have a very powerful air purifier and regularly open the windows when the parrots are in their enclosures. While powdery down parrots do present some issues, it's mostly about being aware of them and sorting them before they become a problem. It's not presented an issue thus far and if properly managed will likely never do so. I have heard of macaws doing badly around powdery down birds, but even in those cases if precautions and pre planning were put in place it could be mitigated.
A year ago in July I rescued a cockatiel from being attacked by a cat no one claimed him iv never owned a bird before and came attached to him so I kept him and read and watch videos when I first got him he was very very scared and wanted to bite all the time and escape I think he must of been abused from previous owners or he may be a wild cockatiel as he has no band also after months of bonding and target training he still was very scared of the hand he let's me stand beside him on his stand even face to face also let's me put my hand in the cage without attacking or rushing away from me takes food from my fingers and stretches his head to feed from my hand steps up on a stick but my finger or hand big no when told to fly to his T stand or cage he dose so I am very proud of him and he is a excellent singer but how do I get to bond just that bit more for him to trust me on my hand at least he doesn't bite when I try to get him to step up just flies off but comes back to where I am standing so after a few tries I stop and try once a day this is just recent attempt any advice would be most appreciated thankyou
Hey Fran, This might be something best covered in a consultation with our business Best Behaved Birds. It sounds like you're doing an awful lot right. Quick tip wise, I'd make sure you're using the highest value treats possible (by doing a treat hierarchy test), doing lots more training and passive bonding work, continuing with the target training and then trying to move the stepping up onto a stick to stepping up onto a covered hand!
@@TheParrotTeacher Aw thanks for replying yes I will take your advice and let you know how we get on in the future 😊 I have tried everywhere to buy natural pellets here in Spain but as yet not found anywhere so I have been been giving chopped up veg mixed with a little millet for a good few months since then his behaviour has improved a great deal I think he is quite old would love to know his age but anyway his my baby now 😊
I would strongly disagree with the claim that having a bonded pair doesn’t affect their bonding with you. Birds have complex relationships. One may adore a bird/human but hate another bird, that other bird loves the first bird and hate the human, and so on. The larger the group of birds, the more complex the relationships get. Imagine the most dramatic triangle drama. It’s real. I was fostering a bonded pair of macaws for a couple of years and while they both liked me, there was fierce jealousy going on and I had to be very careful to avoid fights breaking out. It was also almost impossible to take out one bird to do training with just that one - the other would start screaming bloody murder and get very upset. Keep it simple. I realize there’s a difference between an angry tiny cockatiel vs a giant macaw coming at you with murder in his eyes, but I still think the concept is the same. My single macaw, on the other hand, super easy to bond with, even though I adopted him because he was too aggressive in his previous home (which had lots of birds). Our thinking is that he became so extremely aggressive because of other birds, and the multidimensional relationships in that household. As a single bird, he’s very calm, super gentle and very eager to learn and explore new things.
Hey Niklas, Thanks for the comment! While I can definitely agree that in some extreme individual cases there may be exceptions, but as a rule we believe 99% of issues can be solved through hormone management, training and extra effort from us as trainers/owners. Even if the solution is temporarily working on separate training, bonding etc, tolerance at least can be achieved. You can see this with preferred humans too, which is something that crops up SO much in consults. When a parrot prefers one human and actively attacks the other (others) in the household. It is very true that parrots have complex interpersonal relationships and flock dynamics. This can be altered by humans and other parrots. However, Both in personal experience and in professional experience (through volunteering / zoo work / consults etc) we have found the above to be true.
Awe Scampi has an itchy, cute little masked bird face!
He does!
had our cockatiel Loki for a week now. we have been letting out the cage, after watching this I realize it's way to soon. just want our little fella to be happy. we got him from a pet shop which claimed he was 10-12weeks old. parent raised. going to take things a lot slower going forward. thanks for the videos really helpful
Hey David,
Glad it was useful! It's something we all do. It's something I've done in the past too! It's easy to get over excited.
Also go at Loki's pace. If you notice he is ok and happy being out and about, keep doing it. If he is scared and hesitant then dial it back!
I have lots of other cockatiel videos that may help too!
Thank you David! Super helpful as I prepare for bringing home a second cockatiel!
Glad it was helpful! Did you decide on a name yet for the little one?
My fiancé and I have been watching lots of RUclips videos about cockatiels tonight. Not really sure what made us spend 2 hours doing that, but it was fun and informative! 😁
Anyway, we watched a few of your videos and like them a lot. But this video, we were laughing so hard at your demonstrations showing what not to do! It made us laugh so much I had to rewind and watch those parts again 😆 So thanks for the info and the laughs.
We have 2 very different cockatiels and always need all the help and info we can get! Charlie is our rescue cockatiel that someone found outside. No one claimed him so they kept him a while but couldn’t give him the attention he needs so he was rehomed, then a day later rehomed again when we adopted him. We have no idea how old he is, how he was treated prior to being found outside, or whether he escaped or that his original owner let him go because he wasn’t instantly like the birds people watch on social media or something like that. We have had him for 4.5 years now and it took almost 2 years for him to trust us enough to come out of the cage, step up, sit on our shoulders etc. Even now he is still very reserved and hesitant to hang out with us or do anything besides sit on his playground on top of the big cage, sit on top of the smaller cage across the room, or fly back and forth between the 2 cages.
Earlier this year we got a very young cockatiel from a really great pet shop down the street where she was hand raised and handled a lot. We named her Speckle (99% sure she is a female). She is not shy, and when we were playing with some of the cockatiels at the pet shop to see which bird would be best for us, Speckle climbed out of the cage she was in with a few of her siblings and walked right up my arm to my shoulder then started preening my hair lol. So she basically chose us and it was meant to be 😁 So she is not shy at all and is always climbing all over us, stealing our food, demanding scritches, pretty much all the things Charlie doesn’t do.
We were kind of hoping her being so social and trusting of us would rub off on Charlie, but it hasn’t. In fact it has made him even more antisocial towards us. BUT Charlie and Speckle have definitely bonded, and you can see how much they love each other when they are snuggled up so close together and when they kind of dance in the bottom of the cage together while one of them tweets this loud annoying song Charlie made up a few years ago.
Anyway, I totally forgot the point I was trying to make or question to ask or why I told Charlie and Speckle’s opposites attract story. 😆 Oh well, hope you enjoyed the story anyway even though I forgot where I was going with it haha. Thanks again for the informative and funny videos!
Hey Dove,
Thank you for the kind comment and really glad you both enjoyed my videos!
It is funny how parrots can be such individuals and their personalities and reactions to us can differ so widely!
My first cockatiel did the same to me oddly lol. She picked me so I picked her!
It's really great that they have bonded too, it's so good for them to have companionship both from us humans and a member of their own species. If you like my sense of joking about you should watch the "parrot POV" video!
WHY AREN’T YOU LIKE PICKLES! Poor Skompy 😂
You know I don't mean it!
The last one is something that I truly learned, kept thinking my birds didn't want to come close to me and being scared because they're paired up, realised I've been rushing it and the birds aren't panicking around my presence anymore, still haven't gone far tho, they're still not taking foods out my hands, even millets, thx a lot for these tips
No worries and glad they were useful! You'll get there with them!
Yes, it can take time sometimes! The more we rush (because we want them to be content/play with us) often the more we make mistakes!
Hahaha you went faster to the bars than I would!
🤣
I've got a budgie, I've had him for almost a year, but a few months ago I got his wings clipped, he was a very stubborn bird, he wouldn't step up, he wouldn't take millet and so forth, led him and me down the frustrated road, after his wings got clipped, and he flew to the ground, rather gracefully, he knew he couldn't fly up, that's where I came in, I can't tell you enough about the frustration that ended between us, he now steps up, he eats from my hand, his wings have grown back, beautifully, him and me have a better relationship between us than ever before 😊 I'm pleased to report, we are both doing well
I’m glad things have worked out between you both! But honestly it doesn’t always go so well with wing clipping!
It took my Half Moon Conure a month to come out of his cage! Now he can't wait to come out each morning. 😀 Thanks for the video.
That's adorable! Glad he is a happy little man!
yes, good explaination. I completely agree.
Thank you!
I got a new cockatiels two days ago because mine flew away a week ago very saddening, but i learnt from this videos that i have to be patient and interact with him from cage
Hey there!
Glad to hear! Yes, be patient and don't rush!
:'( I'm sorry to read about your escaped bird.
If it's any consolation, a friend of the family who used to hand raise tiel was showing his to someone, when they accidentally let one of the hens out of the aviary. We don't know how long she was out, but we found her in our yard going at the grass seed. Because she was hand raised, we were able to bring her inside by hand, and she lived a good life with us until she passed away several years later (we don't know how old she was when we found her).
The point of the story is that an escaped bird may find a home where they will be safe and cared for (this is usually not the case, but it does happen). We did figure out who had hand raised her, because when he came to visit one day, she made a beeline for him.
in Australia and my 6 year old Cockatiel Eric is my life, when i leave the house and thats not alot he has a meltdown, screaming, swearing and then wont talk to me when i get home till he feels i have made it up to him and iam NOT KIDDING. The vet says he has separation anxiety, he will normally ride in the car but when i get ill and have to go in to hospital he looses weight, I love this boy with my life and sometimes he wont eat very much. his weight is between 98grms and 104grms he has been as low as 87 when i was last in hospital. I cant imagine life without him and he lets me do his grooming. They are not little souls for people that cant put the time into them. LOVE YOUR CHANNEL.
Hey Sharon,
It is possible that he does indeed have separation anxiety. It sure sounds like the vet has it correct. There are methods of training to help with it though!
They are indeed amazing little souls and thank you!
@@TheParrotTeacher Thank you sweetie for your reply and also your channel is brilliant and a really helpful go to for advice even for people like me that have had them for years, Last night here in Australia it was very late and a few things he has been doing that had me worried, but watching your vids put my mind at ease and for that THANK YOU. You have a beautiful soul. GOD BLESS.🦜💖LOVE FROM ERIC the Cockatiel.
@@sharonpearce1352 Thank you for the kind comment!
I needed this so bad!! Just in time!! Mochi is meeting my besties bird this weekend!!!
Glad it was useful!
This is mostly about human to bird bonding but most of it still applies!
I'm going to do a different video on bird bonding as we are learning lots more with our conures and want footage for it!
Just had my Cockateils for over a month now (Pip and Sparky). They are comfortable coming out of the cage but I still have to be mindful as they can get startled. Pip has just started coming onto my hand. Sparky won't entertain the notion at all. It will be interesting to see what stage they are at in another month's time. I'm actually pretty pleased.
Hey there!
Sounds like they are getting on well with you! It's also great that you are aware of going at their own pace!
😂The example acting parts are hilarious! I love this video (also very helpful 😌)
Glad you liked it and thank you!
Thank you for the video! I was anxious that my new cockatiel didn't want to have anything to do with me, as she spends a lot of time in a separate room. I think I made the mistake of letting her out of the cage too soon. She will walk and explore the house, but isnt keen on hanging out with me yet. However she likes scritches and will step up cautiously with millet in my hand. Her wings were clipped when I got her, which I suspect may be a hindrance to our bonding. I think you are correct about taking it slow and reinforcing good behavior with treats. Thanks for the tips!
Hey Kayla,
Glad the tips are useful! Bonding can take time, so don't be afraid to take it at a slow pace!
Your videos are delightful!!!! Thank you 😊
Thank you Tami, very kind!
I got two rescue budgie 3 days back, it was owned in a house where they had 5 kids who were constantly hitting its small carrier cage seeking its attention 😳. Now they are with me in a calm house. The problem is my two GCC hates them, both started attacking the cage. So I have kept the budgies in a separate room and am starting to bond with them. But now my GCC have become jealous and bikes me when I try to spend time with them. They want my full attention to them. The GCC are bonded with my entire family, but still they want all our attention towards them
Hey Rakesh,
Keeping them in a separate room is a good plan just in case. It's a shock for the budgies and the conures also don't know what's going on. They see the budgies as potential competition for your attention.
You'll have to introduce them slowly and work on training/de-sensitisation with them. But, you need to be aware it may not work and you may need to keep them separated!
question, I got my cocktiel last week, and all seems pretty good. but he does not really respond to the treats I offer him. I've offered him millet, different fruits and other things. Is this just something that also takes time? Or is he just not used to these foods because he never encountered them before while he was kept at the pet store? He is currently 6 months old according to his paper work.
It could be he’s not used to the treats, could be just being unsure! It may also be worth exploring what his fave treats are more formally! Lining them up or observing what he takes from his bowl first to see what his preferences are
To many people thinking a parrot is a puppy me thinks.
Just makes me think of how people make friends with other people, you don't just run up to a person get in their face in the first second, all else fails grab hold and shake them yelling "WHY DON'T YOU LIKE MEEEEE?!?!?!"
The 2 rescue budgies I got some time ago were completely wild. It has been a month and a half now I think. They haven't turned my 4 other budgies wild at all. If anything they are very curious as to why the 4 visit me so often. The 1 female River has started to explore more and more because she sees my tame budgies interacting with me. The male Snow is a bit more leery, but will still pop over when he sees Sunny visiting me.
They know something good is going on, cause they can hear seeds cracking, but they don't understand where they come from at all yet (I reward 1-2 millet seeds between my thumb and finger at a time). Hidden from view, but that sound is unmistakable! River is getting more and more bold, closer and closer to my hands. Love seeing this happen. I wasn't expecting them to ever interact with me to be honest.
That is totally correct! Dog Training, while there are similar aspects which cross both taints parrot training in a bad way. People apply things from dog training to parrots that just don't transfer!
Again totally right! (Some people do lol) then they wonder why they get negative reactions. Just like birds, people are all different!
I like the names you have picked for them! It's good they are learning from the rest of the flock too. Sounds like you are taking it at the right pace and great that they have the option of coming to you!
Sound association is also great!
You are being very careful, respectful and loving to your rescues.
Thank you and good luck.
Hi David, I was wondering if you had any advice for me and my two cockatiels. I feel as if I've tried everything, and I've always been incredibly patient and done everything on their terms. It's been 6 months and things are a lot better compared to the first weeks and such, but I feel as if things should be a bit further along compared to how others talk about their birds. Everything is very much one step forward two steps back. I understand it's supposedly a bit harder with the two, I was just so afraid of them getting lonely. I'm willing to wait however long it takes, I just feel bad that I can't quite comfort them or keep them warm on chillier days. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. :)
Hey Kirsty,
Just to double check, are you talking about bonding the two cockatiels or bonding with you?
Either way it can be just like you described, one step forward two steps back. The key we often find is routine, consistency, regular training and ensuring diet is good so treat motivation is there! They are all individuals so it varies so wildly.
If you want any specific advice let me know, otherwise I have lots of bonding videos!
You could also consider booking a consultation with our business Best Behaved Birds (link in most descriptions!)
@@TheParrotTeacher It's mostly with me. They aren't the best of friends but they're lovlely enough birds that I have hope in the future aha. I'll be sure to check out a few more videos and maybe even a consultation. Thank you very much again, I really appreciate that you keep in touch with your fans. :)
@@kirstywright5228 No problems! Just keep working at it!
Very late to this video but any advice is much appreciated. I just bought a conure from a breeder who did an absolutely terrible wing clip, he cant glide to the ground to make a safe landing, he just drops like a rock. Hes hand tame but not bonded with me yet, as i have only had him for 2 days, so he prefers to just run around exploring at the moment rather than hang out with me. we gave him a big cage with lots of perches for him to climb around to where he needs to go. at the moment he really doesnt like staying in his cage, which i didnt expect since its a brand new environment for him. should i let him out to run around on the floor or should i keep him in his cage so he gets acclimated? or should i try to start target training straight away once i find his favourite treat? thank you in advance!
Hey there,
Sounds great about the big cage, perches etc
If he's happy to run around and happy with you then I'd say let him explore. Due to the wing clip be very mindful of him in the environment though!
I tend to advise letting a bird get used to their environment as it's often the safest option for many parrots being introduced into a new home. But some will be quite happy to interact and explore right away.
I'd let him come out and have fun supervised. But also begin doing target training within the cage with him so he links it as somewhere fun and so it's easier for you to get him back in when you need to in the future.
@@TheParrotTeacher thank you so so much for your reply! I'll continue to let him run around and have a look at everything, supervised of course. And target training within the cage is such a great idea, thank you!
Today he's been extra cuddly, preferring to stay on my chest rather than run around. Do you think there would be a reason for this or could he feel like he's done all his exploring and now wants to hang out? He's been beak grinding and doing soft little chirps every now and then, and his appetite is still great. He's my first conure, I have 2 budgies who were never this snuggly 😅
@@moistgrapefruit7027 Conures are pretty cuddly in nature as they often cuddle up against each other in the wild (and at home!)
It's possible he's just getting used to you and is happy to be around you.
I have lots of other conure videos that may be useful!
What a wonderful video! Soon, I am bringing home a hand-fed cockatiel after it is properly weaned. This is precisely the question that I have had. Are there any differences between bonding with a hand-raised cockatiel versus a parront-raised cockatiel?
Generally bonding with a hand-raised is much easier. A parent raised one will likely be a little more cautious of hands (unless it has been exposed to them). But generally either way bonding is done in the same manner!
Have you thought of a name yet?
@@TheParrotTeacher Thanks for answering the question! Either way, I will follow your tips and be careful around the bird. I don't want to rush anything. And yes, his name is Floki! He's genetically weird because he has pearl markings on one wing, but no markings on the others. :)
@@iMoosker That is a cute name!
For sure, don't rush. But also don't be scared to interact with him if he is up for it.
That's a cute trait! He may end up losing those depending on his type!
Also, I have a general video on bonding that could be worth watching + a care guide! Feel free to check those out if they are useful!
@@TheParrotTeacher Thanks, I'll be sure to check it out!!
I've noticed that you don't use a clicker, is there a particular reason for this?
Hey there!
We do use one sometimes, especially when target training with the conures. However for many of our birds trained behaviours or interactions we don't find it necessary!
We always use positive reinforcement, but the clicker as a behaviour bridging tool is only used depending on what we want to achieve!
You forgot to add two cards to your video! :) Great video, thanks.
Hey Nicole!
Thank you. Which cards did I miss out??
Also did you comment elsewhere a little while back with an update? I think RUclips deleted or hid it before I could see!
Were Chip and Fish hand raised? Or do you think 2 parent-raised conures housed together will also bond wit you?
Chip and Fish were! We can't be sure with the conures as they were rescues.
Certainly. But, it'd take the usual bonding, training and persistent effort. It's definitely possible for parent raised birds to bond with humans!
Ik the video is old but I have a problem: I have 5 cockatiels (two are a couple and three are their children, they're three males and two females) what cages should I get and how should I devide them?
Hey there,
It depends on how they get on as a flock. They may be better off all kept in one very big cage. If they don't get on then see who gets on with who and provide a couple of large cages. It all depends on your circumstances, their relationships and also if you want to put some extra work in to ensure they all get on.
@@TheParrotTeacher at the moment they're devided by sex because if we put the mom in the males' cage everything seems fine, but not with the other female. So it's ok to keep three in one cage and the other two in another?
@@jellyminiature3014 If it's for their safety of course. You'll just need to keep an eye on them!
A quick question for you do cockateils need to be a pairs and do they need grit
Hey Shereen,
They DON'T need grit. It's a common misconception and one pet shops perpetuate to sell stuff.
They are social animals and we feel are better off kept in pairs or flocks. BUT if you have plenty of time to spend with the cockatiel or are rescuing, then solo birds are ok.
What do I do if my bird is scared from millet shes scared from EVERYTHING seeds vegetables, (the wife of my flown bird)
And yes i agree that they have personality!
Work on desensitization with them! Also break the millet up into small bits !
@@TheParrotTeacher yeah ur right ill test it right now and check I have a relationship and I’m slowly bonding with her (my bird Cocktaiel) Thanks bro!
@@LHEEBB No problems!
I just brought in a new rescue cockatiel that is 4 years old never bean handled, never fledged as a baby, never had veggies or fruit, never had perches, never had a name, and has never had a toy/s to play with. because of this he is scared of almost everything we got him to be relatively good with humans, hands, and millet so I want to target train him but he is afraid of the stick we tried putting the stick by the cage so he could just observe it but that does not seem to have worked so now I'm stuck on what to do next
Hey there!
If he's scared of the stick, I'd initially just try to get him used to taking treats from your hand instead. If he's better with you the target training can come on down the line.
You could also try a different stick, maybe something shorter, different coloured or plainer! It's amazing how much the item can sometimes play a part in fear.
You could also work on desense with the stick. Just getting him used to it being around and rewarding him for not acting afraid.
I'd also work lots on passive bonding going forward too. Let him settle in and just be around him but not actively interacting as much as possible. Just doing your normal stuff so he can get used to you, your sounds, movements and how you appear.
Best birdcage for parots
The largest and nicest you can afford/accommodate!
Since alot of parrots are clipped from the breeder, petshop or rescue, you can use that time before their flight feathers grow back by beings their personal elevator, with snacks!!!
Hey there,
You sure can! Our cockatiel's are fully flighted yet still enjoy us being their personal elavators lol
I got my bird to wet! Never doing that again. Try to get some dried blood off her wing she broke a blood feather bleeding stopped one minute after it happened but that was a long minute for me LOL I let a week pass she wasn't cleaning up the dried blood so I felt time to give her a bath started with the spray bottle it wasn't working so I decided to get her Wing fully wet and she lost her equilibrium it seems like very scary for me I was like I'm just trying to help did my research and won't make the mistake again you're not supposed to get birds under direct water at all it was at a comfortable temperature just too wet should make a video about that cuz that was kind of traumatizing for me it's been a little over a month I had her so I could tell she trust me but still iffy a bit towards me😔
Hey Aaron,
It's fine to bathe, but you realise that wasn't the best situation to do it in!
Use a mister or give her a shallow plate or bowl to bath in!
You can rebuild your trust!
Nice vid.
I probably made these mistakes, but i don't remember.
😂
Thank you!
Also I think we all have at one point or another!
@@TheParrotTeacher we all start somewhere :)
I'm still learning. I'm so glad having you and sophie helping me (i still think i should be paying you both)
@@ornithologydude8649 We all are, it's all about learning and doing the best!
Haha, it's ok!
I can’t stop crying! My newly cockatiel is so afraid of me. I can’t talk to him without making him staying terryfied in a single corner :(
Hey Puiu,
I'd work on basic bonding and training exercises. I have several videos including one specifically about cockatiel bonding.
@WarGamingParrot Well, we have a female cockatiel and when the TV is on or just a radio she shreeks often and interrupts us. But when I put my metal music on she is looking curiously where does that sound come from and is quiet or curiously listening :D Some say she likes it, but I can not say. I don't think that I understand these birds. :-( But at least I help my girlfriend with getting a food and other stuff for it like handmade birches which I cut to exact measure to fit them in cage etc. I told my girl that we might try to shuffle the toys in his cage and grt one toy off the cage but she refused to. I said that the cage is too full. No she has her own mind :( And then one of your videos confirmed my theory. So once the toys were shuffled. But to make just a one shuffle in 11 months? It is desperately too few for cockatiel. I am definitely not a fan of having such an animal at home for the mess and poops and jabbed holes in wooden things but I told my girl that if she wants to keep her, we should get her a bigger cage, mate and try to change a bit our attitude - make it more professionaly and take advices from people like you. ;-) Actually I optioned for something more silent and less mess making - small aquarium with Red Neocaridina Davidi shrimps with a branch/root, stone and moss with guppy grass. The amount of green really brings a peace to mind :-) But still thank you for your videos! ;-)
Hey there!
It is funny as cockatiel's can have music tastes just like us. For example our boys quite like dance music sometimes!
With regards to changing things up in the cage, it is worth doing it once in a while just to keep things interesting! Toys can sometimes become boring if kept in the same place.
A bigger cage is always good as is a friend of the same species! However it can take effort to bond two birds who aren't from the same flock!
That sounds cool! Thank you!
@WarGamingParrot Funny and interesting that such a small head offers so much in variety of personalities. The less personalities there is it would be easier to fit in some manual. But also when I watched some videos about dachshunds which are my passion I found out that they also have different personalities. First the difference is a bit predisposed by the type (black, brown, long-haired, wired and common) and then it is a lottery. Some say that their dachsie is cute, friendly and even would welcome a burglar in the house while others tend to bite almost everyone or attack from behind, or destroy things while others do not. When looking upon that strong self-confident nature of cockatiel and also might stubborn behavior it reminds me of dachshunds :D If dachshund aims at something he is really persistant and same for cockatiel. But the difference is that I can teach dog not to do some things while I really have no clue how to make cockatiel not to jab/chew some some things. Is it ever possible to teach cockatiel to not to do some things? So far it all looks like that only solution is wait until cockatiel is done and satisfied with his "work". Or?
Yeah these toys are something I want to experiment with to fuel an interest in interior of cockatiel's cage. Also aim is to make cockatiel occupied for a longer time and to force cockatiel to explore - employ his brain :)
I think that you said that cockatiel reacts better to high pitched notes and it inspires me to play her "String Quartet Tribute to HIM". Cockatiel whistling "Wings of a Butterfly" would be a heartbreaker for all the female fans of HIM :D
Time will show where we can get the relationship with cockatiel. I said that if we won't have time enough and won't be succesful we should give her to someone who is really master with these birds and whi has a companion for her also. I don't like keeping animals at any costs in a style like "head against the wall". If human is not satisfied neither the animal is. It is same also with dogs when someone chooses some tough shepherd dogs and later finds out that they can't handle raising that dog. Just an appearance is too little to choose some animal.
@@Hrafn22 You'll always be able to build a decent bond with a parrot with enough work! All it takes is patience and training!
@@TheParrotTeacher I understand :) We'll find out later. But still one more question I have and that is why our female cockatiel want to sit on the top of our heads? She never comes to us like she will it on a hand on shoulder but suddenly quickly flies and tries to land on our heads. I have never let her to do this. How can we handle this behavior? This is a sign of what? She is considering us as a friends or a "thing" where to land, or a nest, or is it a sign of dominance like she is taking us as her possession/territory? Please explain me this sign or message. I'd like to know what we are dealing with and how to take it.
@@Hrafn22 usually they want to go up there because it’s the highest point and provides a good view around. It’s a safe spot for her! They also like it up there because it’s nice and warm!
The best way to handle it is to move her where you’d like her and reinforce her there with a fave treat. You can also try target training to direct her elsewhere!
It’s definitely not a dominance thing as height dominance in parrots is a myth
My cockatiel is a magnet birdie.
I'm not sure what that means but sounds cool!
@@TheParrotTeacher Hello,
She's very bonded with me. She climbs up my arm and rests her head on my cheek and gives me a little beak kiss.
😊
@@dg.262 ahh I see! Makes sense haha!
Two cockateils in a small cage are being given to me. This has been their home for almost 5 years. They are going g to the vet on the way here for a wellness check. Should I immediately move them to a large cage or just let them adjust to me and the new place?
Hey Yvonne,
There are different opinions on what to do in this situation. Some argue you should just get them straight into the new cage asap as it's bigger and get it over with.
I'd argue that it's best to let them get used to you and the new place before moving them. It's a big change for them and you want them both to be as happy as possible!
Ultimately though the choice is yours!
For sure. Hope I do the best one for them. Thanks for your help.
@@yvonnemathis1183 No problems!
Is that a cowboy bebop poster behind your cages?
It is yeah! I'm a bit of an anime fan, have been since I was a kid!
@@TheParrotTeacher Nice! Thanks for the bird tips!
@@HD-ct2un No problems!
Ah yes, the bottom line, star jumps are for exercising, not for stressing a new birb 🤣
Definitely, avoid star jumping when training! It's confusing lol
Can i ask how are you managing keeping old world parrots and new world parrots not only in the sane room but also directly next to eaco othet ?
I dont believe filteration would be enougj to manage the dust from the tiels
Hey there,
We have a very powerful air purifier and regularly open the windows when the parrots are in their enclosures. While powdery down parrots do present some issues, it's mostly about being aware of them and sorting them before they become a problem.
It's not presented an issue thus far and if properly managed will likely never do so. I have heard of macaws doing badly around powdery down birds, but even in those cases if precautions and pre planning were put in place it could be mitigated.
A year ago in July I rescued a cockatiel from being attacked by a cat no one claimed him iv never owned a bird before and came attached to him so I kept him and read and watch videos when I first got him he was very very scared and wanted to bite all the time and escape I think he must of been abused from previous owners or he may be a wild cockatiel as he has no band also after months of bonding and target training he still was very scared of the hand he let's me stand beside him on his stand even face to face also let's me put my hand in the cage without attacking or rushing away from me takes food from my fingers and stretches his head to feed from my hand steps up on a stick but my finger or hand big no when told to fly to his T stand or cage he dose so I am very proud of him and he is a excellent singer but how do I get to bond just that bit more for him to trust me on my hand at least he doesn't bite when I try to get him to step up just flies off but comes back to where I am standing so after a few tries I stop and try once a day this is just recent attempt any advice would be most appreciated thankyou
Hey Fran,
This might be something best covered in a consultation with our business Best Behaved Birds.
It sounds like you're doing an awful lot right. Quick tip wise, I'd make sure you're using the highest value treats possible (by doing a treat hierarchy test), doing lots more training and passive bonding work, continuing with the target training and then trying to move the stepping up onto a stick to stepping up onto a covered hand!
@@TheParrotTeacher Aw thanks for replying yes I will take your advice and let you know how we get on in the future 😊 I have tried everywhere to buy natural pellets here in Spain but as yet not found anywhere so I have been been giving chopped up veg mixed with a little millet for a good few months since then his behaviour has improved a great deal I think he is quite old would love to know his age but anyway his my baby now 😊
@@franiclark5731 Sounds great :)
Like👍 like 👍 👍 👍
Thank you!
I have to say, wing clipping should be considered maiming. I don't see it any other way.
We really feel it’s just completely unnecessary in the modern day. Sadly it remains a practice due to old school thinking and human convenience
@@TheParrotTeacher Wish I knew of a way to ban it.
@@ACockatielsSong Sadly there's just not enough will or understanding when it comes to animals to do that!
I would strongly disagree with the claim that having a bonded pair doesn’t affect their bonding with you. Birds have complex relationships. One may adore a bird/human but hate another bird, that other bird loves the first bird and hate the human, and so on. The larger the group of birds, the more complex the relationships get. Imagine the most dramatic triangle drama. It’s real. I was fostering a bonded pair of macaws for a couple of years and while they both liked me, there was fierce jealousy going on and I had to be very careful to avoid fights breaking out. It was also almost impossible to take out one bird to do training with just that one - the other would start screaming bloody murder and get very upset. Keep it simple. I realize there’s a difference between an angry tiny cockatiel vs a giant macaw coming at you with murder in his eyes, but I still think the concept is the same. My single macaw, on the other hand, super easy to bond with, even though I adopted him because he was too aggressive in his previous home (which had lots of birds). Our thinking is that he became so extremely aggressive because of other birds, and the multidimensional relationships in that household. As a single bird, he’s very calm, super gentle and very eager to learn and explore new things.
Hey Niklas,
Thanks for the comment! While I can definitely agree that in some extreme individual cases there may be exceptions, but as a rule we believe 99% of issues can be solved through hormone management, training and extra effort from us as trainers/owners.
Even if the solution is temporarily working on separate training, bonding etc, tolerance at least can be achieved. You can see this with preferred humans too, which is something that crops up SO much in consults. When a parrot prefers one human and actively attacks the other (others) in the household.
It is very true that parrots have complex interpersonal relationships and flock dynamics. This can be altered by humans and other parrots. However, Both in personal experience and in professional experience (through volunteering / zoo work / consults etc) we have found the above to be true.
Nc bro
Thank you!
It applies to human girls as well.
Rushing and dancing over excitedly in front of women definitely does disrupt the bonding process! (unless they find it amusing!)