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Post by christine on Feb 12, 2012 3:15:06 GMT 10
Hello, I purchased two tiels that have never been out of their cage. I have them in a large flight cage with lots of toys they don't play with. They are perfectly content singing as long as I don't come near them. The woman I purchased them from suggested I wear gloves and take them out several times a week and talk to them. She said this worked for someone else and only took a month. I have had them out 3 or 4 times for 12 mins holding them and all they do is screech and bite. The only time they stop is if I feed them millet. My fingers are sore from bites even with gloves. One is more aggressive than the other. I feel really badly for the poor birds and fear they will break a wing or have a heart attack when I try to catch them. I talk to them often and if I don't get too close they don't get frantic. Sometimes I will sit near them each day for 10 mins and read a magazine and talk to them occasionally. They don't seem to mind this. I sent for a video from bird tricks but I have to say I am not hopeful. If I had wanted just a caged bird I would have bought a canary or finches, I already have finches and a conure. Any help would be appreciated. Sincerely Christine
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Post by vankarhi on Feb 12, 2012 7:24:07 GMT 10
how old are the cockatiels supposed to be?? I am guessing you were told they were "young" and I am guessing you have been told they were handraised?? They may well have been handraised but possibly not handled since then and if they are older birds........they will bite and they will be harder to tame and quieten down. It is not impossible to tame them down...........but it will need patience and a lot of time.
There are so many people who buy birds from people who tell them "yes" the birds are babies or they stretch the truth a bit and say "young", yes they were handraised .........but neglect to say they are unhandleable because they have not been handled since they weaned
It makes me sad to see so many people who stretch the truth just so they can sell or get rid of their unwanted birds on some poor unsuspecting person who only wants a nice tame bird to love.
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Post by avinet on Feb 12, 2012 10:17:58 GMT 10
Taming an older cockatiel is possible but not really worth the effort. If you have had the birds for 7 months (I assume that is what "7 mos" means) they ar enot going to tame and it is much better to place them in an aviary outside in the garden, and buy a genuine hand raised cockatiel to have as a pet. One that you can handle comfortably before buying  Unfortunately as vankarhi said, there are too many out in bird land who are prepared to rip off people to make a sale - but that is the same for every thing I guess. The general rule is to never buy a bird in the hope of taming it - some will tame but many won't, and there are plenty of lovely hand raised genuine babies out there waiting to find a nice home. cheers, Mike |
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Post by christine on Feb 12, 2012 22:32:21 GMT 10
Hello, and thank you for the reply. The cockatiels are 7months old from the same batch. I don't believe the seller mislead me - she did say they have never been out of their cage but she had sold others and people were successful in training them. I have only had them for two weeks. Sorry I wasn't clear on that. Unfortunately I cannot abandon them for a cute baby although that would be nice to have. I made a commitment to them and will keep trying with them. If they never train they will still have a good and happy home with me and perhaps then I will consider buying a hand fed handled baby. Thanks again. Chris
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Post by vankarhi on Feb 13, 2012 7:06:59 GMT 10
well 7 months is not too old........but I suspect they have not been handraised or as I said before not handled since they weaned. You will be able to tame them.........but having 2 at the same time will be a little more difficult. I would not be yanking them out of the cage, they will bite and they will get stressed. If you could get them clipped ......... just temporarily just until you can work with them, that will make life a little easier for you at least........they wont be able to fly away from you. But if you don't want to get them clipped you can still do it. The trouble is if one gets spooked the other one will too. If one will remain calm then the other one might also remain calm. I find it so much easier to get one bird at a time and then I can use a tame bird to help me tame or quieten a bird down. Ok..........you have only had them for 2 weeks?? I assume you have taken them out of their cage already and tried to handle them...........you did say got bitten. Now just try to sit beside their cage and talk to them, when cleaning their cage move your hands around the cage and try to move your hand near them........slowly and quietly talking to them. Go just as far as they will allow without them starting to get frightened........watch their body language carefully. Always move slowly especially when you are in and around their cage and trying to get them used to you. I would do this a few times a day.......just talking to them quietly and slowly putting your hand in their cage and trying to quietly to get your hand close to them. Never push them until they are frightened, but try to get a little closer each time...........but remember NEVER push them until they have a fright. If you can only get your hand just inside the door of the cage........that is fine...........maybe work on getting your hand an inch closer, then a little bit closer etc etc. Always praise them and give them some sort of treat.........if you can see what their fav food is then take this out of their daily food and put a treat bowl in their cage and when you have finished each little training session put that treat in their treat bowl. This might only take a few days.........it may take a week, it may take a month or longer.............but I am sure as time goes on you will see them improve and that is a plus. Once you can get your hand close to them start asking them to step up...........but once again NEVER push them until they are frightened and always stop as soon as you see them becoming uncomfortable or stressed..........stop the training.........and try again a little later. Always put a treat in the bowl.........you want them to see you as a good thing. You could also just pop a treat in the bowl as you walk past their cage.........just because you are a nice person and you want them to see that you are a nice person and nice things come from you. Be patient...........and if you can see that one of the birds is a little more comfortable with you, then maybe concentrate on this bird and just leave the other bird or maybe keep trying with the other bird but concentrate more with the one who seems a little more comfortable with you. Once this bird starts to respond positively then the other bird might start too. Let us know how you go. |
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Post by lene1949 on Feb 13, 2012 19:08:34 GMT 10
Hi Christine... I think you have gotten a lot of good advise on this forum...
Wishing you all the best...
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Post by christine on Feb 13, 2012 22:05:18 GMT 10
Hello, and thank you for all the good advice!! I have had both birds out of their cage several times and they do bite and screech. No success there. I have been standing by their cage as close as comfortable for them and talking to them several times a day or sitting near them - they accept the sitting near them. They don't like my hand in their cage probably because I traumatized them taking them out. Last night Aztec, the more aggressive one, was hanging upside down in the cage and I made a big fuss over her calling her "the upside down girl". Now everytime I say "where is the upside down girl" she will walk upside down across the cage and swing out. We had great fun with that. I will try to be patient with them but I am the type of person that yesterday wasn't soon enough. I'm going to look at birds Wed. and hopefully I will just look. I have African Grey in my head. If any big warning signals go off when you read that let me know. Thanks again for all your help. After all, if Cockatiels live for 20 years I have lots of time. Have a great day! Chris
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Post by christine on Feb 13, 2012 23:43:39 GMT 10
Hey There - Apache the cockatiel flew out of the cage while cleaning. I don't know if it was on purpose or by accident. I had just spritzed them and was cleaning the cage. I was able to get her on a dowel several times and after about 20 mins returned her to her cage. I was unable to get her on the dowel inside the cage. In all the excitement, you would think someone gave me a million dollars, I forgot the darn clicker. Both their wings are clipped which made it easier. Happy today.
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Post by vankarhi on Feb 14, 2012 6:47:29 GMT 10
well done and I am glad you are feeling a bit more positive about them now |
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Post by christine on Feb 17, 2012 21:43:41 GMT 10
Hello everyone, I am still working with my two cockatiels. Just talking to them and then leaving them alone. Aztec flew out of the cage yesterday I always leave it open if I am on the same floor because I have a Chiwauwa. Hoping they will come out so I can interact with them. He would not perch on a dowel at all and after an hour off an on of trying he fell behind the stove. I was able to pull the stove out and towel him back to his cage. I just purchased a Lutino who is much more friendly. She flew to where I was sitting yesterday and I was able to pick her up and put her on a T perch. She didn't bite will step up on a dowel but not my hand. She does not accept treats. She is in her own cage and Aztec and Apache really show off for her I think I will call her Valentine because they seem to be smitten.
For Lene 1949, who advised me on my conure who seems to be cage bound and would no longer step up just allow me to pet her. Toni tentatively would put first one foot and then the other on my finger and I would reward her for that. This went on for almost two weeks. Last night when I went to put her to bed she was on a perch she never goes on? She stays on the same perch all the time for 12 years. She seemed frightened, didn't know how to get back? I put out my finger and "there is a God" she got on it and I returned her to her favorite perch. So thanks Lene for all your good advice. I will try bringing her out of the cage next. Oh, forgot, she was also preening my hand. Thanks again.
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Post by vankarhi on Feb 18, 2012 7:58:30 GMT 10
well done |
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Post by christine on Feb 21, 2012 21:42:02 GMT 10
Hello, Just wanted to check in and say my new Lutino, Valentine, flew out of her cage and I was able to get her on a dowel to a T perch and then she got on my finger several times. After about 30 mins I returned her to her cage on my finger. However, she will not get on my finger inside the cage and still does not accept treats. Still working with my two grey cockatiels Aztec and Apache but so far no success stories. They are both smitten with Valentine so maybe she will tease them out of their cage. Have a great day eveyone! Chris (Montana)
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Post by Laraine on Feb 22, 2012 10:58:14 GMT 10
I have had success with taming birds by putting, say a piece of apple, through the wire on their cage. Eventually they might get curious and come down to explore. Keep doing this every day and they might start coming down to you even if you don't have food. Worked for me.
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Post by christine on Feb 23, 2012 22:00:15 GMT 10
Hi Laraine, Thanks for that information. I will certainly try that one. I'm open to any suggestions. Have a good day. Chris
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