Need help taming cockatiels!

[birdybirdsmommy]

Hi, I acquired two beautiful male tiels a little over a month ago. I believe they came from a bad situation. I've posted before. I'm having a rought time gaining their trust here! They seem happy to see me when I come home from work...they sing and talk (birdie talk, of course!) to me-even when I'm right up close to them at their cages (which are side by side-I was told I'd have better luck taming them if seperated) As soon as I reach in gently with my finger or millet, the one treat they've actually tried and like, they back off. Sometimes they fly to the back corner of their cage in a panic. I've tried holding my hand in there forever until it cramped. I spend much of my time-every available opportunity with them, I sit with them, talk to them, read to them, or just go about my business in their room. I wish so bad that they' d trust me! I would love to have them be outside the cage and interact with my family. Our last little girl tiel, who sadly passed away in January, was fully flighted and an active member of our family-but I hand tamed/raised her myself as soon as she was weened from her birdie mommy. I will look very forward to your educated advice, but please, don't advise me to clip their wings, I don't believe in that, even though I know it would probably make this process easier. Thank you in advance for any time and advice you can offer me. --Dawn

[expressmailtome]

One thing that can help is to sit next to the birds' cage and read to them quitely. Also, continue trying to feed them millet spray. You could try taking a whole millet spray and hold one far end and stick the other end through the bars. You are right that clipping would probably help but I completly respect your opinion on it. Finally, I would not recommend trying to grab them and pry their feet off of a perch or cage rung to get them out. This can make things worse. Try leaving the cage door open and see if they will come out on their own. Some birds are better once they are out of their cage. I hope that at least some of this helps.

Matt

[birdybirdsmommy]

Thank you for the advice, I appreciate it. I posted before and only got one response. I get worried because I've read that some cockatiels just can't be tamed. I hope that isn't the case here. :o(

[Willow]

Hi! Sorry you are not making as much progress as you would like! Did you see our rec on your other thread for clicker training? That would surely help! I don't clip wings either. Please, please refer me, I need bird advice

[NoLimitssjca]

I think your wing clipping discussion is putting the cart before the horse. Wing clipping helps in reigning in a bird that flies off when he wants. Your guys haven't made it out of the cage yet.

Here's what I have experienced. Tiels feel safe in there territory. Period. When you encroach, they are territorial and defend their space. However, get them away from that space and the equation changes. I wouldn’t force them out, but I would remove them from their space while you work with them.

I have literally disassembled the cage while leaving them on the perch and reassembled the cage somewhere else. That way I don't "manhandle" the bird but accomplish getting them out.

The biggest key is that you don't get upset with them, just be a firm parront. They are frightened to come out, so bring out to them. If they head back to the cage, that's fine. But I think you'll find they act differently as soon as the cage is removed.

Oh, I did it because the cage needed cleaning and not all the birdies were interested in heading out. So I didn't force them, I just removed the cage for cleaning.

Tiels demand familiarity with their surroundings. Put a new toy in their cage they've never seen before and they look at you like you killed their best friend. Anything you introduce takes 2-3 days of being nearby to be accepted.

My point is, if they have been in their surroundings for a couple of weeks, you won't traumatize them by removing the cage. Quite the opposite. You will show them the world is right there for the asking. As soon as they are out of the cage, they will behave differently.

Good Luck!