territorial cockatiel?

[cockatiel92]

how can you correct a territorial cockatiel.

[tielfan]

Territoriality is instinctive, which means that it can't be corrected. What you CAN do, though, is change the way you approach the bird when he's in his cage (I assume that this is where the territorial behavior is taking place) so that he isn't interested in acting territorial. Change the focus of his interest and you change his attitude.

Here's a very simple technique that works beautifully on my tiels. Have some very small treats on hand. Before you stick your hand in the cage, show the bird one of these treats and feed it to him through the bars. After he's had a couple this way, open the cage, stick your hand in, and feed a couple more treats. My tiels will sometimes 'make beaks' at me while I'm doing this, but they're FAR more interested in the food than they are in defending the cage and they don't bite. Once I've softened them up with food they'll step up and come out of the cage without problems.

[cockatiel92]

aalright ill have to try that. ill do it first thing tomorrow because hes a sleep now.

[Mazman]

i would rather try getting the bird use to your hand.
I have a alexandrine, and when he settled in his new home(cage), he was a bit defencive, he would nip/bite my finger when i was approaching him, i would let him get away with it but i was persistant. But after ~4weeks he stopped biting as i approach his cage, now he just steps up.

I guess he realised that my hand wasnt going to hurt him, so he doesnt find the need to bite anymore.

[tielfan]

Territoriality is not the same as being afraid of hands. When a bird is being territorial, he can be very very accustomed to hands and friendly with them most of the time. But in certain circumstances instinct will tell him to defend his territory (usually the cage) against all intruders.

[cockatiel92]

so lets say i get accepted into his flock will he accept me into his cage with out defending it.

[tielfan]

I think you'd have to be accepted as his mate for him to stop defending it! Birds will defend their nests against other flock members but usually not against their mate.

[cockatiel92]

oo kk i hope he accepts me as a mate. thats a lil weird cuz hes a male and im a guy. hope my girlfriend wont be gelous lol