A month is still a short time to expect too much, he might just be a bird that is more on the shy side. Do you have a separate cage for the cockatiel?
Its been about a month and he's still pretty uncomfortable :(
Hello again!
This is my little bird Helios, I had an initial post about him guessing his gender and after I took him to the vet he was confirmed to be a boy.
He was also cleared from the 4 main tests that were run and is in good health overall.
Now, It's been just about a month and he has a really strong attachment to this branch. He hardly ever moves from it or flies around and is generally pretty quiet. There are times when I talk he will start calling chirp and then even squawking. Im not sure what is going on or why he isn't getting comfortable. I do leave his door open so if he wants to come out he can and usually once or twice a day he will explore and come out on his own and sit for a bit somewhere and then climb his way back up to the branch. at first, I would go to check on him or put him away it if was too long, but then decided he should get comfortable doing it himself. He has very little interest in toys, which I don't think is too weird. I am unsure of his age but am assuming on the younger side.
Is he just lonely? I did read that this could be the case. I am getting a cockatiel from a well-established breeder either today or tomorrow and will quarantine as well as I can for at least a few weeks. My avian vet also said that the breeder does a good job testing their birds and not having any issues. (( except they are almost anti-pellet for some reason - saying it isn't natural for the birds, but my vet was like 'yeah, well, keeping them in a cage isn't natural either ))
I've hidden pieces of millet and seed around his cage or tucked in the rope and he very rarely goes anywhere else other than the branch you see him on. Even on the top platform (which he really liked from his smaller cage - he hasn't even ventured that high)
I read to him and talk to him a good bit, he gets chop with boiled egg whites in the morning with some seed mixed in, and seed/pellet mix at night.
I did start target training to see if that would help, and he did pick it up very well. but almost refuses to get off of this branch.
Does he just need more time? - He's in my office so Im with him almost all day, could he possibly need more time alone?
I'm not sure what I am doing wrong here, is it that he is just lonely or is it something else? Would appreciate any advice or cage change recommendations
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This is my little bird Helios, I had an initial post about him guessing his gender and after I took him to the vet he was confirmed to be a boy.
He was also cleared from the 4 main tests that were run and is in good health overall.Now, It's been just about a month and he has a really strong attachment to this branch. He hardly ever moves from it or flies around and is generally pretty quiet. There are times when I talk he will start calling chirp and then even squawking. Im not sure what is going on or why he isn't getting comfortable. I do leave his door open so if he wants to come out he can and usually once or twice a day he will explore and come out on his own and sit for a bit somewhere and then climb his way back up to the branch. at first, I would go to check on him or put him away it if was too long, but then decided he should get comfortable doing it himself. He has very little interest in toys, which I don't think is too weird. I am unsure of his age but am assuming on the younger side.
Is he just lonely? I did read that this could be the case. I am getting a cockatiel from a well-established breeder either today or tomorrow and will quarantine as well as I can for at least a few weeks. My avian vet also said that the breeder does a good job testing their birds and not having any issues. (( except they are almost anti-pellet for some reason - saying it isn't natural for the birds, but my vet was like 'yeah, well, keeping them in a cage isn't natural either ))
I've hidden pieces of millet and seed around his cage or tucked in the rope and he very rarely goes anywhere else other than the branch you see him on. Even on the top platform (which he really liked from his smaller cage - he hasn't even ventured that high)
I read to him and talk to him a good bit, he gets chop with boiled egg whites in the morning with some seed mixed in, and seed/pellet mix at night.
I did start target training to see if that would help, and he did pick it up very well. but almost refuses to get off of this branch.
Does he just need more time? - He's in my office so Im with him almost all day, could he possibly need more time alone?
I'm not sure what I am doing wrong here, is it that he is just lonely or is it something else? Would appreciate any advice or cage change recommendations
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Alright! We've got movement lol I did take out the big toy on the side too and after an hour or so he did a big wing flap, hop around, and then checked out the top of the platform to find some seeds. 🥰
Thank you @Sweety's mom for the less toy idea. He's had a softer chirp too so I think that did help maybe ease some anxiety.
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Thank you @Sweety's mom for the less toy idea. He's had a softer chirp too so I think that did help maybe ease some anxiety.
So happy he is moving and exploring a bit more!!!
I had to learn my guy’s preferences pretty quickly, and once I did he is so safe and happy in his cage home. He likes minimal toys, only his 2 favorites. Plus 1 swing that I had to very very slowly introduce.
He also loves flying about his cage. So I’ve learned where to place perches and toys so that the most space is available in the middle of the cage for him to fly without obstacles.
I occasionally move one of the toys to another place and see if he will still play with it or ignore it. If he ignores it for a week I put it back where it was and he acts like I’ve given him something fun and new. Even tho it’s the same toy.
This doesn’t work for new toys! I have to start by putting the new toy near his cage where he can see it for a few days. Then hang it on the outside of the cage for several days. Then put it inside the cage in a corner where he doesn’t hang out much for a few days. He spends this time making sure the toy cannot murder him When he is sure it can’t, and if he shows a little interest in the toy I will then move it to a place where another toy he already likes is nearby.
It’s definitely a learning process and these little guys are so sensitive to every object. Some of them love toys so much that they are excited for new ones. Maybe my Sweety will be that brave one day too. But for now he reminds me constantly that the world is scary and he’s just trying to not get eaten.
I had to learn my guy’s preferences pretty quickly, and once I did he is so safe and happy in his cage home. He likes minimal toys, only his 2 favorites. Plus 1 swing that I had to very very slowly introduce.
He also loves flying about his cage. So I’ve learned where to place perches and toys so that the most space is available in the middle of the cage for him to fly without obstacles.
I occasionally move one of the toys to another place and see if he will still play with it or ignore it. If he ignores it for a week I put it back where it was and he acts like I’ve given him something fun and new. Even tho it’s the same toy.
This doesn’t work for new toys! I have to start by putting the new toy near his cage where he can see it for a few days. Then hang it on the outside of the cage for several days. Then put it inside the cage in a corner where he doesn’t hang out much for a few days. He spends this time making sure the toy cannot murder him
When he is sure it can’t, and if he shows a little interest in the toy I will then move it to a place where another toy he already likes is nearby.It’s definitely a learning process and these little guys are so sensitive to every object. Some of them love toys so much that they are excited for new ones. Maybe my Sweety will be that brave one day too. But for now he reminds me constantly that the world is scary and he’s just trying to not get eaten.
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