Nibbles rarely sings

[usamma]

I got a free tiel a couple of weeks ago from someone who got him from someone, who found him in their yard. He seems to be youngish from what I can tell just by knowing my own birds, but we don't have any background on him. He's healthy, eating well now that he's weaned off millet sprays, and doing fine. He has learned to step up, plays with his toys, etc. The only thing is, he rarely sings. When I went to pick him up from the lady he was singing and was all over the cage, sang all the way home in the car, and has not hardly peeped since.

Yesterday he was singing a bit and climbing on the sides of the cage trying to get my attention-- and I was thinking wow, he's finally coming around. It turns out he was very thirsty. I had changed his water bowl for a water feeder and he had not figured it out yet, and was just telling me he was thirsty. I put his bowl back in and he drank a lot and then was quiet after that.

What's going on? Why was he singing so much in the other house and not in mine? Is he not happy? I mean, he doesn't even sing in the morning.

[Lady Kakata]

Perhaps he only sings to get attention? It's a silly question, but are you sure he's a male?

In any case, perhaps he still needs to get settled in. From the picture in your signature, I take it you have a lot of other birds? Perhaps he is going to learn a song from them?

I wouldn't worry about it if he's eating well and playing. The fact that he sang at you to tell you something suggests that maybe he sings for attention only, not for the joy of it. Or at least not yet, he may come round once he's part of the flock

[usamma]

He's finally starting to come around! :-) He's a shy one and prefers to sing when he thinks no one is listening (except for that one time to get my attention with the water feeder). He's a real sweetheart. He seems to recognize his name now, too.

[christie99]

Did the person who found him ever make an attempt to find his owner? Tiels do escape and I have seen so many ads on Parrot 911 from people looking for their birds.

[usamma]

Originally Posted by christie99

Did the person who found him ever make an attempt to find his owner? Tiels do escape and I have seen so many ads on Parrot 911 from people looking for their birds.

Yes, they made many attempts over a 1.5 month period including on-line ads and flyers in the neighborhood. I also looked on several websites for lost birds after I got him, but none of the lost tiels match his description. There are a couple of distinct marks on him that I am keeping to myself in case anyone can ID him.

[christie99]

Glad to hear that. I know several people never look, I'm glad he has a good home with you.